Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW For many, extra time at home during COVID left them wanting more from their homes. Whether you realized the shortcomings of your space or simply wanted to combat boredom, a well-designed and functional home was no longer a want, it became a need. Tina found herself wanting more from her Old Irving Park home and reached out to The Kitchen Studio about adding function to her kitchen to make the most of the available real estate. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than returning home to a bright and happy space you love. And this kitchen wasn’t that for Tina. Dark and dated, with a palette from the past and features that didn’t make the most of the available square footage, this remodel required vision and a fresh approach to the space. Lead designer, Stephanie Cole’s main design goal was better flow, while adding greater functionality with organized storage, accessible open shelving, and an overall sense of cohesion with the adjoining family room. The original kitchen featured a large pizza oven, which was rarely used, yet its footprint limited storage space. The nearby pantry had become a catch-all, lacking the organization needed in the home. The initial plan was to keep the pizza oven, but eventually Tina realized she preferred the design possibilities that came from removing this cumbersome feature, with the goal of adding function throughout the upgraded and elevated space. Eliminating the pantry added square footage and length to the kitchen for greater function and more storage. This redesigned space reflects how she lives and uses her home, as well as her love for entertaining. The kitchen features a classic, clean, and timeless palette. White cabinetry, with brass and bronze finishes, contrasts with rich wood flooring, and lets the large, deep blue island in Woodland’s custom color Harbor – a neutral, yet statement color – draw your eye. The kitchen was the main priority. In addition to updating and elevating this space, Tina wanted to maximize what her home had to offer. From moving the location of the patio door and eliminating a window to removing an existing closet in the mudroom and the cluttered pantry, the kitchen footprint grew. Once the floorplan was set, it was time to bring cohesion to her home, creating connection between the kitchen and surrounding spaces. The color palette carries into the mudroom, where we added beautiful new cabinetry, practical bench seating, and accessible hooks, perfect for guests and everyday living. The nearby bar continues the aesthetic, with stunning Carrara marble subway tile, hints of brass and bronze, and a design that further captures the vibe of the kitchen. Every home has its unique design challenges. But with a fresh perspective and a bit of creativity, there is always a way to give the client exactly what they want [and need]. In this particular kitchen, the existing soffits and high slanted ceilings added a layer of complexity to the lighting layout and upper perimeter cabinets. While a space needs to look good, it also needs to function well. This meant making the most of the height of the room and accounting for the varied ceiling features, while also giving Tina everything she wanted and more. Pendants and task lighting paired with an abundance of natural light amplify the bright aesthetic. The cabinetry layout and design compliments the soffits with subtle profile details that bring everything together. The tile selections add visual interest, drawing the eye to the focal area above the range. Glass-doored cabinets further customize the space and give the illusion of even more height within the room. While her family may be grown and out of the house, Tina was focused on adding function without sacrificing a stunning aesthetic and dreamy finishes that make the kitchen the gathering place of any home. It was time to love her kitchen again, and if you’re wondering what she loves most, it’s the niche with glass door cabinetry and open shelving for display paired with the marble mosaic backsplash over the range and complimenting hood. Each of these features is a stunning point of interest within the kitchen – both brag-worthy additions to a perimeter layout that previously felt limited and lacking. Whether your remodel is the result of special needs in your home or simply the excitement of focusing your energy on creating a fun new aesthetic, we are here for it. We love a good challenge because there is always a way to make a space better – adding function and beauty simultaneously.

LA PALMERAIE - BAHAMAS

MILA DESIGN

Casa Q

Zeropositivo Architetti

Cherry Kitchen with Red Accents

European Kitchen and Bath LLC

Robins Egg & Copper Kitchen

Majestic Cabinets 1990 LTD

Pear Media

SE Portland Kitchen & Bath Remodel

Interiors by Blackwood

Butler Traditional Kitchen

Leanna Hart Designs

Island with angled bar

Stanton Homes

This open concept kitchen design with a keeping room engages with an open, inviting appeal and encourages informal hang-out time. A raised seating bar is attached to the kitchen island, offering space for a gaming or card table. Design Build Chapel Hill Custom Homes by Stanton Homes.

