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.

パーゴラテラスの家

関本竜太｜リオタデザイン

Greenwich Waterfront Shingle

VanderHorn Architects

Stainless steel countertops and glass upper cabinets enhance the blue-lacquered walls and cabinetry in the bright Service Pantry.

Whitton Road, Twickenham

50 Degrees North Architects

Overview Whole house refurbishment, space planning and daylight exercise. The Brief To reorganise the internal arrangement throughout the client’s new home, create a large, open plan kitchen and living space off the garden while proposing a unique relationship to the garden which is at the lower level. Our Solution Working with a brilliant, forward-thinking client who knows what they like is always a real pleasure. This project enhances the original features of the house while adding a warm, simple timber cube to the rear. The timber is now silver grey in colour and ageing gracefully, the glass is neat and simple with our signature garden oriel window the main feature. The modern oriel window is a very useful tool that we often consider as it gives the client a different place to sit, relax and enjoy the new spaces and garden. If the house has a lower garden level it’s even better. The project has a great kitchen, very much of the moment in terms of colour and materials, the client really committed to the look and aesthetic. Again we left in some structure and wrapped the kitchen around it working WITH the project constraints rather than resisting them. Our view is, you pay a lot for your steelwork… Show it off!

Warm Welcome - Kitchen Remodel

KONST SieMatic - Kitchen Interior Design

Anice Hoachlander

Park Slope, Brooklyn Rowhouse

Barker Associates Architecture Office

Lesley Unruh

GRIFFIN ENRIGHT ARCHITECTS: Mandeville Canyon Residence

Griffin Enright Architects

The kitchen is highlighted by a blue glass back splash.

存在感あるネイビー色ガルバリウム銅板の装い

SCHOOL BUS OSAKA｜スクールバス空間設計

Colorful Kitchen !

Select Marble and Granites MA

Traditional Kitchen with Gray Accents

ULFBUILT

This part of the kitchen accents the stainless-steel appliances that are panel finished with the gray cabinetry, which leaves more space to move around. Built by ULFBUILT - General contractor of custom homes in Vail and Beaver Creek. We treat each project with care as if it were our own. Contact us to learn more.

bulthaup b3 Küche in Aluminium sandbeige

Bulthaup am Preussenpark

matthias baumbach

M邸

ELD INTERIOR PRODUCTS　（株式会社イールドインテリアプロダクツ）

造作キッチンバックはホワイトオーク、壁面にはタイルを使用。作業台天板はモルタル風塗装を施している。 photo by Shinichiro Uchida

Traditional kitchen with stainless steel benchtop

Improva

キッチン

重量木骨の家（耐震構法SE構法）

シンプルなデザインのシンクや業務用の棚など、機能性を第一に考えてコーディネイトしたキッチン。業務用の実務的なデザインと作家ものの器が調和している。

Blue Colonial Kitchen Remodel

ProCraft Fine Cabinet & Woodwork

Kök

helsingHouse Fastighetsmäklare

Caprice & Fergal's 1904 Queen Anne Victorian

Arciform

The kitchen nook is a kid-friendly eating space with a durable steel counter top. The detailed millwork and shaded chandelier give the space a sophisticated feel. Photo by Patrick Weishampel/blankeye.tv. Design by Anne De Wolf. Staging by Shannon Quimby.

Stainless Steel Counter tops

Bickford Construction Corporation

A great contrast to the walnut butcher block center island, this stainless steel counter top provides a cook's work surface.

Kitchen with Stainless Steel Benchtops and Medium Hardwood Floors 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!