In order to accommodate homeowners who love to cook and host guests, this kitchen was thoughtfully designed to be functional, yet contemporary and sleek. Photographed by: Jacob Bodkin. Architecture by: James D. LaRue Architects

Continental Place Condo

Dovetail General Contractors

Benjamin Benschneider

Modern Twist on Prairie!

Signature Properties of Illinois, Ltd

Mt. Vernon Street Kitchen Appliance Garage

User

Halkin Mason Photography

Kitchen remodel

Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins, Inc.

Eaton Mews North, Kitchen

Roselind Wilson Design

The beautifully arranged lighting over the kitchen island has been carefully positioned to aid in food preparation. Two fittings allow the angle of the light to cover the entire work top. The lights are Elements Tom Box MA 15 lights from Chaplins in nickelled brass to complement other finishes used within the space. Photography by Richard Waite.

Large family home

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

Kitchen Architecture’s bulthaup b3 furniture in graphite laminate and random walnut with a stainless steel bar.

Rustic Modern Kitchen

Haste Woodcraft

This rustic modern kitchen features stained natural hickory Shaker cabinets and flat panel drawers, a built-in paneled refrigerator, built-in paneled dishwasher, "Dreamy Marfil" quartz and Roma Imperiale quartzite countertops, and Thermador appliances. Reclaimed barn wood beams installed by Haste Woodcraft, also. Heather Harris Photography, LLC

Shevlin Residence

Erik Oldham Architect LLC

Kitchen with honed granite island top, Silestone counter and douglas fir cabinets

Montana Retreat

Shannon Callaghan Interior Design

Locust Hills Drive Residence

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design | Stonewood LLC, Builder | Peter Eskuche, Architect | Troy Thies Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling

Rustic Kitchen

Flynn

Marengo Morton Architects

Shingle style home

Davis Tamburin Inc.

Kitchen was a renovation of a 70's white plastic laminate kitchen. We gutted the room to allow for the taste of our clients to shine with updated materials. The cabinetry is custom from our own cabinetry line. The counter tops and backsplash are handpainted custom designed tiles made in France. The floors are wood beams cut short side and laid to show the grain. We also created a cabinetry nook made of stone to house a display area and server. We used the existing skylights, but to bring it all together we installed reclaimed wood clapboards on the ceiling and reclaimed wood timbers to create some sense of architecture. The photograph was taken by Peter Rywmid

Private Residence on Casey Key

Michael K. Walker & Associates Inc.

Greg Wilson

Eyremont modern

Meister Construction Ltd

Rennovation of a post and beam home in West Vancouver

Mill House Kitchen

Rob Sanders Architects LLC

The kitchen features custom cherry cabinetry and Motawi tiles in an Arts and Crafts style

Market Street Penthouse Kitchen

Winder Gibson Architects

An interior build-out of a two-level penthouse unit in a prestigious downtown highrise. The design emphasizes the continuity of space for a loft-like environment. Sliding doors transform the unit into discrete rooms as needed. The material palette reinforces this spatial flow: white concrete floors, touch-latch cabinetry, slip-matched walnut paneling and powder-coated steel counters. Whole-house lighting, audio, video and shade controls are all controllable from an iPhone, Collaboration: Joel Sanders Architect, New York. Photographer: Rien van Rijthoven

Eagle Harbor Cabin

FINNE Architects

The Eagle Harbor Cabin is located on a wooded waterfront property on Lake Superior, at the northerly edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about 300 miles northeast of Minneapolis. The wooded 3-acre site features the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, a lake that sometimes behaves like the ocean. The 2,000 SF cabin cantilevers out toward the water, with a 40-ft. long glass wall facing the spectacular beauty of the lake. The cabin is composed of two simple volumes: a large open living/dining/kitchen space with an open timber ceiling structure and a 2-story “bedroom tower,” with the kids’ bedroom on the ground floor and the parents’ bedroom stacked above. The interior spaces are wood paneled, with exposed framing in the ceiling. The cabinets use PLYBOO, a FSC-certified bamboo product, with mahogany end panels. The use of mahogany is repeated in the custom mahogany/steel curvilinear dining table and in the custom mahogany coffee table. The cabin has a simple, elemental quality that is enhanced by custom touches such as the curvilinear maple entry screen and the custom furniture pieces. The cabin utilizes native Michigan hardwoods such as maple and birch. The exterior of the cabin is clad in corrugated metal siding, offset by the tall fireplace mass of Montana ledgestone at the east end. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and snow protection; and metal siding for maximum durability. Sustainable interior finish materials include bamboo/plywood cabinets, linoleum floors, locally-grown maple flooring and birch paneling, and low-VOC paints.

Snell Kitchen 1

Cameo Kitchens, Inc.

Features: Custom Wood Hood with Enkeboll Corbels # CBL-AO0; Dentil Moulding; Wine Rack; Custom Island with Enkeboll Corbels # CBL-AMI; Beadboard; Cherry Wood Appliance Panels; Fluted Pilasters Cabinets: Honey Brook Custom Cabinets in Cherry Wood with Nutmeg Finish; New Canaan Beaded Flush Inset Door Style Countertops: 3cm Roman Gold Granite with Waterfall Edge Photographs by Apertures, Inc.

Kitchen with Medium Wood Cabinets and Panelled Appliances 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!