These clients came to my office looking for an architect who could design their "empty nest" home that would be the focus of their soon to be extended family. A place where the kids and grand kids would want to hang out: with a pool, open family room/ kitchen, garden; but also one-story so there wouldn't be any unnecessary stairs to climb. They wanted the design to feel like "old Pasadena" with the coziness and attention to detail that the era embraced. My sensibilities led me to recall the wonderful classic mansions of San Marino, so I designed a manor house clad in trim Bluestone with a steep French slate roof and clean white entry, eave and dormer moldings that would blend organically with the future hardscape plan and thoughtfully landscaped grounds. The site was a deep, flat lot that had been half of the old Joan Crawford estate; the part that had an abandoned swimming pool and small cabana. I envisioned a pavilion filled with natural light set in a beautifully planted park with garden views from all sides. Having a one-story house allowed for tall and interesting shaped ceilings that carved into the sheer angles of the roof. The most private area of the house would be the central loggia with skylights ensconced in a deep woodwork lattice grid and would be reminiscent of the outdoor “Salas” found in early Californian homes. The family would soon gather there and enjoy warm afternoons and the wonderfully cool evening hours together. Working with interior designer Jeffrey Hitchcock, we designed an open family room/kitchen with high dark wood beamed ceilings, dormer windows for daylight, custom raised panel cabinetry, granite counters and a textured glass tile splash. Natural light and gentle breezes flow through the many French doors and windows located to accommodate not only the garden views, but the prevailing sun and wind as well. The graceful living room features a dramatic vaulted white painted wood ceiling and grand fireplace flanked by generous double hung French windows and elegant drapery. A deeply cased opening draws one into the wainscot paneled dining room that is highlighted by hand painted scenic wallpaper and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The walnut paneled library opens up to reveal the waterfall feature in the back garden. Equally picturesque and restful is the view from the rotunda in the master bedroom suite. Architect: Ward Jewell Architect, AIA Interior Design: Jeffrey Hitchcock Enterprises Contractor: Synergy General Contractors, Inc. Landscape Design: LZ Design Group, Inc. Photography: Laura Hull

Cast Stone Kitchen Hood in Chicago

Omega Stone Mantels

Cast limestone Kitchen Hood https://www.omegakitchenhoods.com/

Houston Wooded Bayou Home

Newberry Architecture

Trey Hunter Photography

Project 5 in Chappaqua

Amazing Spaces

The vaulted white panel ceiling and windows that bring in lots of natural light help this kitchen feel open and airy. White cabinetry and grey marble countertops are accented with polished chrome and glass accents. The ivory subway tile backsplash is accented with decorative blue-green ceramic tile above the cooktop. Rustic decorative beams help maintain a farmhouse quality in this modern space. Ilir Rizaj

12207 N. Presidio Court Fountain Hills Az

Bellago Homes

Highres Media

Kitchens

Connie Anderson Photography

Andre Properties

Jay Andre Construction, Inc.

Nice little kitchen

D&J Kitchens and Baths Inc.

Dave Adams Photographer

A Louisiana kitchen renovation

User

A 1960's bungalow with the original plywood kitchen, did not meet the needs of a Louisiana professional who wanted a country-house inspired kitchen. The result is an intimate kitchen open to the family room, with an antique Mexican table repurposed as the island.

Iron Horse Ranch (Crosstimbers)

Adams Kirby Homes

Kitchen Remodel in Canton

Mans Lumber & Millwork

Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry

Southport Cabinet Company

Mountain Luxury Cabin with open beams

Debordieu Colony, Traditional New Construction

Elizabeth Taylor Satterfield Interior Design, Inc.

Rachel Clark Photography

Allen Residence

Freestyle Interiors

Daniel Newcomb

Tiny Kitchen

Charmaine Wynter Enterprises

When other firms refused we steped to the challenge of designing this small space kitchen! Midway through I lamented accepting but we plowed through to this fabulous conclusion. Flooring natural bamboo planks, custom designed maple cabinetry in custom stain, Granite counter top- ubatuba , backsplash slate tiles, Paint BM HC-65 Alexaner Robertson Photography

Sunny Tuscan Inspired Kitchen with Beautiful Bronze Accents

emma delon

This warm and inviting Tuscan inspired kitchen is located in a lovely little neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina. Here, warm cream cabinets are accented beautifully with Cambria Canterbury Quartz countertops, Jerusalem Gold limestone backsplashes, and bronze accents. The stainless steel appliances and Kohler stainless steel Simplice faucet provide a nice contrast to the dark bronze hardware, tile inserts, and light fixtures. The existing breakfast room light fixture, table, and chairs blend beautifully with the new selections in the room. New hardwood floors, finished to match the existing throughout the house, work fabulously with the warm yellow walls. The careful selection of cabinetry storage inserts and brand new pantry storage units make this kitchen a wonderfully functional space and a great place for both family meals and entertaining. copyright 2012 marilyn peryer photography

Kitchen Design by Sugarbridge

Sugarbridge Kitchen & Bath Design, LLC

Traditional Kitchen

Carolina Kitchens

Leesburg Traditional Kitchen - Fridge & Ovens

Synergy Design & Construction

The center island features cabinetry and drawers on the sink side. Behind, the pantry area fits a full-height cabinet, double ovens, and a refrigerator with bottom-mount freezer.

Kitchen with Raised-panel Cabinets and Multi-Coloured Splashback 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!