Photographer: Joe De Maio

When the owners of this eat-in kitchen in a c. 1910 Cape contacted me, they were ready to transform it from a tired, cluttered look to a bright and clean aesthetic in keeping with their more modern taste. Plus, they needed more storage; they had been storing pots and pans in the oven. In the reconfigured renovated gray-and-white kitchen, we moved the stove/oven to a new island generous enough to accommodate seating for four, which freed up space for full-height cabinetry storage in the location of a former corner table. A PentalQuartz countertop in Arabescato, white Shaker-style overlay cabinets by Showplace, and a porcelain and glass mosaic backsplash tile from Lauzon help the modest kitchen sparkle and to feel more expansive. Happily, the oven is now available for cooking rather than storage. (Photo by homeowner)

North Vancouver Kitchen Remodel

OHinc Construction

Sycamore Ranch Home Remodel

The English Contractor & Remodeling Services

The entry to this kitchen was once a narrow door from the dining room. We removed the wall and the old drop ceiling with an ornate fan. Old oak cabinetry was replaced with custom made cabinets, with lower cabinets in classic blue and upper cabinetry in white. The farmhouse sink from Signature Hardware is in an antique copper finish from their Steyn line. The faucet is also from the Steyn line and coordinate with the antique copper drawer pulls. Tile Backsplash is Equipe Scale Triangolo and Magical 3 Triol in white glass from Hamilton Parker. The dishwasher is from Bosch.

Mid-Century Kitchen Goes Modern

Mosby Building Arts

The flat-front maple cabinets are Premier style by Wellborn. The addition of 2 skylights and under-cabinet LED ropes bring a cheery infusion of light, even on cloudy days. The bamboo kitchen flooring abuts to Serenissma prcelain tile in SIlver Frost in the hallway and front entry. The wood front entry door is original to the 1953 mid-century modern ranch home in University City, MO. Photo by Toby Weiss

Cooking Up Comfort - In Felton

Lewis Design-Build-Remodel

Kitchen Renovation - Glen Waverley

Damco Kitchens

This kitchen in its entirety. Great shot showing the full design of the benchtop and splashback features paired elegantly with the white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.

Bellevue Townhouse Kitchen

Ellen Weiss Design

This small townhouse kitchen has no windows (it has a sliding glass door across from the dining nook) and had a limited budget. The owners planned to live in the home for 3-5 more years. The challenge was to update and brighten the space using Ikea cabinets while creating a custom feel with good resale value.

Kitchen

cMacd consulting & design

Kitchen

Kemper Kitchen

Miller Woodworks

Small Kitchen make over

RJ Austin Interior Design

A custom copper hood with a stainless band helps tie in the stainless stove and sink, while the added copper band on the sink mimics the hood design. JBL Photography

Woodharbor Kitchen

Jon Hammond Builders

Opposite the bar, a microwave and coffee bar and located next to the refrigerator. New bamboo hardwood flooring, white and blue cabinetry, and cherry accents create a uniform appearance throughout the entire room creating harmony and unison.

Simple Open Kitchen

Joe Percario General Contractors, LLC

Joe Percario

Woodstock Shingle Cottage Estate

Beilman Architecture

D. Beilman

Sycamore Ranch Home Remodel

The English Contractor & Remodeling Services

Contemporary Shaker Kitchen

Hammonds Furniture

Croft Kitchen dresser in Ivory by Hammonds Furniture

Skandinavisch - Edition Rot

User

Die große Holzküche, mit einer Insel, ist ein richtiges Kochparadis.

Cocina a medida

Muebles Moya

Cocina hecha a medida con luminosidad y calidad de sus muebles y electrodomésticos

North Vancouver Kitchen Remodel

OHinc Construction

Bay Colony Remodel

Whisper House Real Estate Group, L.L.C

Separate 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!