Built in walnut coffee station sits behind a pocket door. Pull out walnut tray makes it easy to access the coffee maker and a drawer below holds all the supplies. Photography by Eric Roth

Taj Mahal

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

This classic DEANE Inc kitchen has all the greatest custom features from its unique carriage doors allowing for a rush of sunlight, as well as it’s stainless steel accents through the custom cabinetry and the countertop stools. The white marble countertop and fresh white tiled backsplash also creates a clean look.

Marin Custom Home

Kelly Hohla Interiors

Photography by John Merkl

Hunter Douglas Duette Cellular Shades

Hunter Douglas

Kitchen Remodel Dated to WOW

S Interior Design

The kitchen was stuck in the 1980s with builder stock grade cabinets. It did not have enough space for two cooks to work together comfortably, or to entertain large groups of friends and family. The lighting and wall colors were also dated and made the small kitchen feel even smaller. By removing some walls between the kitchen and dining room, relocating a pantry closet,, and extending the kitchen footprint into a tiny home office on one end where the new spacious pantry and a built-in desk now reside, and about 4 feet into the family room to accommodate two beverage refrigerators and glass front cabinetry to be used as a bar serving space, the client now has the kitchen they have been dreaming about for years. Steven Kaye Photography

Graceful Gray Kitchen Remodel - Glen Ellyn, IL

TKS Design Group

Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A Beautifully Fresh Kitchen in Atlanta

Cynthia Karegeannes, Registered Architect

Anastasia Alkema

Lewisberry White Traditional Kitchen

Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry

Carl Socolow

St Anthony Village Kitchen

Jen Seeger Design

Designed with Rosemary Merrill, AKBD, while at Casa Verde Design; Photo Credit: Andrea Rugg

SF Two-Unit Gem

Swanson Kitchens, Inc.

Marcell Puzsar BrightRoomSF.com

Reserve Parade Home

LuxeMark Company

The builder, Stellar Blu, wanted something a little different for this Parade of Homes home but Wake Forest can be a tricky market and so it was important to maintain marketability. We chose to use leaded glass, LED in cabinet lighting and other subtile features to create a timeless design. Photo by Tad Davis Photography

San Mateo Contemporary Condo

SENGA interior design

Space planning in this kitchen space was essential. We focused on using smaller appliances like the 30" double oven with rang, an 18" dishwasher, and a narrow fridge to allow for more counter space.

Navasink NJ Home Remodel

Stone Creek Builders

Peter Rymwid

Custom Islands and Table Tops

Vermont Farm Table

BLUE CYPRESS

Pegasus Builders, Inc.

Transitional Home/By Trend Interior Design

Trend Interior Design

Kitchen by Trend Interior Design

Fullerton Residence

SPACE Architects + Planners

Transitional / Contemporary Kitchen, Plymouth, MN

Trinity Construction Services, LLC

Transitional / Contemporary Stained Walnut Frameless Cabinetry, Quartzite Countertops, Waterfall Island with Prep Sink, Wide Plank White Oak Flooring, Thermador Appliances, Gas Cooktop, Double Ovens

Park Avenue Modern

Penny Drue Baird, Dessins LLC

Bright, Airy Transitional Kitchen

JACK ROSEN CUSTOM KITCHENS

Transitional Kitchen with an Undermount 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 Transitional 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!