This project for a builder husband and interior-designer wife involved adding onto and restoring the luster of a c. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage in Barrington that they had occupied for years while raising their two sons. They were ready to ditch their small tacked-on kitchen that was mostly isolated from the rest of the house, views/daylight, as well as the yard, and replace it with something more generous, brighter, and more open that would improve flow inside and out. They were also eager for a better mudroom, new first-floor 3/4 bath, new basement stair, and a new second-floor master suite above. The design challenge was to conceive of an addition and renovations that would be in balanced conversation with the original house without dwarfing or competing with it. The new cross-gable addition echoes the original house form, at a somewhat smaller scale and with a simplified more contemporary exterior treatment that is sympathetic to the old house but clearly differentiated from it. Renovations included the removal of replacement vinyl windows by others and the installation of new Pella black clad windows in the original house, a new dormer in one of the son’s bedrooms, and in the addition. At the first-floor interior intersection between the existing house and the addition, two new large openings enhance flow and access to daylight/view and are outfitted with pairs of salvaged oversized clear-finished wooden barn-slider doors that lend character and visual warmth. A new exterior deck off the kitchen addition leads to a new enlarged backyard patio that is also accessible from the new full basement directly below the addition. (Interior fit-out and interior finishes/fixtures by the Owners)

Hackney Kitchen redesign

Zoe Willis Design

A NEW PERSPECTIVE To hide an unsightly boiler, reclaimed doors from a Victorian school were used to create a bespoke cabinet that looks like it has always been there.

Lewisham provenance Kitchen

piqu

This recently completed provenance by piqu kitchen design makes the most of the limited space available and whilst not the biggest project, everything has been included that you would need. Designed and handcrafted in our workshop in Orpington, the end result is very clean and uncluttered and we absolutely love the cool and calming colours from Farrow & Ball – Treron and School House White coupled with the brass fittings, lighting and Quorn stone floor chosen by our clients.

Symphony on the Hill

Vela Interior Design

Modern kitchen with rift-cut white oak cabinetry and a natural stone island.

Luxurious Lake Home | Oconomowoc, WI

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Arboles Whole House Remodel

M Prevost Design

Whole House Remodel in a modern spanish meets california casual aesthetic.

Turtle Lake Estate

Exclusively Cabinets by Cabinetek

The true testament to a modern kitchen is its minimalistic approach. This beautiful walnut kitchen is accented by the white high gloss cabinetry portrayed in both the main kitchen and prep kitchen. We also included a walnut dry bar to make sure dinner parties had two separate areas for food presentation and drinks.

Buffalo Grove Transitional Kitchen and Bar Remodel

Patrick A. Finn, Ltd

Celadon Green Transitional

Kitchen Magic

Celadon Green and Walnut kitchen combination. Quartz countertop and farmhouse sink complete the Transitional style.

Killiney House

RCD DESIGN

looking through glass crittal pocket doors to kitchen island.

Wandsworth Kitchen renovation

Kitchens By Holloways

Japandi Minimalist Kitchen and Powder Room

Cedarstone Renovations Improvements Inc.

A minimalist kitchen is like the no-makeup makeup! Everything is well thought out throughout the space!

Claremont Street kitchen renovation and Family Room Makeover

Laurie Yapp Design

This is a water front home with walls that were opened up to enjoy the water view. A new kitchen was created

Eaglerock, CA

Tamara Marie Designs

This fun and quirky kitchen is all thing eclectic. Pink tile and emerald green cabinets make a statement. With accents of pine wood shelving and butcher block countertop. Top it off with white quartz countertop and hexagon tile floor for texture. Of course, the lipstick gold fixtures!

Marietta "Modern Farmhouse" Kitchen

INTERIORS BY ABRAHAM

We created a Grand space for entertaining and giving more storage space and hanging out space by creating an Open Kitchen & Breakfast Area. We made it all cohesive to Design by bringing in Modern Farmhouse details such as the wood work and Decorative ShipLap & "X" Desigins on Island and Table enough for 8 people. White Cabinetry with Gold Accent Hardware and Industrial Wall Sconces & Hanging Table Pendants gives this Kitchen the Bling it needs. We added a Wetbar Space for the Husband to entertain guests and never sacrificed Design.

Family Focused Kitchen Remodel

Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC

https://genevacabinet.com Geneva Cabinet Company, Lake Geneva WI, kitchen remodel to expand space for an open plan, family focused lake house.

Restauro Appartamento Via Magnolie

Arch. Alessandra Cipriani

Open space con cucina, corner breakfast studiati nel minimo dettaglio

Classic Interior Greenwood Village

Laura Medicus Interiors

This is a beautiful ranch home remodel in Greenwood Village for a family of 5. Look for kitchen photos coming later this summer!

JENNINGS BAY KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

A large island with a waterfall countertop provides work space for multiple cooks and seating for the grandchildren.

Scandi-Asian Fusion

Sola Kitchens

One wowee kitchen! Designed for a family with Sri-Lankan and Singaporean heritage, the brief for this project was to create a Scandi-Asian styled kitchen. The design features ‘Skog’ wall panelling, straw bar stools, open shelving, a sofia swing, a bar and an olive tree.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops 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!