Lanai Windows

Lanai Doors

Folding windows opening even from the center for fresh air and an open view. Folding windows are an excellent alternative to a stationary, fixed window.

Contemporary Kitchen Re-design

Jessica Kelly Design

Photographer Joanna Ferraro Photography

Edmonton Greenview - Interior Renovation

Four Elements Construction

Our clients wanted to update their front entry, address some structural issues with their floor, and completely update their kitchen. The kitchen floorplan was re-worked, with large expansive perimeter counters with beautiful wood shaker-style cabinets, new quartz countertops, and ceramic tile backsplash. New tile was added to the flooring, along with some new windows. We think the new kitchen looks fantastic! We also updated the foyer creating a warm and welcoming entryway into the home.

2020 Sandy Springs Kitchen Remodel

Ponce Design Build

Completed Sandy Springs Kitchen Remodel

Restoration Hardware Inspired Kitchen, Fairmont, WV 2018

Davis Kitchen & Tile

Showplace Cabinets in Hickory- Rockport Gray Finish with Penndleton Door; Silestone Calypso Quartz Kitchen Tops w/ undermount Stainless Steel Sink; Pfister Pull Down Tuscan Bronze Kitchen Faucet; Topcu 3x6 Tumbled Philadelphia Travertine backsplash tile; TopKnobs Arendal Pull in Rust & Flat Faced Knob in Rust

Full Home Re-Design- In progress

SF Design LLC.

The kitchen is a space the home owners wanted to be able to sit in and eat breakfast or for their daughters to be able to have space to do their homework while preparing meals. The kitchen is the center of the home. We used wood plank tile on the floors carried through from the entry/foyer to give it a more open feel. We also used beautiful wood cabinets, the home owners really love brown and beige but we broke it up with touches of metal from the appliances, the back splash and granite countertops. We wanted to keep things simple and bright for the backsplash to keep the space feeling open and bright. We did a herringbone pattern to add some interest and the tiles are beveled to add texture and the tiles almost sparkle as the light hits them.

French Provincial Kitchen

Du Bois Design Ltd

Designer: Natalie Du Bois Photographer: Kallan Mac Leod

Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen

Talianko Design Group, LLC

This Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen was completely remodeled and the home is nestled on the border of Pasadena and South Pasadena. Our goal was to keep the original charm of our client’s home while updating the kitchen in a way that was fresh and current. Our design inspiration began with a deep green soapstone counter top paired with creamy white cabinetry. Carrera marble subway tile for the backsplash is a luxurious splurge and adds classic elegance to the space. The stainless steel appliances and sink create a more transitional feel, while the shaker style cabinetry doors and schoolhouse light fixture are in keeping with the original style of the home. Tile flooring resembling concrete is clean and simple and seeded glass in the upper cabinet doors help make the space feel open and light. This kitchen has a hidden microwave and custom range hood design, as well as a new pantry area, for added storage. The pantry area features an appliance garage and deep-set counter top for multi-purpose use. These features add value to this small space. The finishing touches are polished nickel cabinet hardware, which add a vintage look and the cafe curtains are the handiwork of the homeowner. We truly enjoyed the collaborative effort in this kitchen. Photography by Erika Beirman

Italian country kitchen

Liadesign

Alexandria Cozy White Kitchen

Harry Braswell Inc.

The colors of the Best Tile Tozen Strontium glass tile (Natural Gray) backsplash, the Monte Bello granite countertop, and the Benjamin Moore Wythe walls provide a pleasing, soft contrast to the Maple Wood White Cabinets from Decora. Inside lighting in the glass panel cabinets illuminate a collection of dishes. The existing pine floors were refinished and stained to match the oak floors in the rest of the home. Photographer Greg Hadley

Sweet kitchen

ESPACIOS Y LUZ FOTOGRAFÍA

Customer Anazul cocinas www.anazul.es photography www.espaciosyluz.com

Traditional Kitchen

Separate Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink 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!