Our client approached Matter in late 2019 for a new kitchen. While the existing kitchen had a reasonable layout and some great features, the cupboards weren’t optimising the space to its full potential, particularly for storage. Noting that the old kitchen aged very quickly, our client wanted the new kitchen to be constructed entirely from plywood—liking the appearance and strength of the material. They also loved vibrant use of colour and suggested we look at the kitchens featured in films by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar for inspiration. The result was a playful mix of hand painted navy, light blue and retro orange in combination with a ‘raw’ effect from the birch plywood. To save on cost and waste, we decided to keep certain components of the kitchen that have remained in very good condition. Some of these included the stainless steel bench tops and oven/range hood stack, as well as a polished concrete island bench top. We replaced most of the cupboards with drawer units specifically tailored to fit our client's extensive collection of cookware and appliances with adjustable partitions. An integrated Hideaway rubbish bin free’s up circulation space and a Kesseböhmer pull-out pantry will ensure no bottle of spice is ever lost to the back of a cupboard again.

Edgemont Village New Build 2018/9

McCabe Design & Interiors

Photography by Tracey Ayton

Ticked all the boxes

Collaroy Kitchen Centre

Lyneham Extension and Renovation

Build Professional

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen

Four Walls Architecture

Maraetai Residence

Melanie Sa'u Design Studio

Classic bungalow renovation & extension creates an earthy toned sanctuary.

Alpha 1 Builders

This light bright kitchen suits the home perfectly with a stone waterfall island at it's heart. The stone is continued on the backsplash and cover for the rangehood giving a lovely clean wrap around effect. The traditional style shaker cabinetry ties it all into the age of the home beautifully. With the skylights allowing bursts of ligt to come down. The pendant lights are also a thing of beauty adding a softness that ties in so perfectly with the other dressings and the larger version in the dining area.

Okura House

Jessica Chloe Photography

Kitchen allows circulation while layering the function spaces, storage to the right, left and behind has a galley pantry and second preparation space

Slopehill Road House, Arrowtown

Mason & Wales Architects

Queenstown Stunner

Trends Kitchens

This Queenstown home features Trends Kitchens joinery throughout, including all storage, robes, a bar and a coffee station. The kitchen boasts a spectacular stone benchtop, with battened American Oak to the underside of the curved island. The negative details feature a brass laminate detail to tie in the marble in the stone, alongside the stunning Archant Berkley handles.

Oneills Project Two

Shannon Pepper Design

Sophistication in The Heights

Instinct Interiors

Pt Chevalier Apartment Kitchen

Honour Creative

When this client purchased an Auckland apartment ‘off the plans’, they wanted to put their stamp of quality on it. With considerable renovation experience and a keen eye for good design they knew how to elevate the proposed apartment fit-out to be a stand out in the development. This project went at a cracking pace and was heaps of fun! The intended aesthetic was strong, cohesive and sophisticated with the stone benchtop material as the feature. Whilst they came to Honour Creative with clear ideas of how they would like to approach the kitchen design, their clarity of vision was balanced with an openness to how to best work with their space and specific needs to create a space unique to them.

Small is beautiful

New Zealand Certified Builders Association

Sleek and stylish with a beautiful Canadian cedar ceiling.

Te Paea Project

Michael Murray Studio Limited

Penthouse Apartment Renovation

Mal Corboy Design

This penthouse apartment has glorious 270-degree views, and when we engaged to complete the extensive renovation, we knew that this apartment would be a visual masterpiece once finished. So we took inspiration from the colours featuring in many of their art pieces, which we bought into the kitchen colour, soft furnishings and wallpaper. We kept the bathrooms a more muted palette using a pale green on the cabinetry. The MC Lozza dining table, custom-designed wall units and make-up area added uniqueness to this space.

Contemporary new home situated absolute waterfront on the magnificent Waiheke Island. The expansive kitchen, scullery, and dining areas are positioned above the sunken lounge and provided a platform to create a feature of the kitchen. Simple white cabinetry was used, which is paired with Petra Grey Granite and finished with blue glass splashbacks and island features. LED lighting features extensively under the shelves plus within the island; not only provides light to the area but imparts drama in the evening.

Lancaster Beachside Home

Cuthbert Interiors

Kitchen Remodeling in Washington, D.C

Reno Maryland

Kitchen with Stainless Steel Appliances 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!