One of the hottest kitchen design trends today is to combine the sleek and minimalist with the warm and rustic. This makes for a lively conversation between materials that is intriguing and comforting at the same time. In this kitchen designed in collaboration with Gail Green Interiors, sleek stainless steel cabinets are combined with a tumbled marble backsplash in a "Harlequin" pattern and limestone counters, with a tumbled marble floor in beige, taupe and rust tones. Custom upholstered bar stool seats with decorative trimmings are perched on streamlined polished chrome bases. The beige lacquered dining chairs were designed by David Estreich for Mariani. Whimsical accessories include watering cans, toy cows and woven baskets. Refrigeration by Traulsen; range and hood by Thermador. Faucet by Harrington Brass. Sink by Franke.

Sophisticated Sleek Stainless Steel Kitchen

Gail Green Interiors

Sleek stainless steel open kitchen for a family with cooking, prep, sitting, desk, dining, and reading areas.

Antique Dalle de Bourgogne - a reclaimed 18th century floor from Burgundy in France

Sophisticated Sleek Stainless Steel Kitchen

Gail Green Interiors

Sleek stainless steel open kitchen for a family with cooking, prep, sitting, desk, dining, and reading areas.

Sophisticated Sleek Stainless Steel Kitchen

Gail Green Interiors

Sleek stainless steel open kitchen for a family with cooking, prep, sitting, desk, dining, and reading areas.

Ordway

Eisenmann Architecture

Carnegie Hill Park Avenue Apartment

Gail Green Interiors

The kitchen's color palette is a careful blend of warm and cool colors, smooth and rough textures, old an new things. Luminous stainless steel cabinets are offset by tumbled marble flooring and backsplash tiles in warm each tones of sienna, ivory and straw. Monochromatic limestone countertops are complemented by the swirling pattern of the ash burl topped dining table. State of the art kitchen equipment abound. It is an ideal place for this Carnegie Hill family of four to relax. The kitchen area has a simple layout with the handy working triangle design between range, refrigerator, and sink. There is ample counter space and plenty of storage including tall utility and pantry cabinets. The stainless steel cabinet surfaces are easy to maintain, and the limestone counters have been sealed to resist stains.

Carnegie Hill Park Avenue Apartment

Gail Green Interiors

The dining area teams up a wooden oval table with cream colored "Ora" chairs designed by David Estreich of David Estreich Architects. The classic club chair is also an Estreich design. The sitting area is designed to be a kind of family salon. Its focal point is the fireplace with a polished cast iron mantle int eh American Empire style of 1906. Bookcases, made of the stainless steel kitchen cabinets, flank the fireplace. Above the banquette hang six original chromolithographs of New York State vineyard grapes. The Doris Leslie Blau area rug is a Caucasian Kazak rule from the early 20th century.

Thermal Spring

Michael Given Environments, LLC

Pool side outdoor kitchen with deck above. Finishes include ledger stone bar and tv wall, custom Sicis glass tile backsplash, limestone counter tops, hand scrapped timber wraps for deck posts & beams, LED lighting, zoned audio system, & stone patio/pool deck by Michael Given Environments, LLC

Ordway

Eisenmann Architecture

Ordway

Eisenmann Architecture

Carnegie Hill Park Avenue Apartment

Gail Green Interiors

Cooking place

Cura Design

+ Constructed mostly from existing and reclaimed materials + floors, countertop and backsplashes out of natural limestone + Reclaimed teak skirting board and feature corner + concealed lighting and power outlets integrated in the design + customized kitchen countertop at the right height for cooking to clients requirements + A place to make a slow cooked meal. + Photo by: Joakim Boren

Sophisticated Sleek Stainless Steel Kitchen

Gail Green Interiors

Sleek stainless steel open kitchen for a family with cooking, prep, sitting, desk, dining, and reading areas.

Contemporary

Hallmark Cabinet

Carnegie Hill Park Avenue Apartment

Gail Green Interiors

The kitchen area has a simple layout with the handy working triangle design between range, refrigerator, and sink. There is ample counter space and plenty of storage including tall utility and pantry cabinets. The stainless steel cabinet surfaces are easy to maintain, and the limestone counters have been sealed to resist stains.

Vivienda en la Costa Brava

Eva Blazquez

Carnegie Hill Park Avenue Apartment

Gail Green Interiors

The sitting area is designed to be a kind of family salon. Its focal point is the fireplace with a polished cast iron mantle int eh American Empire style of 1906. Bookcases, made of the stainless steel kitchen cabinets, flank the fireplace. Above the banquette hang six original chromolithographs of New York State vineyard grapes. The Doris Leslie Blau area rug is a Caucasian Kazak rule from the early 20th century.

Kitchen with Stainless Steel Cabinets and Limestone Benchtops 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!