Modern kitchen, with dark timber grain joinery, large kitchen island, with walk in pantry that has a barn door. Two sinks and fridges one integrated to service the outdoor BBQ area, lots of bench space plus 3 ovens and a warming drawer

Dual Occupancy: Brighton East townhouses

First Avenue Homes

Classic Modern - Ktichen

Mia Rao Design

Mia Rao Design created a classic modern kitchen for this Chicago suburban remodel. The dark stain on the rift cut oak, slab style cabinets adds warmth and contrast against the white Calacatta porcelain. The large island and built-in breakfast nook allow for plenty of seating options

Somerset Home Project

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

This home has lots of storage including the wood units that flank the entrance to this walk in pantry!

Kitchen

Expert Kitchen Designs, LLC

Forest Bend

TruKitchens

Shiloh Cabinetry, Bianco Acrylic on Oak. Shiloh Cabinetry, Ashfall on Reconstituted White Oak. Wood Countertop: Grothouse Lumber, Ashfall Match, Durata Finished Wood Top. Sub-Zero Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator with Ice Maker. Zephyr Stainless Steel Wall-Mount Range Hood. Jenn-Air Induction Cooktop. Bosch Panel Ready Dishwasher. Photos: Ashley Avila Photography.

Minimalist extension

Lauren Nicholas Kitchen Design

Grace Markham

Contemporary Edina Kitchen and Powder Room Remodel

Titus Contracting

Organic Life House

Curran & Co. Architects

j. ashley photography

Woodale

Armac Martin

House 153

Rodriguez Studio Architecture PC

David Joseph

Kitchen Countertops in Cirrus

PanelScapes

Porcelain panel kitchen done in Cirrus. Featuring matching full height backslashes.

Victorian Style - Several Examples

San Luis Kitchen Co.

The owners of a local historic Victorian home needed a kitchen that would not only meet the everyday needs of their family but also function well for large catered events. We designed the kitchen to fit with the historic architecture -- using period specific materials such as dark cherry wood, Carrera marble counters, and hexagonal mosaic floor tile. (Not to mention the unique light fixtures and custom decor throughout the home.) Just off the kitchen to the right is a butler's pantry -- storage for all the entertaining table & glassware as well as a perfect staging area. We used Wood-Mode cabinets in the Beacon Hill doorstyle -- Burgundy finish on cherry; integral raised end panels and lavish Victorian style trim are essential to the kitchen's appeal.

Project Clark Ave Restoration

Chelsea Design Company

Dark Stained Cabinets with Honed Danby Marble Counters & Exposed Brick to give an aged look

Rogers Project

No Longer In Business

Looking into the kitchen we did not want to look at a wall of cabinetry, so instead of wrapping the wall cabinets around the room we left the end wall open to use as a focal point with the use of this beautiful undulating oversized tiles....Photo by Jared Kuzia

Bayou Kitchen

In Detail Interiors

This new home is a study in eclectic contrasts. The client loves modern design yet still wanted to blend a bit of her southern traditional heritage into the overall feel of her new home. The goal and challenge was to combine functionality in a large space with unique details that spoke to the client’s love of artisitic creativity and rich materials. With 14 foot ceilings the challenge was to not let the kitchen space “underwhelm” the rest of the open floor plan as the kitchen, dining and great room all are part of the larger footprint. To this end, we designed a modern enclosure that allowed additional height and heft to help balance the “weight” of the kitchen with the other areas. The long island designed for entertaining features a custom designed iron “table” housing the microwave drawer and topped with a checkboard endgrain cherry and walnut wood top. This second “island” is part of the rich details that define the kitchen. The upper cabinets have unusual triple ring iron inserts, again, designed for the unexpected use of material richness..along with the antique mirror rather than glass as the background. The platter rack on the end of the left side elevation also replicates the iron using it for the dowels. The panels on the Subzero refrigerator are crafted from burled walnut veneer chosen to echo the browns and blacks throughout much of the furnishings. The client did not want or need a large range as we planned a second ancillary oven for the pantry/laundry space around the corner. When I pointed out the capacity of the Wolf 36 inch range was actually larger than a 30 inch oven, it sealed the deal for only one oven in the main cooking center. We did not want the cooking area to be dwarfed however, so used a custom black cold rolled steel hood that is 60 inches long. The panels on the Sub Zero refrigerator are another blend of eclectic materials. Along the left side cabinetry where the cabinets die into the wall, we chose to run the calcutta gold marble 4x16 stone up the wall and utilize thick glass shelves for some visual interest in this corner. Also, this corner would be tough to access with doors. I liked the prep sink area to feel open and airy as well. This beautiful kitchen is quite unique that combines functionality in a large space with one of a kind details!

Kitchen Dining Room and Wine Cabinet - Studio City

Supreme Remodeling Inc.

Project Clark Ave Restoration

Chelsea Design Company

Dark Stained Cabinets with Honed Danby Marble Counters & Exposed Brick to give an aged look. Diamond Marble Backsplash, Brass Sconces & a Farmhouse Sink.

Private Residence

Duet Design Group

Contemporary and Eclectic Kitchen with Wooden Ceiling and Moooi Lighting, Photo by David Lauer Photography

Ames

Drake+Khan Design

Kitchen with Dark Wood Cabinets and Marble Splashback Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!