Armstrong - Rustic Hardwood

A & E Flooring

2017 CARRE-FS

Leicht Westchester-Greenwich

Cottonwood

Zoske Construction

Blissfully Traditional - St. Charles, IL

PB Kitchen Design

This homeowner is a local shop keeper and interior designer in Geneva, who exudes style and a has a great eye for interiors. There was no doubt that we had to create a space that showcased her favorite decorative accents and heirlooms. A myriad of display cabinets were artfully fitted into the design which delightfully boasts her family’s keepsakes. The refrigerator, strategically hidden within the wall, is a millwork backdrop – Not standing in the way, like refrigerators are famous for. The kitchen a visual work of art amid the ordinary tasks of cooking and tidying. Project specs: Appliances by Gaggenau, Walnut island with natural quartzite countertops. Limestone countertops on the perimeter’s white painted cabinets. Photo Bruce Van Inwegen

Madeline Island

Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd

Photograph by Pete Sieger

Piceu Residence

Saroki Architecture

Dramatic archways linking rooms visually to one another in graceful fashion define the interior spaces.

Open To The View

Design First Interiors

This kitchen was only made possible by a combination of manipulating the architecture of the house and redefining the spaces. Some structural limitations gave rise to elegant solutions in the design of the demising walls and the ceiling over the kitchen. This ceiling design motif was repeated for the breakfast area and the dining room adjacent. The former porch was captured to the interior for an enhanced breakfast room. New defining walls established a language that was repeated in the cabinet layout. A walnut eating bar is shaped to match the walnut cabinets that surround the fridge. This bridge shape was again repeated in the shape of the countertop. Two-tone cabinets of black gloss lacquer and horizontal grain-matched walnut create a striking contrast to each other and are complimented by the limestone floor and stainless appliances. By intentionally leaving the cooktop wall empty of uppers that tough the ceiling, a simple solution of walnut backsplash panels adds to the width perception of the room. Photo Credit: Metropolis Studio

Contemporary Kitchen

Seaside kitchen

H. Miller Bros

Our design process is set up to tease out what is unique about a project and a client so that we can create something peculiar to them. When we first went to see this client, we noticed that they used their fridge as a kind of notice board to put up pictures by the kids, reminders, lists, cards etc… with magnets onto the metal face of the old fridge. In their new kitchen they wanted integrated appliances and for things to be neat, but we felt these drawings and cards needed a place to be celebrated and we proposed a cork panel integrated into the cabinet fronts… the idea developed into a full band of cork, stained black to match the black front of the oven, to bind design together. It also acts as a bit of a sound absorber (important when you have 3yr old twins!) and sits over the splash back so that there is a lot of space to curate an evolving backdrop of things you might pin to it. In this design, we wanted to design the island as big table in the middle of the room. The thing about thinking of an island like a piece of furniture in this way is that it allows light and views through and around; it all helps the island feel more delicate and elegant… and the room less taken up by island. The frame is made from solid oak and we stained it black to balance the composition with the stained cork. The sink run is a set of floating drawers that project from the wall and the flooring continues under them - this is important because again, it makes the room feel more spacious. The full height cabinets are purposefully a calm, matt off white. We used Farrow and Ball ’School house white’… because its our favourite ‘white’ of course! All of the whitegoods are integrated into this full height run: oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and a gigantic pantry cupboard. A sweet detail is the hand turned cabinet door knobs - The clients are music lovers and the knobs are enlarged versions of the volume knob from a 1970s record player.

Seaside Sophistication

Toledo Geller

Jacob Snavely

Contemporary Craftsman

Noble Heritage Builders Inc.

North Scottsdale Custom

AFT Construction

Roehner + Ryan

Jacob-Grace

R.W. Jones Construction, Inc.

Cocina Coeco 11

Grupo Coeco

Arquitecto Arancha Riestra

Retro, Mid Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Habitar Design

A contemporary, Mid-Century Modern kitchen refresh with gorgeous high-gloss white and walnut wood cabinetry paired with bright, red accents. The flooring is a beautifully speckled Terrazzo tile. Open shelving against a reclaimed brick backsplash is brightened up with recessed lighting. Our designer, Mackenzie Cain, created this truly unique kitchen for these stylish homeowners.

Bridgeland Remodel

Houston Home Staging and Design

American Guild

Atlantic Coast Flooring Inc

The Six Branches

Edgell Building, Inc.

Spruceleigh Remodel 2

Deffenbaugh Homes

L-shaped Kitchen with Brown 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!