Robert Merhaut

The old galley kitchen is gone! By removing the wall we were able to create an open floor plan and get a peninsula with eating space. There is a pantry, slide out appliance cabinet with power, and on the back side is another cabinet on the living room side.

Stiles Creek

Berghuis Construction LLC

Photos by Kaity Interiors by Ashley Cole Design Architecture by David Maxam

Warm Mist Lane Wide Open Kitchen & Family Room

Alair Homes Plano

Our clients wanted to open up the wall between their kitchen and living areas to improve flow and continuity and they wanted to add a large island. They felt that although there were windows in both the kitchen and living area, it was still somewhat dark, so they wanted to brighten it up. There was a built-in wet bar in the corner of the family room that really wasn’t used much and they felt it was just wasted space. Their overall taste was clean, simple lines, white cabinets but still with a touch of style. They definitely wanted to lose all the gray cabinets and busy hardware. We demoed all kitchen cabinets, countertops and light fixtures in the kitchen and wet bar area. All flooring in the kitchen and throughout main common areas was also removed. Waypoint Shaker Door style cabinets were installed with Leyton satin nickel hardware. The cabinets along the wall were painted linen and java on the island for a cool contrast. Beautiful Vicostone Misterio countertops were installed. Shadow glass subway tile was installed as the backsplash with a Susan Joblon Silver White and Grey Metallic Glass accent tile behind the cooktop. A large single basin undermount stainless steel sink was installed in the island with a Genta Spot kitchen faucet. The single light over the kitchen table was Seagull Lighting “Nance” and the two hanging over the island are Kuzco Lighting Vanier LED Pendants. We removed the wet bar in the family room and added two large windows, creating a wall of windows to the backyard. This definitely helped bring more light in and open up the view to the pool. In addition to tearing out the wet bar and removing the wall between the kitchen, the fireplace was upgraded with an asymmetrical mantel finished in a modern Irving Park Gray 12x24” tile. To finish it all off and tie all the common areas together and really make it flow, the clients chose a 5” wide Java bamboo flooring. Our clients love their new spaces and the improved flow, efficiency and functionality of the kitchen and adjacent living spaces.

Modern Downtown Portsmouth

Mari Woods Kitchen Bath Home, LLC

Greg West Photography

River Cottage

Gardner Construction Corp.

Gardner Companies

Fish Camp

Josh Wynne Construction

Our latest project, Fish Camp, on Longboat Key, FL. This home was designed around tight zoning restrictions while meeting the FEMA V-zone requirement. It is registered with LEED and is expected to be Platinum certified. It is rated EnergyStar v. 3.1 with a HERS index of 50. The design is a modern take on the Key West vernacular so as to keep with the neighboring historic homes in the area. The home unfolds to allow for water views from all rooms in the home, even on the very narrow lot. Ryan Gamma Photography

Indian Shores Custom Beach House

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc.

This is a small beach cottage constructed in Indian shores. Because of site limitations, we build the home tall and maximized the ocean views. It's a great example of a well built moderately priced beach home where value and durability was a priority to the client. Cary John

The Blues

Jennifer Ryan Design

Teaberry Way

Century Park Interiors

Grandin Terrace

Carlton Edwards

Painted IKEA Kitchen Cabinets

shirleyandchris

Painted our IKEA kitchen cabinets for under $200.

Modern Japanese

Interiors For Modern Living

Photography by: Bob Jansons H&H Productions

228 Herada St.

Entire, Inc

wally sears photography

Clyde Hill Remodel

grouparchitect

Architect: Grouparchitect Contractor: Lochwood Lozier Custom Construction Photography: Michael Walmsley

Scarsdale Renovations and Additions

JV Design

Kitchen

Oak Valley Residence

Colorado Custom Dwellings, LLC

Specialty Spice Rack

Big City Construction Co

Bayside Images

RWH line at Holiday Kitchens

Robin Wilson Home

Cabinetry is RWH line by Holiday Kitchens Appliance garage for countertop items Photographer credit: Vanessa Lenz

Custom 2-Story Signature Bali on the Big Island

Bamboo Living Homes

Jonathan Davis: www.photokona.com

Open Plan Kitchen with Bamboo Floors 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!