Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Although this kitchen had ample cabinets and countertops, none of it was functional. Tall appliances divided what would have been a functional run of counters. The cooktop was placed at the end of a narrow island. The walk-in pantry jutted into the kitchen reducing the walkspace of the only functional countertop to 36”. There was not enough room to work and still have a walking area behind. Dark corners and cabinets with poor storage rounded out the existing kitchen. Removing the walk in pantry opened the kitchen and made the adjoining utility room more functional. The space created by removing the pantry became a functional wall of appliances featuring: • 30” Viking Freezer • 36” Viking Refrigerator • 30” Wolf Microwave • 30” Wolf warming drawer To minimize a three foot ceiling height change, a custom Uberboten was built to create a horizontal band keeping the focus downward. The Uberboten houses recessed cans and three decorative light fixtures to illuminate the worksurface and seating area. The Island is functional from all four sides: • Elevation F: functions as an eating bar for two and as a buffet counter for large parties. Countertop: Ceasarstone Blue Ridge • Elevation G: 30” deep coffee bar with beverage refrigerator. Custom storage for flavored syrups and coffee accoutrements. Access to the water with the pull out Elkay faucet makes filling the espresso machine a cinch! Countertop: Ceasarstone Canyon Red • Elevation H: holds the Franke sink, and a cabinet with popup mixer hardware. Countertop: 4” thick endgrain butcherblock maple countertop • Elevation I: 42” tall and 30” deep cabinets hold a second Wolf oven and a built-in Franke scale Countertop: Ceasarstone in Blue Ridge The Range Elevation (Elevation B) has 27” deep countertops, the trash compactor, recycling, a 48” Wolf range. Opposing counter surfaces flank of the range: • Left: Ceasarstone in Canyon Red • Right: Stainless Steel. • Backsplash: Copper What originally was a dysfunctional desk that collected EVERYTHING, now is an attractive, functional 21” deep pantry that stores linen, food, serving pieces and more. The cabinet doors were made from a Zebra-wood-look-alike melamine, the gain runs both horizontally and vertically for a custom design. The end cabinet is a 12” deep message center with cork-board backing and a small work space. Storage below houses phone books and the Lumitron Graphic Eye that controls the light fixtures. Design Details: • An Icebox computer to the left of the main sink • Undercabinet lighting: Xenon • Plug strip eliminate unsightly outlets in the backsplash • Cabinets: natural maple accented with espresso stained alder.

Tribeca Loft

nC2 architecture llc

Renovation and reconfiguration of a 4500 sf loft in Tribeca. The main goal of the project was to better adapt the apartment to the needs of a growing family, including adding a bedroom to the children's wing and reconfiguring the kitchen to function as the center of family life. One of the main challenges was to keep the project on a very tight budget without compromising the high-end quality of the apartment. Project team: Richard Goodstein, Emil Harasim, Angie Hunsaker, Michael Hanson Contractor: Moulin & Associates, New York Photos: Tom Sibley

Chef's Kiss-Loomis CA

Juxtaposed Interiors

Vermont Kitchen, Sycamore Farm

Fired Earth

Vermont freestanding kitchen in Smoke Blue, Andaman Sea and Dover Cliffs with Caesarstone Blackened Rock and Crystal Snow worktops. Paris Isabelle tiles on wall, limestone tiles on floor. Walls painted in Silica White. This kitchen can be viewed at our Sycamore Farm showroom.

Industrial Condo's Open Kitchen

Sarah Montgomery Interiors

This industrial condo in Roger's Park got a complete overhaul. The layout remained while all finishes, flooring and furniture were upgraded. The tall ceilings and large windows are the focal point of the space and so we kept it light and bright, while mixing textures and finishes to create interest. The client's own eclectic art and object collections pair perfectly with the pops of color in the furniture and accessories. The hand glazed kitchen backsplash tile is the perfect contrast to the white, wood and stainless steel and nods to the changing colors of the lake view across.

Nashville Kitchen Refresh

Usable Space Interiors, LLC

Another view.

Warren Terrace Hinsdale

Plain & Posh

These homeowners were ready to update the home they had built when their girls were young. This was not a full gut remodel. The perimeter cabinetry mostly stayed but got new doors and height added at the top. The island and tall wood stained cabinet to the left of the sink are new and custom built and I hand-drew the design of the new range hood. The beautiful reeded detail came from our idea to add this special element to the new island and cabinetry. Bringing it over to the hood just tied everything together. We were so in love with this stunning Quartzite we chose for the countertops we wanted to feature it further in a custom apron-front sink. We were in love with the look of Zellige tile and it seemed like the perfect space to use it in.

Wandsworth Kitchen renovation

Kitchens By Holloways

Spanish European Casita | Baja Norte California, Mexico

Leanne Michael L U X E lifestyle design

Charming modern European custom kitchen for a guest cottage with Spanish and moroccan influences! This kitchen was fully renovated and designed with airbnb short stay guests in mind; equipped with a coffee bar, double burner gas cooktop, mini fridge w/freezer, wine beverage fridge, microwave and tons of storage!

