Wilshire Kitchen, Portland (Photo: Matt Niebuhr)

Breakfast nook--After. A custom built-in bench (cherry, like the cabinetry) works well for eat-in breakfasts. Period reproduction lighting, Deco pulls, and a custom formica table root the kitchen to the origins of the home. All photos by Matt Niebuhr. www.mattniebuhr.com

Ash / Kitchen Remodel

Cabinet Concepts

Joel Faurote

Cardiff Family Kitchen

LJS Design Inc

This Cardiff Family Kitchen is designed to be a fun central meeting place for many of the days activities. The french doors give everyone direct access to the exterior patio and ocean breezes. while the large picture window overlooks a more intimate patio that holds the spa. The large chefs range serves to be flexible enough to prepare large dinners for entertaining many or everyday family dinners. The center prep island counter suits this floor plan well as it redirects traffic out of the cooking zone while keeping everyone close enough for conversation.

Village Park Eco Home

BGI Design

This galley sink is a cook's dream! Any board or bowl imaginable comes as an integrated piece so that cooking and serving are easy. Placed in front of the window with a park nearby, this is the perfect location for the sink. The countertops are made from recycled glass bottles and have specs of blue/green in them, perfectly enhanced by the glass backsplash. Michael Hunter Photography

Green Goods

Design by Heather Tissue; construction by Green Goods Kitchen remodel featuring carmelized strand woven bamboo plywood, maple plywood and paint grade cabinets, custom bamboo doors, handmade ceramic tile, custom concrete countertops

Beach House - Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Bigelow Interiors

Recycled glass countertops, built-in sub-zero refrigerator, dishwasher drawers, mechanical shades and cornice boxes, pendent lighting, bead board and wainscot, planked ceiling, Siberian oak floors all add up to comfort and beauty. John Durant Photography Chereskin Architecture

West 190th St.

KBR Design & Build

Kitchen Remodel in Upper Manhattan. Mediterranean style back splash with recycled glass counter tops. KBR Design & Build

Ventura Vetrazzo Kitchen

Vetrazzo

Open and airy, the free flowing design of this kitchen allows for entertaining. Keeping the palette light and bright, the Chivalry Blue Vetrazzo glass counters add a shimmering sparkle with its cobalt blue, clear and powder blue glass. The full backsplash walls tiled to the ceiling line takes the design to another level. The open shelving keeps the space bright and allows for showcasing the blue dishware.

Contemporary Kitchen

Creative colorful kitchen in Monterey

WoodMaster

A mixture of maple, alder, mahogany and metal cabinets. All clear lacquer finish.

"Folly Roger" | Folly Beach, SC

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

Beach House - Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Bigelow Interiors

This kitchen has it all - dishwasher drawers, sub-zero built-in refrigerator with over-lay panel, Siberian Oak floors, planked wood ceiling, recycled glass countertops, a two-sided fireplace with French Limestone surround, custom cabinets, specialty paint and a view of the ocean... John Durant Photography, Chereskin Architecture

Kitchen countertops featuring Curava recycled glass surfaces in Savaii

Curava Recycled Glass Surfaces

Kitchen countertops featuring Curava recycled glass surfaces in Savaii. The Savaii countertops by Curava featuring recycled glass and natural golden seashells sparkle against the dark cabinetry, stainless appliances, beautiful blue tile and natural light through the kitchen window.

James Island Renovation

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

Manufacturer of custom recycled glass counter tops and landscape glass aggregate. The countertops are individually handcrafted and customized, using 100% recycled glass and diverting tons of glass from our landfills. The epoxy used is Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and emits no off gassing. The newest product base is a high density, UV protected concrete. We now have indoor and outdoor options. As with the resin, the concrete offer the same creative aspects through glass choices. "Colleen Green" contributed her own Grolsch bottles. We added Bombay Sapphire gin bottles and oysters and other green wine bottles.

Wilshire Kitchen, Portland (Photo: Matt Niebuhr)

Howells Architecture + Design

Designed for a 1930s Portland, OR home, this kitchen remodel aims for a clean, timeless sensibility without sacrificing the space to generic modernism. Cherry cabinets, Ice Stone countertops and Heath tile add texture and variation in an otherwise sleek, pared down design. A custom built-in bench works well for eat-in breakfasts. Period reproduction lighting, Deco pulls, and a custom formica table root the kitchen to the origins of the home. All photos by Matt Niebuhr. www.mattniebuhr.com

Green Goods

Smithtown Chef's Kitchen

Artistic Cabinetry

HM Photography

Creative colorful kitchen in Monterey

WoodMaster

A mixture of maple, alder, mahogany and metal cabinets. All clear lacquer finish.

MODERN KITCHEN WITH VETRAZZO AND THINK GLASS COUNTERTOPS

Julie Bradshaw BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

Bright modern kitchen.

Harwichport Beach House

Augustus Construction

This is a kosher kitchen everything was designed and built double. The cabinetry was custom made down to the faced dishwasher's to each side of the sink. Designed by Wild Water Designs Photography by Elyssa Cohen

Kitchen with Recycled Glass Benchtops and Blue 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!