When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! John Granen.

Winoka Kitchen/Hearth/Pantry

Before and After Builders, Inc.

Beautiful Bianco Superior Quartzite countertop! Emser Sterlina Asphalt 12 x 24 floor tile in matte finish!

Lincoln Towers Combination

Studio ST Architects, P.C.

Renovated kitchen with custom cabinetry and quartzite countertops

Bungalow Kitchen Remodel

Side by Side Interiors LLC

This small 1910 bungalow was long overdue for an update. The goal was to lighten everything up without sacrificing the original architecture. Iridescent subway tile, lighted reeded glass, and white cabinets help to bring sparkle to a space with little natural light. I designed the custom made cabinets with inset doors and curvy shaped toe kicks as a nod to the arts and crafts period. It's all topped off with black hardware, countertops and lighting to create contrast and drama. The result is an up-to-date space ready for entertaining!

wood block residence

chadbourne + doss architects

chadbourne + doss architects reimagines a mid century modern house. Nestled into a hillside this home provides a quiet and protected modern sanctuary for its family. The Kitchen is contained in bright white and aluminum. The Living spaces are a composition of black and wood. Large sliding glass doors open to a full length deck. Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Elégance et modernité au cœur du 5ème arrondissement de Paris – Projet Panthéon

Mon Concept Habitation

Dans l’entrée - qui donne accès à la cuisine ouverte astucieusement agencée en U, au coin parents et à la pièce de vie - notre attention est instantanément portée sur la jolie teinte « Brun Murcie » des menuiseries, sublimée par l’iconique lampe Flowerpot de And Tradition.

Piedmont House

Charles Di Piazza Architecture

Daylight from multiple directions, alongside yellow accents in the interior of cabinetry create a bright and inviting space, all while providing the practical benefit of well illuminated work surfaces.

Project Sanford

Lisa Kooistra Designs

Main floor design and renovation project in downtown Burlington. Kitchen design, dining room and sunroom.

Off Black Sophisticated Custom Kitchen - Greenwich CT

Ackley Cabinet, LLC

Kitchen and Dining Extension

Couture Concepts Interiors

This beautiful new kitchen and dining extension boasts expansive bright vaulted ceilings, double bi-folding doors, a huge kitchen island with a waterfall edge, monochromatic colour scheme with a pop of rust in the impactful feature lights, bar stools and carver dining chairs.

Monterey Modern

Catherine Garrison Architect, Inc

Modern Rustic Black Kitchen in Wendover

Ridgeway Interiors

With a striking, bold design that's both sleek and warm, this modern rustic black kitchen is a beautiful example of the best of both worlds. When our client from Wendover approached us to re-design their kitchen, they wanted something sleek and sophisticated but also comfortable and warm. We knew just what to do — design and build a contemporary yet cosy kitchen. This space is about clean, sleek lines. We've chosen Hacker Systemat cabinetry — sleek and sophisticated — in the colours Black and Oak. A touch of warm wood enhances the black units in the form of oak shelves and backsplash. The wooden accents also perfectly match the exposed ceiling trusses, creating a cohesive space. This modern, inviting space opens up to the garden through glass folding doors, allowing a seamless transition between indoors and out. The area has ample lighting from the garden coming through the glass doors, while the under-cabinet lighting adds to the overall ambience. The island is built with two types of worksurface: Dekton Laurent (a striking dark surface with gold veins) for cooking and Corian Designer White for eating. Lastly, the space is furnished with black Siemens appliances, which fit perfectly into the dark colour palette of the space.

eclectic green and gray washed alder kitchen

M&M Interiors

This couples small kitchen was in dire need of an update. The homeowner is an avid cook and cookbook collector so finding a special place for some of his most prized cookbooks was a must!

Lancaster Modern Cottage

Barefoot Dwelling

Phase 2 of our Modern Cottage project was the complete renovation of a small, impractical kitchen and dining nook. The client asked for a fresh, bright kitchen with natural light, a pop of color, and clean modern lines. The resulting kitchen features all of the above and incorporates fun details such as a scallop tile backsplash behind the range and artisan touches such as a custom walnut island and floating shelves; a custom metal range hood and hand-made lighting. This kitchen is all that the client asked for and more!

Gunnar W

Mid Century Modernism

Design First Interiors

Photography Credit: Doublespace Photography

Sudlow 2

Sheerin Bespoke

The “Industrial shaker” – notice the bare red Cheshire brick feature wall – A classic shaker style kitchen in modern deep grey with grey slate floor, and hardwearing white quartz worktops around the cooking area and a rich luxurious solid oak island worktop – see how the furniture perfectly sits underneath the oak beam to the ceiling – a classic and instant hallmark of bespoke manufacture and installation - notice the modern way of cooking with cutting-edge multi-function ovens set at eye level for ease of use, the wide seamless induction hob set in a break-fronted worktop run for deeper worksurface where its needed most, and “WOW” glass extractor hood, framed by classic glazed wall units for glasses and cups/plates. Note the bifold dresser hiding the small appliances (Mixer/blender/toaster) merging into the tall larder and huge side by side fridge and freezer. Again the sink is on the island but inset into the beautiful solid oak oiled worktop. With contemporary chrome rinse monobloc tap. The island feature side has a wine cooler, and a breakfast bar conveniently located to grab that next glass of wine!. Simple chrome cup and ball handles finish off that industrial modern look. Photographer - Peter Corcoran

Mid-Century Dala Kitchen

TreHus Architects+Interior Designers+Builders

Mukilteo Gem

Interiors by Popov

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and Black 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!