TEAM Interior Designer: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Youngblood Builders Photographer: Greg Premru Photography

This kitchen had not been renovated since the salt box colonial house was built in the 1960’s. The new owner felt it was time for a complete refresh with some traditional details and adding in the owner’s contemporary tastes. At initial observation, we determined the house had good bones; including high ceilings and abundant natural light from a double-hung window and three skylights overhead recently installed by our client. Mixing the homeowners desires required the skillful eyes of Cathy and Ed from Renovisions. The original kitchen had dark stained, worn cabinets, in-adequate lighting and a non-functional coat closet off the kitchen space. In order to achieve a true transitional look, Renovisions incorporated classic details with subtle, simple and cleaner line touches. For example, the backsplash mix of honed and polished 2” x 3” stone-look subway tile is outlined in brushed stainless steel strips creating an edgy feel, especially at the niche above the range. Removing the existing wall that shared the coat closet opened up the kitchen to allow adding an island for seating and entertaining guests. We chose natural maple, shaker style flat panel cabinetry with longer stainless steel pulls instead of knobs, keeping in line with the clients desire for a sleeker design. This kitchen had to be gutted to accommodate the new layout featuring an island with pull-out trash and recycling and deeper drawers for utensils. Spatial constraints were top of mind and incorporating a convection microwave above the slide-in range made the most sense. Our client was thrilled with the ability to bake, broil and microwave from GE’s advantium oven – how convenient! A custom pull-out cabinet was built for his extensive array of spices and oils. The sink base cabinet provides plenty of area for the large rectangular stainless steel sink, single-lever multi-sprayer faucet and matching filtered water dispenser faucet. The natural, yet sleek green soapstone countertop with distinct white veining created a dynamic visual and principal focal point for the now open space. While oak wood flooring existed in the entire first floor, as an added element of color and interest we installed multi-color slate-look porcelain tiles in the kitchen area. We also installed a fully programmable floor heating system for those chilly New England days. Overall, out client was thrilled with his Mission Transition.

The Deerhorn Residence

Arbor South Architecture

Mike Dean

Alamo, CA. Farmhouse. Full Service Design Firm. Kitchen.

LMK Interiors

Farmhouse style with an industrial, contemporary feel.

Hillside Residence Hanover NH

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Rob Karosis Photography www.robkarosis.com

Fall Creek Historic

aaNovo

Island Tranquility

Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs

Photography: Augie Salbosa

8th Place Renovation

Cherry Hill Custom Homes

The main floor of this mid-century split level home was completely opened up when we removed the only two walls separating the kitchen from the family and dining rooms. The much needed update was taken to the next level with book-matched natural cherry slab door cabinets. The modern detailing was warmed up with natural slate tile on the backsplash and in the box window, as well as soapstone countertops.

Kitchen

Christopher Scott Cabinetry and Design Inc.

This expansive kitchen feels warm and inviting because of the small details in the cabinetry. Warm wood tones combined with mixed material countertops, and of course the wood ceiling make this home a cozy space with plenty of room for all your family and friends.

Baker

Counter Culture Cabinetry

Elizabeth Fitzzaland

The Vista House - Kitchen

Ocean Contracting Corp

In this picture: Note the white apron sink with the tall panelized Thermador Ref. and Dishwasher This timeless kitchen is all about the WOW factor! From its custom walnut island top to its elegant and functional design, there is not one inch of this kitchen that went overlooked. With the high end Thermador appliance package and custom corner cabinets, this kitchen was built for the avid chef. From concept to completion this has to be one Ocean Contracting more applauded kitchens.

Red Ledges (Oquirrh Mountain Drive)

Timberidge Custom Homes

French Farmhouse

Mirador Builders

California Cottage

Mosaic Architects Boulder

Jim Bartsch

Palm Residence in New York

Michael Rust-Architect LLC

Crown Point Cabinetry

Rustic Wood Cabin

Silver Maple Construction LLC

photos by Susan Teare • www.susanteare.com

lautner model home, hammock lake

PBC Design + Build

Traditional Kitchen

Kitchens

Grossmueller's Design Consultants

South Berkeley Open Eclectic Kitchen

Levitch Associates, Incorporated

Treve Johnson

Open Plan Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops 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!