Traditional Grey Kitchen in Ottawa, designed by Astro Design Centre. Photo Credit: DoubleSpace Photography

Craftsman Residential 1919 Truett Ave. Townhomes

Cayce Mill Design Center

Contemporary Lakefront

Pippin Home Designs, Inc

Artist Eye Photography, Wes Stearns

Annapolis Kitchen

Tina Colebrook Architect

Interior Design by Smith & Thomasson Interiors. White painted built-ins and dark wood accents pull together this once disjointed kitchen, dining area and sitting room. As gourmet cooks and gracious hosts, the Owners primary goal for the residential remodel was to create an open space that would be perfect for entertaining and family gatherings. The first course of action in opening up the kitchen was to remove the floor to ceiling bookshelves that obscured the view to the living and dining areas. A furniture-style island and banquette now occupy the space and graciously create a central gathering area around a beautifully appointed pedestal dining table with a wood planked top. Clear views are experienced from all angles of the space now and are conducive to socialization between chef and guests. The range wall is highlighted by a custom copper range hood anchored on a full height backsplash of glass tile made from recycled glass bottles, a modern interpretation of the classic subway tile pattern. Flanking the hood are wood accented upper cabinets with seeded glass insets and painted base cabinets creating a symmetrical elevation. A wall of floor to ceiling timeless flat panel storage cabinets line the back wall of the kitchen, creating a backdrop for the distressed wood armoire style paneled refrigerator. The painted cabinetry extends past the entrance into the sitting area where the existing wood burning fireplace was updated with paneling to match the new cabinetry. Classic neutral furnishings with subtle patterns in the sitting area create the perfect place to read a book or converse with a friend. Immediately upon completion, the Owner’s began cooking and entertaining in their new space. Successful on all counts, the remodel has created a casual yet elegant Great Room in which to spend time with family and friends.

Tuscan Villa

Murphy Building Company, Inc

Michael Brock, Brock Imaging

Moody Kitchen in Laguna Niguel

Miller & Sons Construction Group

Inspiration Gallery

McCallum Cabinets Inc

Clean White Shaker Kitchen with LED interior lights behind clear glass doors. Large Island for work surface and incredible storage space.

Caesarstone Clamshell

Newton Victorian Home - kitchen Renovation

Vered Rosen Design

Vered Rosen

Swallow Court

Accents Home Interiors & Staging

Saratoga Pool House

Mimi Snowden Design

Kitchens

Kendall Flooring & Contracting, Inc.

Kate Williams

Chatham Hills - Modern Prairie

Old Town Design Group

With a more modern styled kitchen and plenty of counter space, the pale cabinets finish this kitchen with a sophisticated flair. Photo Credit: Tom Graham

Inglenook Grove

Riverwood Homes of Colorado

Contemporary Living

Orange & Orange Interior Design

Toll Brothers at Blackstone

Toll Brothers, Inc.

Modern Rustic Mountain Estate Home

ACM Design

Kitchen with Matchstick Tile Splashback and Medium Hardwood Floors 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!