Shaker style cabinets with a honey glaze were used throughout the kitchen. Thin kiln dried brick tile on the floor. The countertop, backsplash and farmhouse sink are all made of soapstone. A lack of upper cabinets required us to get creative with the underside of the desk, ultimately creating a 4' desktop with the back 2' dedicated to dish storage. The lower barn had been a timber framed tobacco barn but was not beefy enough to handle residential occupancy and modern building codes. A new timber framed structure was built in its place, and the timbers were planed to give the a hand hewn appearance.

1910 Foursquare Kitchen

Craftsman Design and Renovation

The original kitchen was disjointed and lacked connection to the home and its history. The remodel opened the room to other areas of the home by incorporating an unused breakfast nook and enclosed porch to create a spacious new kitchen. It features stunning soapstone counters and range splash, era appropriate subway tiles, and hand crafted floating shelves. Ceasarstone on the island creates a durable, hardworking surface for prep work. A black Blue Star range anchors the space while custom inset fir cabinets wrap the walls and provide ample storage. Great care was given in restoring and recreating historic details for this charming Foursquare kitchen.

Marietta Kitchen

Brubaker Inc

@MatthewToth

Hilltop Remodel

Highline Construction

Maryubayahi Kitchen

Cynthia Easton Architects

Kacie Young

The Plains, VA Kitchen

Home Sweet Home Improvements LLC

Photo: K. Priscilla Jones

Timber Frame Transitional Kitchen

Designs for Living by Wendy, LLC

Designer Kirsten Grove's Dreamy Waxed Alberene Soapstone Kitchen

Polycor

The clean, contrasting light / dark tonality is carried throughout the kitchen and enhanced by the waxed Alberene Soapstone honed countertops from the Polycor Schuyler, Virginia quarry. Photo: Karen Krum

Classic Transitional Remodel

Nicole Wolters

Ehlen Creative Communications, LLC

TimberHouse

Misiaszek Turpin pllc

The 7,600 square-foot residence was designed for large, memorable gatherings of family and friends at the lake, as well as creating private spaces for smaller family gatherings. Keeping in dialogue with the surrounding site, a palette of natural materials and finishes was selected to provide a classic backdrop for all activities, bringing importance to the adjoining environment. In optimizing the views of the lake and developing a strategy to maximize natural ventilation, an ideal, open-concept living scheme was implemented. The kitchen, dining room, living room and screened porch are connected, allowing for the large family gatherings to take place inside, should the weather not cooperate. Two main level master suites remain private from the rest of the program; yet provide a complete sense of incorporation. Bringing the natural finishes to the interior of the residence, provided the opportunity for unique focal points that complement the stunning stone fireplace and timber trusses. Photographer: John Hession

Clever Storage Detail - Hood Surround

User

Laura Moss Photography

Eclectic Green Kitchen

CC Woodcrafters of New England

Welcome to this charming, high-style kitchen featuring Benjamin Moore paint in “everglades” to show off a one-of-a-kind look. How about that antique stove and drop-in sink? Those throw backs plus the shabby chic crystal chandeliers make this kitchen one of our all-time favorites. Soapstone counter tops provide a stunning contrast to the painted cabinetry. Inset doors with barrel hinges highlight the character of this CCW Custom remodel. Classic decorative ends polish the look as the beaded inside edge detail of the doors add depth and dimension. Blind corner storage makes good use of every inch as does the intelligently hidden double trash pullout. This alluring country design makes us want to pull up a stool at the counter and sip sweet tea from a mason jar.

Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen

2B Design, LLC

A colorful bright Scandinavian inspired kitchen with great details! Solid Alabaster pendant lighting, acrylic bar stools, soapstone counter tops and natural red birch ship lap island. Dining accented with purple velvet end chairs and lambs wool seats on bent wood chairs. A rolling table on the extra long bench provides a drop space for refreshments or laptop. All of this backed with Thibaut wallpaper and contemporary sconce lighting.

Repurposed Wood Kitchen renovation

Campbell's Residential Design Service

This kitchen was completely redesigned using original cabinetry while adding new to match perfectly. Soapstone countertops add brilliance and shine to match the metal backsplash and illuminate the natural lit kitchen.

Oakland Hills Kitchen Remodel

Distinctive Cabinetry

This contemporary open kitchen remodel in Oakland Hills is dreamy. Highlights include custom black cabinetry by Eclipse cabinetry and luscious soapstone countertops and backsplash. Top-end appliances such as a subzero fridge, Thermador wall oven, speed oven, warming drawer, and induction cooktop and Miele paneled dishwasher make this kitchen a joy. The Custom Eclipse cabinetry offers plenty of storage while more soapstone flows into the dining room for serving and storage.

t House

ANX / Aaron Neubert Architects

New Hartford Traditional Country Kitchen

Showcase Kitchens

There's a chicken peeking out of this chicken wire/custom cabinet door. It really loves its new home! Love these knobs on these cabinet doors!

Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops and Black Appliances 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!