Photo by John Merkl

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton

Brainerd Lakes Shingle Style

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architecture: Murphy & Co. Design | Interiors: Engler Studio | Photography: Corey Gaffer

717 S. Sleight - Naperville

Autumn Homes Inc.

White shaker style- flat panel perimeter cabinetry with a grey stained island. Grey Quartz counter tops on perimeter with a double thick piece for the island top. Professional Thermador appliance package with drawer microwave.

New Residence | Chadds Ford, PA

Period Architecture Ltd.

Angle Eye Photography

Summit Hill Shingle-Style Home Remodel

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio -- Photos: Susan Gilmore

Harbor Point

Renaissance Design Studio

Photo courtesy of Murray Homes, Inc. Kitchen ~ custom cabinetry by Brookhaven Designer: Missi Bart

Expansive Forest Green Kitchen

G. Christianson Construction, Inc.

A North Albany family contacted us wanting to expand, update, and open up their Kitchen to the Family Room. The floor plan of this home actually had plenty of space but it wasn’t being well-utilized, with angled walls in the pantry and a corner kitchen and island layout. By removing the double-sided fireplace and built-in bookcases closing off the Family Room, removing the closed-off bar area, and re-imagining the awkward walk-in pantry and kitchen layout, our Designer, Sarah envisioned an expansive Kitchen footprint that connected all the key areas and significantly increased the amount of available storage and countertop space, making this Kitchen the perfect entertaining environment! Replacing the cherry cabinetry, black granite countertops, and dark hardwood floors with white shaker upper cabinets, dark green lower cabinets, light-colored hardwood flooing, and a new lighting design completely transformed the space from dark and compartmentalized, to bright and open. This Kitchen is full of brilliant custom pieces and organization cabinets, including a HIDDEN walk-in pantry (which is the family’s favorite)!

Transitional Elegance

Saving the original stained glass picture window from 1916, we created a focal point with a custom designed arch alcove with dentil molding. Leaded glass upper cabinets add ambiance and sparkle to the compact kitchen.

Tarrytown 5

Grey Architecture + Design

Coastal Modern

Valletta Design Group

Chestnut Ave, Clarendon Hills

Plain & Posh

This young family wanted to update their kitchen and loved getting away to the coast. We tried to bring a little of the coast to their suburban Chicago home. The statement pantry doors with antique mirror add a wonderful element to the space. The large island gives the family a wonderful space to hang out, The custom "hutch' area is actual full of hidden outlets to allow for all of the electronics a place to charge. Warm brass details and the stunning tile complete the area.

Studio Green

Snug Kitchens

Our Snug Kitchens showroom display combines bespoke traditional joinery, seamless modern appliances and a touch of art deco from the fluted glass walk in larder. The 'Studio Green' painted cabinetry creates a bold background that highlights the kitchens brass accents. Including Armac Martin Sparkbrook brass handles and patinated brass Quooker fusion tap. The Neolith Calacatta Luxe worktop uniquely combines deep grey tones, browns and subtle golds on a pure white base. The veneered oak cabinet internals and breakfast bar are stained in a dark wash to compliment the dark green door and drawer fronts. As part of this display we included a double depth walk-in larder, complete with suspended open shelving, u-shaped worktop slab and fluted glass paneling. We hand finished the support rods to patina the brass ensuring they matched the other antique brass accents in the kitchen. The decadent fluted glass panels draw you into the space, obscuring the view into the larder, creating intrigue to see what is hidden behind the door.

Kitchen with Beach Vibes

Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. (CKD, CBD, CR)

This beautiful kitchen in Huntington Bay embodies everything we love about living on Long Island. One look out the window and you see a fence lined with colorful boating buoys and a vegetable garden ready for tonight’s dinner. This is country living on the bay at its finest, and the white custom kitchen cabinetry creates a perfectly soothing palette for peace and tranquility at home.

Custom Ranch Prescott AZ

DLB Custom Homes, Inc

Kitchen

Laura Brophy Interiors

Dramatic Modern Farmhouse

Kitchen Design Partners, Inc.

Calle Del Cerrito

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Spanish Revival Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen with Panelled Appliances and Brown 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!