Our client approached Matter in late 2019 for a new kitchen. While the existing kitchen had a reasonable layout and some great features, the cupboards weren’t optimising the space to its full potential, particularly for storage. Noting that the old kitchen aged very quickly, our client wanted the new kitchen to be constructed entirely from plywood—liking the appearance and strength of the material. They also loved vibrant use of colour and suggested we look at the kitchens featured in films by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar for inspiration. The result was a playful mix of hand painted navy, light blue and retro orange in combination with a ‘raw’ effect from the birch plywood. To save on cost and waste, we decided to keep certain components of the kitchen that have remained in very good condition. Some of these included the stainless steel bench tops and oven/range hood stack, as well as a polished concrete island bench top. We replaced most of the cupboards with drawer units specifically tailored to fit our client's extensive collection of cookware and appliances with adjustable partitions. An integrated Hideaway rubbish bin free’s up circulation space and a Kesseböhmer pull-out pantry will ensure no bottle of spice is ever lost to the back of a cupboard again.

Pi_Pad

Mcmahon and Nerlich

Light filled kitchen and dining space, with bespoke dining table and featuring Australian artists.

Award Winning Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

This view shows the play of the different wood tones throughout the space. The different woods keep the eye moving and draw you into the inviting space. We love the classic Cherner counter stools. The nostalgic pendants create some fun and add sculptural interest. All track lighting was replaced and expanded by cutting through beams to create good task lighting for all kitchen surfaces.

Wellington

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Projet NATIONALE | 19m² | Paris 13e

NEVA Architecture Intérieure - Interior Design

On adore cette jolie cuisine lumineuse, ouverte sur la cour fleurie de l'immeuble. Un joli carrelage aspect carreau de ciment mais moderne, sous cette cuisine ikea blanche aux moulures renforçant le côté un peu campagne, mais modernisé avec des boutons en métal noir, et une crédence qui n'est pas toute hauteur, en carreaux style métro plat vert sauge ! Des petits accessoires muraux viennent compléter le côté rétro de l'ensemble, éclairé par des suspensions design en béton.

Mettawa Illinois French Country Kitchen with Art Tile Backsplash

Orren Pickell Building Group

Chef's kitchen with white perimeter recessed panel cabinetry. In contrast, the island and refrigerator cabinets are a dark lager color. All cabinetry is by Brookhaven. Kitchen back splash is 3x6 Manhattan Field tile in #1227 Peacock with 4.25x4.25 bullnose in the same color. Niche is 4.25" square Cordoba Plain Fancy fIeld tile in #1227 Peacock with fluid crackle finish and 3.12 square Turkistan Floral Fancy Field tile with 2.25x6 medium chair rail border. Design by Janet McCann. Photo by Mike Kaskel.

Edwardian Double Fronted House

Imperfect Interiors

Chris Snook

Reforma integral de un piso de 40m2 en Madrid

StudioMadera s.l.

North Tustin - Addition and Remodel

Pacific Coast Builders, Inc.

Modern Farmhouse kitchen with shaker style cabinet doors and black drawer pull hardware. White Oak floating shelves with LED underlighting over beautiful, Cambria Quartz countertops. The subway tiles were custom made and have what appears to be a texture from a distance, but is actually a herringbone pattern in-lay in the glaze. Wolf brand gas range and oven, and a Wolf steam oven on the left. Rustic black wall scones and large pendant lights over the kitchen island. Brizo satin brass faucet with Kohler undermount rinse sink. Photo by Molly Rose Photography

Montclair Sanctuary

Tina Montemayor Design

South Park Family Home, Fulham

Into interior design

Photo Rachael Smith

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen. All appliances are under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Harborview Renovation

Mass Architect, LLC

open concept renovation with new kitchen and great room

Del Ray Sears Bungalow

WINN Design+Build

Stacy Zarin-Goldberg

Box in Box - monolocale | 26 mq

Fo.Ca | Studio d'architettura

Vista verso la cucina e la zona notte. Questa foto rende bene l'organizzazione complessiva degli spazi all'interno del monolocale. La 'scatola' che contiene la zona notte ricopre anche la funzione di libreria e di mobile contenitore. I materiali utilizzati rendono questo piccolo piccolo ambiente ricco e confortevole. Il calore del legno è bilanciato dagli inserti di colore verde e dalle pannellature bianche. Lo spazio nel suo insieme è estremamente funzionale e moderno.

A Bountiful Beauty

Lisman Studio Interior Design

Photo by Lucy Call

Lawton Street

Bethesda Builders Ltd.

Photo by Allen Russ, Hoachlander Davis Photography

Rancho Kitchen

David Galindo Home

photo credit: Christel Robleto styling: Michelle Qazi

Texas Treasure

BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

This Texas Treasure began as a simple kitchen remodel, then expanded to include the entire home! What was a tired, dark, cramped space has now become an open, light, bright space fit for a serious cook! She yearned for natural and organic elements that harken to the outdoors. Stone, antique, rough, hand-hewn beams fit the bill perfectly!

Vermont Hilltop Home

HAYNES & GARTHWAITE ARCHITECTS

Photographer: Greg Hubbard

Open Plan Kitchen with Green 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!