The position of the kitchen is between the family TV room and the formal dining area; therefore the kitchen forms the core of this family home. Tall walnut cabinets add the warmth and richness of American Black Walnut to this otherwise very calm colour scheme. The walnut dining table and bar on the island incorporates walnut accents throughout the room, enriching the design making it feel welcoming and inviting.

Replacing a cookie cutter kitchen with a contemporary space full of drama, individuality and exquisite design and materials. Glass top table, bamboo chopping block, Houdini glass on bathroom doors, and concrete countertops and pitched inlaid stainless steel drying area.

Mid-Century Remodel

David Henig, Architect

Eric Rorer

Farmhouse Yellow

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

The historic restoration of this First Period Ipswich, Massachusetts home (c. 1686) was an eighteen-month project that combined exterior and interior architectural work to preserve and revitalize this beautiful home. Structurally, work included restoring the summer beam, straightening the timber frame, and adding a lean-to section. The living space was expanded with the addition of a spacious gourmet kitchen featuring countertops made of reclaimed barn wood. As is always the case with our historic renovations, we took special care to maintain the beauty and integrity of the historic elements while bringing in the comfort and convenience of modern amenities. We were even able to uncover and restore much of the original fabric of the house (the chimney, fireplaces, paneling, trim, doors, hinges, etc.), which had been hidden for years under a renovation dating back to 1746. Winner, 2012 Mary P. Conley Award for historic home restoration and preservation You can read more about this restoration in the Boston Globe article by Regina Cole, “A First Period home gets a second life.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2013/10/26/couple-rebuild-their-century-home-ipswich/r2yXE5yiKWYcamoFGmKVyL/story.html Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Modern Luxury Farmhouse Kitchen

Spires Interiors

Spires Interiors recently completed a new build project in Earls Colne, near Colchester Essex, encompassing the design and installation of a new kitchen and open-plan dining space, and utility room. The house is set in an incredibly scenic spot, and the customers have a passion for natural materials and in particular solid wood. They wanted a traditional finish in the kitchen, complemented by a colour palette that wouldn’t date, and found that our in-frame range offered exactly what they were looking for. The combination of different worktops works so well in the space as it adds character, charm, and a natural feel to the room, as well as warmth from the solid wood worktops. There is a living space at the end of the room and the colours and tone of the space reflect the relaxing area created. Made-to-measure doors and cabinets give us the flexibility to utilise every space in the kitchen by creating little units with pull-outs and custom-sized cabinets to make the room work as functionally as possible. The overmantle itself was manufactured in three parts after getting the specification from the design team and working with the clients to get it as the customers wanted. Working with these customers and understanding what they wanted was a pleasure, as they brought plenty of ideas to the project and were open to new ideas from our design team. Together we came up with a fantastic kitchen that they can enjoy for many years to come.

Wohnhaus Berlin Grunewald

Reuter Schoger Architektur Innenarchitektur

raumhohe Einbauküche Foto: Reuter Schoger

Charming and Spacious Kitchen, Lafayette

Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins, Inc.

Vermont goes Hobbit Modern

Meditch Murphey Architects

A pull-out ladder leads to an open loft for additional space. photo by Lael Taylor

Sinker Cypress Kitchen Island w/ Inset End Grain Cutting Board

NOLA BOARDS

Featuring hand turned legs and an integrated, inset end grain sinker cypress cutting board. Photos by Jason Kruppe

Kitchen Expansion

Four Brothers Design + Build

American Classic Design

Aspen White Star, LLC

Grand Prairie Kitchen Remodel

Urbanology Designs

Transitional kitchen with farmhouse charm. A dark blue island makes the brass hardware come to life, as well as the butcher block counter top! Soft roman shades and a cement pendant complete the bright and cozy breakfast nook. photo by Convey Studios

Turn key Interiors by Casa Mia

Casa Mia USA Inc.

Arlington First Floor and Kitchen Remodel

New England Design & Construction

This major kitchen remodel removed a wall between kitchen and dining areas as well as closed off a stairwell entry point to create a more continuous kitchen area with open floor plan to the living area. Warm wood counters mixed with engineered quartz create a funky eclectic feel on top of white and green cabinets. A chalkboard column abuts a pesky chimney column. Jay Groccia @ OnSite Studios

Timberframe Mountain Home - Whistler, BC

ADA - arata hatanaka design atelier

Fully custom designed kitchen. Horizontal grain of American Walnut with solid Anegre raised eating bar are modern yet warm response to it's space. *illustrated images are from participated project while working with: Openspace Architecture Inc.

APPARTEMENT FESSART

User

Bertrand Fompeyrine

Maui Residence

April Powers Interior Design

48 Mag Blossom

Element Construction Partners

J Savage Gibson Photography

Marshall Renovation

Dillon Kyle Architects (DKA)

Peter Molick Photography

Kitchen with Wood Benchtops 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!