Giaime Meloni

A couple wanted a weekend retreat without spending a majority of their getaway in an automobile. Therefore, a lot was purchased along the Rocky River with the vision of creating a nearby escape less than five miles away from their home. This 1,300 sf 24’ x 24’ dwelling is divided into a four square quadrant with the goal to create a variety of interior and exterior experiences while maintaining a rather small footprint. Typically, when going on a weekend retreat one has the drive time to decompress. However, without this, the goal was to create a procession from the car to the house to signify such change of context. This concept was achieved through the use of a wood slatted screen wall which must be passed through. After winding around a collection of poured concrete steps and walls one comes to a wood plank bridge and crosses over a Japanese garden leaving all the stresses of the daily world behind. The house is structured around a nine column steel frame grid, which reinforces the impression one gets of the four quadrants. The two rear quadrants intentionally house enclosed program space but once passed through, the floor plan completely opens to long views down to the mouth of the river into Lake Erie. On the second floor the four square grid is stacked with one quadrant removed for the two story living area on the first floor to capture heightened views down the river. In a move to create complete separation there is a one quadrant roof top office with surrounding roof top garden space. The rooftop office is accessed through a unique approach by exiting onto a steel grated staircase which wraps up the exterior facade of the house. This experience provides an additional retreat within their weekend getaway, and serves as the apex of the house where one can completely enjoy the views of Lake Erie disappearing over the horizon. Visually the house extends into the riverside site, but the four quadrant axis also physically extends creating a series of experiences out on the property. The Northeast kitchen quadrant extends out to become an exterior kitchen & dining space. The two-story Northwest living room quadrant extends out to a series of wrap around steps and lounge seating. A fire pit sits in this quadrant as well farther out in the lawn. A fruit and vegetable garden sits out in the Southwest quadrant in near proximity to the shed, and the entry sequence is contained within the Southeast quadrant extension. Internally and externally the whole house is organized in a simple and concise way and achieves the ultimate goal of creating many different experiences within a rationally sized footprint. Photo: Sergiu Stoian

Custom Outdoor Kitchen Design

TruColor Builders

Tru Color Builders considers every project to be our most important – no matter how big or small. Our designers will work with you throughout the entire process to bring your custom outdoor kitchen to life, from the initial design to final delivery. If you want an outdoor kitchen that can be rearranged, moved around and taken with you to a future home, choose a grill with wheels. These are common and come in a wide variety of sizes, features and prices.

Chevy Chase, Maryland -Transitional - Bright Kitchen Design

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Chevy Chase, Maryland -Transitional - Bright Kitchen Design Designed by #JGKB http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod.

Arcadia Heights Renovation

DFS Construction Inc.

Traditional Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

Contemporary Farmhouse

Imagine Inc — Home & Commercial Design

Kitchen

CS Thomas Construction

This kitchen has a reclaimed mixed hardwood floor, marble countertops, custom decorative wood range hood, full height glass subway tile backsplash, 6-burner gas Viking range, large center island with seating, shiplap walls, and full height custom cabinets.

2018 Berkeley Whole House Remodel

HDR Remodeling Inc.

Photo by Michael Hospelt

Mayfair Basement Remodel

Foster Hill Design

Joe Tighe

Ten Years in the Dreaming

Interiology Design Co.

Photo by Jared Kuzia.

Armstrong

Absolute Flooring, Inc.

Captiva Beach Cottage

Alair Homes Sanibel

LeAnne Ash

Brewer Hollow House

Elizabeth Eason Architecture LLC

Bruce Cole Photography

Gladstone Kitchen

Vicki Simon Interior Design

This room which used to be the breakfast room is now the full functioning kitchen with the workhorse area in just 8 feet with the added butcher block combo work surface/ breakfast bar in the center. Photo by David Papazian.

Sophisticated Farmhouse Kitchen, East Hampton

Coastal Cabinet Works

Ally Young

Timber Frame Home for Retirement in North Carolina - Kitchen

Riverbend Timber Framing

Timber beams extend over the kitchen, which includes a live edge wood slab as the island countertop. Photo Credit: Lassiter Photography

Clever Storage by Wood-Mode

Cabinets & Designs

Wood-Mode Custom Cabinetry provides an opportunity to transform any kitchen space into a clever storage idea.

Cannon River Residence

Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd

Dana Wheelock

Butcher Block Counter

Floor & Decor

Walnut Butcher Block Countertop 8ft 96in. Pure® Spa Blue Shiny Glass Tile 3in. x 9in.

Kitchen with Wood Benchtops and Glass Tile 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!