Our client wanted the “wow” factor!! She wanted a kitchen with clean lines and a bespoke island to be the focal point of the space but simple enough that she could add her own artistic stamp. Our client, being an interior designer, had a keen eye for style and design, and we decided to “go for it!” and give her a design that nobody else would. We like to ask our clients “how brave they are” as we find that our designs are very distinctive when we are allowed freedom to use our imagination. We proposed merging the existing kitchen, utility, w/c and dining space to create an open plan kitchen, dining and living snug. Although opening up this space, it was still quite a tight area for the requested island. We therefore designed an island to be formed with full open boxes at low level to carry the island and allow light to flow to the other side of the kitchen and prevent a claustrophobic feel. The low level open boxes were going to require some strength to hold the Dekton topped upper half of the island and we also needed to run electrics to the hob, lighting and power points. We formed these boxes from the same panelling as the rest of the kitchen and had to fabricate steel strengthening straps that would be hidden within the structure alongside the electrical supply. Overall this open plan kitchen and living space with matching cabinetry in the snug is a stylish transformation. Though not a very large space and with the dark cabinetry, the smoked glass splash back, the light countertops and open boxes give this kitchen a light and free feeling.

Cliff Top project

Nimmo Nielsen Collective

Simon Whitbread Photography

Moody Glam, Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Tri State Kitchens

Mirror tile back splash adds so much glam to this dark and moody Brooklyn kitchen! Mix of dark stained cabinets with painted island and pantries, makes this space warm and inviting.

Tobacco wood & Kashmir grey kitchen with island and bronze mirror

Schmidt Barnet - Kitchens & Interior Solutions

# Sylvie & Christophe

Cocré-art

Dining Kitchen Extension

Keller Design Centre

Ward kitchen & interiors project, Southsea, Hampshire

BP Kitchens & Interiors

Stunning basement cellar in the heart of Southsea, Hampshire. Beautiful use of the space underground and still capturing the courtyard garden within easy access of the kitchen and snug area. Remarkable that we are underground but the light still pours in from the open space outside. Perfect marriage of basement/cellar living, linked to outdoor life. Everything revolves around the 3.9m long island which allows you to cook and serve your guest and still be social, rather than cut off form the party. The island has vast storage on both sides of the island and includes, a pull-out bins system, drawers, wine cooler and enough seating for 6 people or just a romantic meal for two.

Harpenden, New Build Kitchen & Joinery Design

Chantel Elshout Studio

New build house Kitchen Design, Supply & Installation. The kitchen has a lovely mix of textured materials creating a warm, inviting room to gather and entertain in. Wood effect laminate furniture mixed with light grey matt lacquer provides a neutral background while the worktops on the kitchen island adds drama. Marcel Baumhauer da Silva - hausofsilva.com

Sylvania Kitchen Makeover

Winning Appliances

Cliff Top project

Nimmo Nielsen Collective

Simon Whitbread Photography

Marylyn's Get-away

Hammer + Harmony

Historic Neighborhood Kitchen

Nistenhaus Design LLC

Great Hills #1

New Creations Custom Kitchen and Bath

The large decorative copper vent hood custom-built by Texas LightSmith is the focal point of the kitchen space. We had a copper front sink custom fabricated to match.

Hammered Copper Sink

Noah & Lilly Kitchen Design

For many years our Creative Director had been dreaming of creating a unique, bespoke and uber cool street art kitchen. It quickly became apparent that the universe had aligned and the perfect opportunity to make her dream become a reality was right in front of her, she found herself surrounded by the most incredible, extensive and amazing street art collection. A cheeky grin appeared on Katies face and she knew exactly what was coming next. Billy the Kid...the much talked about, completely incognito, up and coming street artist, with comparisons to Banksy, was immediately hunted down on Instagram and together via his agents (Walton Fine Arts), in top secret fashion to keep his unknown identity a secret, they collaborated on fusing his bold, bright, personalized and original street art with the luxury Italian kitchen brand Pedini. The kitchen showcases a beautiful sultry, dark metallic door for depth and texture. Gaggenau Vario refrigeration and cooking appliances and a Quooker tap system in the stunning patinated brass finish. The island really was the focal point and practically gave the clients a central beautiful working space, Gold Mammorea quartz worktop with its beautiful veining encases the island worktop and sides then the absolutely stunning Fiore Dibosco marble table that is beautifully lit with hidden led channels, wraps the island corner with its gravity defying angled end panels. The unique and individual commissioned Billy the Kid art installation on the back of the island creates total wow factor, the artwork included very personal touches...the family’s names, the dog gets a mention too and positive words that sum up the love this family so evidently share. Even the 3 cherubs Billy created look uncannily like the client’s 3 children, a wonderful touch. This kitchen is a truly unique and stunningly original installation, we love that Billy the Kid jumped on board with the concept presented to him.

Marylyn's Get-away

Hammer + Harmony

Newport beach CA gourmet kitchen

FIDELITY Builders and Design

joana Morrison

Sylvania Kitchen Makeover

Winning Appliances

Birtinya Waterfront

Weiss Built Pty Ltd

Kitchen with Mirror Splashback and Multi-Coloured Benchtop 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!