You don't have to own a big celebrity mansion to have a beautifully appointed house finished with unique and special materials. When my clients bought an average condo kitted out with all the average builder-grade things that average builders stuff into spaces like that, they longed to make it theirs. Being collectors of colorful Fiesta tableware and lovers of extravagant stone, we set about infusing the space with a dose of their fun personality. There wasn’t a corner of the house that went untouched in this extensive renovation. The ground floor got a complete make-over with a new Calacatta Gold tile floor, and I designed a very special border of Lunada Bay glass mosaic tiles that outlines the edge of every room. We ripped out a solid walled staircase and replaced it with a visually lighter cable rail system, and a custom hanging chandelier now shines over the living room. The kitchen was redesigned to take advantage of a wall that was previously just shallow pantry storage. By opening it up and installing cabinetry, we doubled the counter space and made the kitchen much more spacious and usable. We also removed a low hanging set of upper cabinets that cut off the kitchen from the rest of the ground floor spaces. Acquarella Fantasy quartzite graces the counter surfaces and continues down in a waterfall feature in order to enjoy as much of this stone’s natural beauty as possible. One of my favorite spaces turned out to be the primary bathroom. The scheme for this room took shape when we were at a slab warehouse shopping for material. We stumbled across a packet of a stunning quartzite called Fusion Wow Dark and immediately fell in love. We snatched up a pair of slabs for the counter as well as the back wall of the shower. My clients were eager to be rid of a tub-shower alcove and create a spacious curbless shower, which meant a full piece of stone on the entire long wall would be stunning. To compliment it, I found a neutral, sandstone-like tile for the return walls of the shower and brought it around the remaining walls of the space, capped with a coordinating chair rail. But my client's love of gold and all things sparkly led us to a wonderful mosaic. Composed of shifting hues of honey and gold, I envisioned the mosaic on the vanity wall and as a backing for the niche in the shower. We chose a dark slate tile to ground the room, and designed a luxurious, glass French door shower enclosure. Little touches like a motion-detected toe kick night light at the vanity, oversized LED mirrors, and ultra-modern plumbing fixtures elevate this previously simple bathroom. And I designed a watery-themed guest bathroom with a deep blue vanity, a large LED mirror, toe kick lights, and customized handmade porcelain tiles illustrating marshland scenes and herons. All photos by Bernardo Grijalva

The Butcher Block Project

Home Options Made Easy

Design and Cabinetry by Home Options Made Easy in Barrie

Sea Glass House

Absolute Interiors

This teal sofa gave our clients a relaxing space to watch TV. The colour of the sofa picked up soft green veins in the kitchen stone worktop. It also added a bit of fun and colour to the space.

Донецкая

EQWER | Ремонт квартир

Двухкомнатная квартира в новостройке

Kitchen

ODS Architecture

Kitchen with large quartz island with storage within it is the focal point. Light wood cabinets have dark accent pulls and countertops with quartzite backsplash.

Modern Marvel

Delbert Adams Construction Group

Modern kitchen and island with dark wood cabinetry and white Caeserstone quartz waterfall countertops, stainless steel appliances, white marble flooring, and views into adjacent dining area.

Seidner Road

RBL Designs, Inc.

Majestic towering cabinets with a waterfall center island with under-counter lighting.

Marco Island Retreat

Maritza Capiro Designs Corp.

Kitchen and dining area in this beach retreat in Naples/Marco Island area.

Stunning Kitchen Remodel

Paragon Construction Company LLC

Classy full kitchen remodel with granite countertops that are accompanied by black and wood bar stools. Kitchen also houses double wall ovens and two microwaves with doors to keep them hidden. Stainless steel appliances all throughout the kitchen for a clean and sleek look and feel all around.

Casa DeBella in Cape Coral, Florida

SW Florida Dream Homes

James McClain

In-frame ivory and walnut L shaped with a curved island

Hannaway Hilltown Ltd

In-frame ivory and walnut L shaped with a curved island. Finished with walnut plinth side panels and and cornice,

Hope Ranch- Complete Remodel

Luxe Remodel

Stonebridge Kitchen Renovation

Manotick Kitchen and Bath

Monroe Cream Glaze Kitchen

Premium Cabinets

Maple Cream Glaze

Striking Gold In Estada

SANOMA Kitchen & Bath

Our bold, contemporary kitchen located in Cooper City Florida is a striking combination of of textured glass and high gloss cabinetry tempered with warm neutrals, wood grain and an elegant rush of gold.

Mountain Modern Ranch Panel Home

Mountain Log Homes of CO, Inc.

Aphrodite counter with Labradorite island, Macabus Quartzite perimeter, grey hickory cabinets, Kitchenaid appliances, glass backsplash tile to ceiling, custom Quartz Krystal Pendant light, LED surface disc lights, exposed log ceiling, center island, terrazzo tile floor

NAC Display in Mount Kisco

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

Designed for our Mount Kisco showroom by Danielle Florie, this kitchen features frameless cabinetry by North America Cabinets (or NAC), Bilotta’s most affordable cabinetry line. There is a mix of finishes: the perimeter and part of the island are in White Dove paint on their Princeton door; the remainder of the island is a flat panel cherry veneer in their “Night Shade” finish; the hutch is a Shaker door in Rivera Oak laminate with the exception of the door frame and countertop which are cherry veneer in their “Austin” finish. The perimeter countertop is Alleanza quartz in a polished finish, while the island is Asterix granite in a leather finish for more texture. There is also an integrated walnut block on the island. All appliances in this “live” kitchen (built-in double ovens, one steam and the other convection; microwave drawer; dishwasher; pro-cooktop; hood; and refrigerator) are all by Thermador. Hardware is from Altas Hardware in a brass finish which complements the light fixtures above the sink.

Falmouth Foreside

Maine Coast Homes

Kitchen with White Floor and Multi-Coloured Benchtop 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!