Celadon Green and Walnut kitchen combination. Quartz countertop and farmhouse sink complete the Transitional style.

Step into a kitchen that exudes both modern sophistication and inviting warmth. The space is anchored by a stunning natural quartzite countertop, its veined patterns reminiscent of a sun-drenched landscape. The countertop stretches across the kitchen, gracing both the perimeter cabinetry and the curved island, its gentle curves adding a touch of dynamism to the layout. White oak cabinetry provides a grounding contrast to the cool quartzite. The rich, natural grain of the wood, paired with a crisp white paint, create a sense of airiness and visual lightness. This interplay of textures and tones adds depth and dimension to the space. Breaking away from the traditional rectilinear lines, the island features curved panels that echo the countertop's gentle sweep. This unexpected detail adds a touch of whimsy and softens the overall aesthetic. The warm vinyl flooring complements the wood cabinetry, creating a sense of continuity underfoot.

Modern Meets South Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN

White Birch Design, LLC

When the clients for this 1940's Minneapolis home came to us with their kitchen, they wanted to really make a kitchen they could be proud to come home to and entertain friends and family. With a Scandinavian focus in mind, we played with a number of different elements to bring the whole design together. The cabinets are painted a blue/gray color and the tops are a marble-like quartz. The backsplash is a simple, yet elegant, gray elongated subway tile that tucks up right under the floating shelves and upper cabinets. The floors are a wood-looking luxury vinyl plank. Finally the open shelves are made of reclaimed barn wood sourced from Minnesota. One of the focuses in this kitchen was to create a space for coffee. The coffee nook was specifically designed to accommodate the specific coffee maker the homeowners selected. Overall, we are completely in love with this look and how beautiful it turned out!

Oak island with seating

Marvista Design + Build

Oak island featuring Edison style pendant lights and soft white cabinets at perimeter.

Seacliff

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Luxurious Lake Home | Oconomowoc, WI

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Aberdeen Model

Old Town Design Group

Port Aransas New Build

Studio Cecile

Carmel Kitchen and Fireplace Remodel

T. Morgan Construction, Inc.

If this beautiful modern kitchen had a catchphrase, it would be "go big, or go home!". With an expansive island, large light fixtures, oversized subway tile, and lengthy cabinet hardware, everything in this space is scaled perfectly to match the high ceilings and the spacious room. The magnificent fireplace is the perfect accent to this large, open concept space. Its modern look and cozy warmth are the glue that ties this space together. Weather hosting an elaborate dinner party, or enjoying movie night with the family, this space will bring the "wow" factor to all.

Aliso Viejo- Hollyleaf

Streamline Construction

Catura Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | New Carlisle, Ohio

Flooret

A rich, even, walnut tone with a smooth finish. This versatile color works flawlessly with both modern and classic styles.

Center City One - Creating an Accessible Home

Ellen Farber Strategic Design

Pictured here is a closeup of the microwave and island storage which includes 4 pantry drawers, under cabinet microwave, drawers for pots and pans easily located near the cooktop and drawers for kitchen supplies, napkins, and other items. The kitchen was originally planned to mimic the location of appliances in her current kitchen to minimize re-learning of appliance locations. The only change was adding a trash cabinet between the fridge and the sink. A french door fridge allows someone in a wheelchair to easily access frozen and cold foods, while the water and ice dispenser on the outside of the door make it easy to stay hydrated rather than using the sink each time. She can roll up to the kitchen sink due to the recessed cabinetry under the sink or stand at counter height to put away dishes from the dishwasher. The dishwasher is ADA and very simple to use , and is raised off the floor so whether she is sitting or standing it's easier to reach. The gas cooktop has controls at the front making it easy to reach from the wheelchair and the exhaust fan above also has a control at the front. All cabinet door handles are D-shape, which makes them easy to grasp and there is plenty of electric outlets for charging phones, computers and small appliances. The kitchen island is table height at 30" so meal prep can be easily done in a wheelchair while guests and can be seated in a chair or wheelchair around the island. The dining chairs can also be turned around to add extra seating in the living room area. Pendant lights above the kitchen island light up the space, while recessed lighting in the kitchen and living room provide overall room lighting. There is also under cabinet lighting which makes the room glow at night! Wainscoting made of commercial grade material is strategically placed on sharp corners and exposed walls to reduce and minimize damage from the wheel chair, while creating a finished and complete look! We selected a free standing microwave to sit below the island, which is easy to use and is the same style as in her previous apartment. The island is 48" from the appliance wall, leaving ample space to open doors and maneuver around in the wheelchair and has easy access to the laundry area as well. We eliminated the pocket doors that had been in front of the laundry area for easy access, and since it was exposed, dressed it up with coordinating tile to the kitchen with additional cabinets above. There is a coordinating quartz counter on top of the washer and dryer for folding laundry or storing additional supplies.

Open concept kitchen and dining

This award winning kitchen features a large island with built in induction hob and plenty of worktop space for this passionate baker.

Warm Eclectic Kitchen

Wendy Glaister Interiors

A pause in the craziness of life led our homeowner to consider a change in her kitchen. She wanted a place to display collections and heirlooms, provide ample storage for pantry items and gadgets, and give her a view to her breathtaking backyard. We expanded the footprint, pushing the house line back six feet, installed a picture window with a spectacular copper range and hood centered beneath, and planned her collections display areas for maximum effect.

White Kitchen with Calcutta Marble Laminate Countertop and Tile Backsplash

Cabinet-S-Top

In this kitchen, Waypoint Living Spaces 644S Door style in Painted Linen was installed with a Wilsonart Calcutta Marble laminate countertop. A Transolid Diamond sink and pull down Luxe stainless faucet was installed. On the floor is Triversa Country Ridge Autumn Glow luxury vinyl plank flooring.

Kitchen with Vinyl Floors and Brown Floor 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!