Tucked In Cottage On Bunker Hill

S.Flynn Design + Build

White Modern Kitchen with open shelving.

Bohème Chic

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Contemporary Meets Classic in a Kitchen and Family Room Remodel

Two Hands Interiors

Open shelving between traditional white cabinets provide a convenient place for functional storage and a moment to display favorite art pieces. The stacked Zellige tile to the ceiling framed by Hick pendent lights blend the contemporary and classic touches.

Reclaimed Timber & Elegant Brass

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

We designed this cosy grey family kitchen with reclaimed timber and elegant brass finishes, to work better with our clients’ style of living. We created this new space by knocking down an internal wall, to greatly improve the flow between the two rooms. Our clients came to us with the vision of creating a better functioning kitchen with more storage for their growing family. We were challenged to design a more cost-effective space after the clients received some architectural plans which they thought were unnecessary. Storage and open space were at the forefront of this design. Previously, this space was two rooms, separated by a wall. We knocked through to open up the kitchen and create a more communal family living area. Additionally, we knocked through into the area under the stairs to make room for an integrated fridge freezer. The kitchen features reclaimed iroko timber throughout. The wood is reclaimed from old school lab benches, with the graffiti sanded away to reveal the beautiful grain underneath. It’s exciting when a kitchen has a story to tell. This unique timber unites the two zones, and is seen in the worktops, homework desk and shelving. Our clients had two growing children and wanted a space for them to sit and do their homework. As a result of the lack of space in the previous room, we designed a homework bench to fit between two bespoke units. Due to lockdown, the clients children had spent most of the year in the dining room completing their school work. They lacked space and had limited storage for the children’s belongings. By creating a homework bench, we gave the family back their dining area, and the units on either side are valuable storage space. Additionally, the clients are now able to help their children with their work whilst cooking at the same time. This is a hugely important benefit of this multi-functional space. The beautiful tiled splashback is the focal point of the kitchen. The combination of the teal and vibrant yellow into the muted colour palette brightens the room and ties together all of the brass accessories. Golden tones combined with the dark timber give the kitchen a cosy ambiance, creating a relaxing family space. The end result is a beautiful new family kitchen-diner. The transformation made by knocking through has been enormous, with the reclaimed timber and elegant brass elements the stars of the kitchen. We hope that it will provide the family with a warm and homely space for many years to come.

Modern IKEA Kitchen Remodel

Dendra Doors

Modern IKEA kitchen with custom cabinets in our Slab style door done with a High Gloss White finish

Grayhawk - Modern Farmhouse

Kitchens by Good Guys

At our Modern Farmhouse project, we completely remodeled the entire home and modified the kitchens existing layout allowing this new layout to take shape. We have the custom 1/4 Sawn Oak island with marble quartz 2 1/2" mitered countertops. To add a pop of color, the entire home is accented in beautiful black hardware. In the 12' island, we have a farmhouse sink, pull out trash and drawers for storage. We did custom end panels on the sides, and wrapped the entire island in furniture base to really make it look like a furniture piece. On the range wall, we have a drywall hood that really continues to add texture to the style. We have custom uppers that go all the way to the counter, with lift up appliance garages for small appliances. All the perimeter cabinetry is in swiss coffee with black honed granite counters.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen

EmV Design Build

Robin Stancliff photo credits. This kitchen had a complete transformation, and now it is beautiful, bright, and much more accessible! To accomplish my goals for this kitchen, I had to completely demolish the walls surrounding the kitchen, only keeping the attractive exposed load bearing posts and the HVAC system in place. I also left the existing pony wall, which I turned into a breakfast area, to keep the electric wiring in place. A challenge that I encountered was that my client wanted to keep the original Saltillo tile that gives her home it’s Southwestern flair, while having an updated kitchen with a mid-century modern aesthetic. Ultimately, the vintage Saltillo tile adds a lot of character and interest to the new kitchen design. To keep things clean and minimal, all of the countertops are easy-to-clean white quartz. Since most of the cooking will be done on the new induction stove in the breakfast area, I added a uniquely textured three-dimensional backsplash to give a more decorative feel. Since my client wanted the kitchen to be disability compliant, we put the microwave underneath the counter for easy access and added ample storage space beneath the counters rather than up high. With a full view of the surrounding rooms, this new kitchen layout feels very open and accessible. The crisp white cabinets and wall color is accented by a grey island and updated lighting throughout. Now, my client has a kitchen that feels open and easy to maintain while being safe and useful for people with disabilities.

Contemporary Craftsman

Noble Heritage Builders Inc.

Mazama Meadow Guest House. Mazama, Washington

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Kitchen counter detail. Image by Steve Broussea

Roseberry Road

Point 5 Kitchens Ltd

Herringbone Brick Ceiling

Fratantoni Design / Residential Architects

Incorporating architectural design elements such as this herringbone ceiling, custom hood and range, wood floor, and custom backsplash create the perfect kitchen.

Kitchen with Terra-cotta Splashback and Metal 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!