Contemporary Kitchens

Nordic Kitchens and Baths

Steve Whitsitt

Modern Kitchen with Charisma - Winfield, IL

TKS Design Group

Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW Collaborations are typically so fruitful and this one was no different. The homeowners started by hiring an architect to develop a vision and plan for transforming their very traditional brick home into a contemporary family home full of modern updates. The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn was hired to provide kitchen design expertise and to bring the vision to life. The bamboo cabinetry and white Ceasarstone countertops provide contrast that pops while the white oak floors and limestone tile bring warmth to the space. A large island houses a Galley Sink which provides a multi-functional work surface fantastic for summer entertaining. And speaking of summer entertaining, a new Nana Wall system — a large glass wall system that creates a large exterior opening and can literally be opened and closed with one finger – brings the outdoor in and creates a very unique flavor to the space. Matching bamboo cabinetry and panels were also installed in the adjoining family room, along with aluminum doors with frosted glass and a repeat of the limestone at the newly designed fireplace. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Eclectic Stoke Newington Apartment

User

The heart of this converted school house is a glorious open-plan kitchen where bespoke colander lights in aubergine, tango and lime pair with a vivid vintage gramophone for a colour injection. Photography by Fisher Hart

Jason Gobee's Projects

Blue Ridge Kitchens & Baths

Quarter sawn oak shaker style kitchen with two tiered island, drop in range, wood floors, stainless steel appliances. Home constructed by Stewart Builders of Long Valley, New Jersey. Photo taken by Jason Gobee of the Blue Ridge Lumber Co.

Lodi Township Custom Home

Studio Z Architecture

A large island with a contrasting finish provides a space for food prep and casual dining. Photo by Gary Easter

Central Phoenix Copper Hood

AFT Construction

The Charles House

Z+ Interiors

Artistic Retreat - Kitchen and butlers pantry

Terri Sears, Kitchen and Bath Designer

Alexandria, VA: Kitchen and Master Bath

Case Architects & Remodelers

Project Developer Elle Hunter https://www.houzz.com/pro/eleanorhunter/elle-hunter-case-design-and-remodeling?lt=hl Designer Elena Eskandari https://www.houzz.com/pro/eeskandari/elena-eskandari-case-design-remodeling-inc Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Rustic Sophisticated Bachelor Pad

The Bam House

Annie W Photography

Beaded Inset Custom Kitchen

Foxcraft Cabinets

This raised panel custom cherry kitchen by Foxcraft Cabinets features a cooktop across the corner, creating a great work zone. Notice the convenient pot filler faucet.

Natural Palette Kitchen in Cupertino Hills

Silva Custom Construction, Inc.

Traditional and Timeless Kitchen in Illinois

Village Home Stores

A corner pantry installed between entries to the kitchen add storage and a customized look. The refrigerator is flanked by two end panels and an open shelf space above fits shallow baskets to organize items discretely. Hazelwood Homes (Geneseo, IL)

Cabin Fever on Cross Lake

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

February and March 2011 Mpls/St. Paul Magazine featured Byron and Janet Richard's kitchen in their Cross Lake retreat designed by JoLynn Johnson. Honorable Mention in Crystal Cabinet Works Design Contest 2011 A vacation home built in 1992 on Cross Lake that was made for entertaining. The problems • Chipped floor tiles • Dated appliances • Inadequate counter space and storage • Poor lighting • Lacking of a wet bar, buffet and desk • Stark design and layout that didn't fit the size of the room Our goal was to create the log cabin feeling the homeowner wanted, not expanding the size of the kitchen, but utilizing the space better. In the redesign, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen and living room and added a third column to make it visually more appealing. We lowered the 16' vaulted ceiling by adding 3 beams allowing us to add recessed lighting. Repositioning some of the appliances and enlarge counter space made room for many cooks in the kitchen, and a place for guests to sit and have conversation with the homeowners while they prepare meals. Key design features and focal points of the kitchen • Keeping the tongue-and-groove pine paneling on the walls, having it sandblasted and stained to match the cabinetry, brings out the woods character. • Balancing the room size we staggered the height of cabinetry reaching to 9' high with an additional 6” crown molding. • A larger island gained storage and also allows for 5 bar stools. • A former closet became the desk. A buffet in the diningroom was added and a 13' wet bar became a room divider between the kitchen and living room. • We added several arched shapes: large arched-top window above the sink, arch valance over the wet bar and the shape of the island. • Wide pine wood floor with square nails • Texture in the 1x1” mosaic tile backsplash Balance of color is seen in the warm rustic cherry cabinets combined with accents of green stained cabinets, granite counter tops combined with cherry wood counter tops, pine wood floors, stone backs on the island and wet bar, 3-bronze metal doors and rust hardware.

Design Ideas

Showplace Design & Remodel

Carriage House Great Room

Timberpeg

Post and beam great room, timber frame carriage house

Mechanicsburg wide open spaces

Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry

Upper East Side Pied-à-Terre

AGENCIE Architecture & Engineering P.C.

"Container" House

Coates Design Architecture + Interiors

Container House interior

L-shaped Kitchen 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!