Entertaining friends and family doesn't work well when rooms are small and closed off. So when our clients decided to remodel, they knew they wanted to open up the space to accommodate large gatherings. Also important were ample storage and quality appliances that would hold up to the demands of cooking creative meals several nights a week. As is sometimes the case with remodeling, solving one problem can create another. Opening up the space involved removing a wall, which sacrificed critical square footage for cabinetry and appliances. We knew the wall needed to come down so we were challenged with making sure every available cabinet space in the kitchen was being utilized as thoughtfully and creatively as possible. A tall pantry was added next to the refrigerator to allow for storage of pots and pans, as well as food, while another pantry in the adjacent dining room housed all dishes and silverware. A small bar area was created in an unused section in the back of the home to store coffee and tea accessories and drinkware. Finally, a small island in the center of the kitchen offered the ideal location for the microwave and most-used pots and pans. With the expanded space, smart use of storage options and top-notch appliances, our clients are enjoying working in their new kitchen and have already hosted a ravioli-making class! Matt Villano Photography

Contemporary Loft Living

Robinson Home

This luxurious downtown loft in historic Macon, GA was designed from the ground up by Carrie Robinson with Robinson Home. The loft began as an empty attic space above a historic restaurant and was transformed by Carrie over the course of 2 years. The main living area is modern, but very approachable and comfortable with ample room for entertaining.

EXETER KITCHEN

i.d. | interior design

Troy Thies

Kitchen Projects

Hampton's Kitchens & Appliances

Eagle Rock

Holly Loots - CKBD

Schuler Cabinetry in the Dalton door style, cherry wood with Eagle Rock Sable Glaze and Cappuccino finishes. DuraLosa sintered stone countertop in Casca. BLANCO DIAMOND™ Equal Double Bowl with Low-Divide sink in Cafe Brown. Emser Vista Backdrop glass mosaic tile backsplash. Danby Wine Chiller from ATGstores.com. Photos by Diana Kallerson of PNG Home Photography.

Natural Birdseye-Project 3216

Design 1 Kitchen & Bath

Quarter Sawn White Oak Kitchen with Island & Desk Area

Caves Kitchens

The cabinetry was crafted to shape around the kitchen appliances, maximizing the available space for storage. The dark quartz counter tops and white oak cabinetry combined gives this kitchen a warm and modern atmosphere. - Allison Caves, CKD Caves Kitchens

Tangley

Three Doors LLC

Designer Linda Brown Photographer Ben Glass

Green Goods

Design by Heather Tissue; construction by Green Goods Kitchen remodel featuring carmelized strand woven bamboo plywood, maple plywood and paint grade cabinets, custom bamboo doors, handmade ceramic tile, custom concrete countertops

Whidbey Island Modern Cottage

Lee Edwards - residential design

Telegraph Hill

Justrich Design

James Hall Photography

McLean, Virginia - Contemporary - Kitchen Design

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

McLean, Virginia Modern Kitchen design by #JenniferGilmer See more designs on www.gilmerkitchens.com

Custom Kitchen Design & Build

Custom Wood Products

Cats Cradle Photography

Updated Vintage Retreat

Catherine S. Grasso, Design For Living

I worked on the original renovation of this 1950 ranch style home back in 1994, when it was gutted, resurfaced, fitted with large windows and doors, basically completely transformed from a boring, dark, rectangular cinder block house into a light filled cozy cottage. Twenty two years later, it needed all new furniture, paint, lighting, art, and window treatments. I kept the 1950's kitchen cabinetry to maintain the "farmhouse" feel, just adding paint. It was so fun to have the opportunity to work on this house twice! Don Holtz

Cat's house

Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly

Livin' On a Prayer - Greene County, OH

Brentwood Builders, Inc

HGTV Lovers....this is a project for you! This home was built in the 1800s and the new owners wanted to expand and update the kitchen to accommodate their growing family. Hardwood flooring was laid, windows enlarged, walls removed, and PRESTO...you find yourself walking into a kitchen featured on HGTV! We will be submitting this project for an award for sure! Greg Clark Photography

Bright and Clean Mid Century Modern

SOLLiD Cabinetry

Shane Baker

Plano | Lakeside on Preston | Kitchen

Kitchen Design Concepts

Mid-century modern kitchen and butler's pantry by Kitchen Design Concepts in Plano, TX. This kitchen features Ultra Craft Rift Cut Oak (vertical) with a Natural finish in the Slab door style, Rehau Metal Tambour Door, Pratt & Larsen 3x8 "Metallic C602" tile backsplash in a straight lay, 3cm Cambria Bellingham countertops, Daltile Exquisite Ivory 12x24 porcelain floor tiles layed in a brick pattern, Blanco sinks, and appliances from Dacor including a 54" wall hood and 36" gas cooktop. Photo Credit: Unique Exposure Photography

Traditional Kitchens

Radzwillas Kitchen and Bath Design

Newark Street Kitchen

Wentworth

Jeff Hodgdon

Mid-sized Orange 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!