Susan Teare Photography

Nature Reclaimed Project Details Designer: Columbia Cabinets Cabinetry: Brookhaven I – Frameless Cabinetry Wood: Maple Finishes: Lightly distressed matte brown with black glaze Door: Presidio Raised Countertop: Perimeter – Ceasarstone Raven; Island – Antique Brown Quartzite Awards 2014 Parade of Homes, Pinnacle Homes-Best Kitchen This was a very special project and a very special home with a magnificent open floor plan and sweeping view of Saratoga Lake. Natural stone and reclaimed wood were used to bring the beauty of the surroundings into the house and the heartwood maple of the cabinets was finished with a lightly distressed matte brown with black glaze. This spectacular kitchen/great room truly defines the casual elegance of modern family living. The project was featured in the 2014 Parade of Homes and is a design award winner.

North Valley

Bespoke Woodwork

Cabinets and Woodwork by Marc Sowers. Photo by Patrick Coulie. Home Designed by EDI Architecture.

Oak Reno

Park and Oak Design

Cotswold Chapel Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Base cabinets contrast perfectly in Farrow & Ball Down Pipe with the oak worktops and shelving- all attached to slate wall tiles that marry perfectly with the limestone flooring. The Farrow & Ball Chappell Green on the wall cabinets is illuminated by the LED strip light. A cream Rayburn with tray space to the right provides warmth for Toffee the dog.

Mountain Home Kitchen

Maraya Interior Design

This small, rustic, kitchen is part of a 1200 sq ft cabin near the California coast- Hollister Ranch. There is no electricity, only wind power. We used the original wood siding inside, and washed it with a light stain to lighten the cabin. The kitchen is completely redesigned, using natural handscraped pine with a glaze coat. Stainless steel hood, skylight, and pine flooring. We used a natural sided wood beam to support the upper cabinets, with wood pegs for hanging vegetables and flowers drying. A hand made wrought iron pot rack is above the sink, in front of the window. Antique pine table, and custom made chairs. Multiple Ranch and Mountain Homes are shown in this project catalog: from Camarillo horse ranches to Lake Tahoe ski lodges. Featuring rock walls and fireplaces with decorative wrought iron doors, stained wood trusses and hand scraped beams. Rustic designs give a warm lodge feel to these large ski resort homes and cattle ranches. Pine plank or slate and stone flooring with custom old world wrought iron lighting, leather furniture and handmade, scraped wood dining tables give a warmth to the hard use of these homes, some of which are on working farms and orchards. Antique and new custom upholstery, covered in velvet with deep rich tones and hand knotted rugs in the bedrooms give a softness and warmth so comfortable and livable. In the kitchen, range hoods provide beautiful points of interest, from hammered copper, steel, and wood. Unique stone mosaic, custom painted tile and stone backsplash in the kitchen and baths. designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. Photo by Peter Malinowski

Transitional Kitchens

Clarke - New England’s Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom

Isle of Palms Modern Cottage Kitchen

Phillip Smith General Contractor, LLC

Photo by: Warren Lieb

Hill Country Contemporary

Geschke Group Architecture

Hill Country contemporary has roots of tradtional design elements with influences of more modern detailing and arrangements.

Los Altos Colonial

Henrybuilt Seattle

8-1/2" Saddle - Reclaimed Heart Pine Collection

CRAFT Artisan Wood Floors

Shallow cabinetry was added for additional storage. Perfect for can goods or dishes! WINNER of an OBIE Award by the Greater Atlanta Builder's Association. Photography by BeezEyeViewphotography.com

Elmhurst Cottage

DESIGN LAB 444

Stephanie Russo Photography

Wayne, PA Historical Kitchen & Bath Renovation

Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc

The original breakfast room was removed and the corner corner squared off a the site of the new sink. The removal of the wall dividing the kitchen and dining areas allowed the kitchen to expand and accommodate the open concept floor plan. The result is an amazingly comfortable & beautiful space in which to cook & entertain.

Punchards Down

Green Bird Workshop

The gorgeous shade of Craig & Rose hand painted door and drawer fronts blends tastefully with our solid oak worktops, floating shelves and scooped handle design in this Totnes kitchen.

The Design Atelier

Photo by Emily Followill

Saddle River Country Farm House

Kuche+Cucina

Ken Lauben

Lake-side Cottage

Melichar Architects

Tricia Shay Photography

Kitchen Remodel: Floating Shelves

Buck the Builder

Floating shelf design feature in the corner of the kitchen: we wrapped butcher block around these open corner shelves to give them a distinct look.

Kitchen with Wood Benchtops and Stone 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!