2015 Cosmopolitian Home of the Year

Francesca Owings Interior Design

Sugar Loaf

User

For this vacation home, a complete gut job was needed in order to fit the lifestyle and needs of this young family of four and their guests. The narrow floor plan created unique challenges, but we maximized its full potential. The result was a warm but modern design with plenty of storage and seating. One of the biggest challenges was making sure everyone had a place to sit in the kitchen. The space between the kitchen and staircase was limiting, but with sleek modern chairs that tuck away, we were able to allow for traffic patterns and seat all of the children. To accommodate any vacation extras, an extra wide space near the kitchen and bathroom was transformed into additional shelving. We installed floor-to-ceiling cabinets that offer plenty of space for everyone’s belongings. A clean design was a must, so we opted for a more modern look. We used Benjamin Moore's "Simply White" as the foundation, putting it on the walls and cabinets, and coordinating the countertops and backsplash. To make the home more welcoming, we used natural wood on the island and floating shelves. The wood was coordinated with the floor, creating a cohesive interior. Project designed by Star Valley, Wyoming interior design firm Tawna Allred Interiors. They also serve Alpine, Auburn, Bedford, Etna, Freedom, Freedom, Grover, Thayne, Turnerville, Swan Valley, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Seattle MCM Remodel

Gradient Interior Design

An existing Ikea kitchen gets a facelift. This MCM home's original kitchen was gutted and replaced by a simple Maple Ikea kitchen along with an Ikea Maple floating floor. Maple overload. The client wanted a simple remodel, enlarging the available storage, replacing the fronts and several cabinets, as well as new floors, counters and backsplash. Boring and Bland is now Bright and clean.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Bryan Construction, Cabinetry & Woodwork, Inc.

A Book by it's Cover

BZ Architects

Townhouse kitchen renovation opens kitchen up to remainder of first floor.

Family friendly kitchen on the Hudson

Summit Street Design

Garden House

Keith Anding Architect

Michael Hospelt Photography

Farmhouse Kitchen

Sunny Yellow Retro Kitchen

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

We decided on a retro look for our new kitchen with lots of display shelving, happy colors, laminate counters (no cracking!), a chubby old stove, period details and “linoleum” flooring.

Black-and-White Badajoz for a Stylish Condo

Granada Tile

Inside a classic Portland, Oregon, condo building, Em Shephard, the project manager for Jessica Helgerson Interior Design chose our Badajoz cement tile to cover several floor spaces, including the kitchen, creating a chic, unified and graphic look. Interior Design: Jessica Helgerson Interior Design / Photograph: Lincoln Barbour / Cement Tiles: Granada Tile

Warm and Rustic Remodel

Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.

Designer: Kristin Petro; Photographer: kellyallison photography

Holly's Kitchen

Holly Mathis Interiors

Becky Griffin's Curious Details

Mid-Century Ranch Kitchen

Angela Dechard Design

Flour and sugar bins in lower cabinet drawer

APEX Design Build

Farmstead Renovation - Showplace Cabinetry Pendleton 275 MDF door

Showplace Cabinetry Design Center

Custom Residence - Canton GA

Caldwell-Cline Architects & Designers

Donegal Transitional Update

Alair Homes Plano

This home built in 2000 was dark and the kitchen was partially closed off. They wanted to open it up to the outside and update the kitchen and entertaining spaces. We removed a wall between the living room and kitchen and added sliders to the backyard. The beautiful Openseas painted cabinets definitely add a stylish element to this previously dark brown kitchen. Removing the big, bulky, dark built-ins in the living room also brightens up the overall space.

Colonial Road

Thyme & Place Design LLC

This small kitchen packs a powerful punch. By replacing an oversized sliding glass door with a 24" cantilever which created additional floor space. We tucked a large Reid Shaw farm sink with a wall mounted faucet into this recess. A 7' peninsula was added for storage, work counter and informal dining. A large oversized window floods the kitchen with light. The color of the Eucalyptus painted and glazed cabinets is reflected in both the Najerine stone counter tops and the glass mosaic backsplash tile from Oceanside Glass Tile, "Devotion" series. All dishware is stored in drawers and the large to the counter cabinet houses glassware, mugs and serving platters. Tray storage is located above the refrigerator. Bottles and large spices are located to the left of the range in a pull out cabinet. Pots and pans are located in large drawers to the left of the dishwasher. Pantry storage was created in a large closet to the left of the peninsula for oversized items as well as the microwave. Additional pantry storage for food is located to the right of the refrigerator in an alcove. Cooking ventilation is provided by a pull out hood so as not to distract from the lines of the kitchen.

Lago Bungalow Kitchen

Nar Design Group

This kitchen proves small East sac bungalows can have high function and all the storage of a larger kitchen. A large peninsula overlooks the dining and living room for an open concept. A lower countertop areas gives prep surface for baking and use of small appliances. Geometric hexite tiles by fireclay are finished with pale blue grout, which complements the upper cabinets. The same hexite pattern was recreated by a local artist on the refrigerator panes. A textured striped linen fabric by Ralph Lauren was selected for the interior clerestory windows of the wall cabinets.

Kitchen with Multi-Coloured Floor and Red Floor 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!