The client originally had a partial wall that separated the Main Kitchen from the Eating Area. The wall was removed to unify both areas, creating an open space ideal for entertaining. A pass-thru wall was also eliminated to make room for a stately wood paneled hood and additional wall cabinet storage. Pipes in a soffit could not entirely be removed, so the crown moulding assembly was designed to hide the pipes and seamlessly bring the cabinets with crown to the ceiling. A pantry closet was turned in to a Beverage Center Niche with retractable counter wall cabinet doors that can be left open for easy access to glassware and mugs. Contrasting floating wood stained shelving was added to one wall for visual interest.

Contemporary country Kitchen Renovation

reDesign home | chicago

With tall ceilings, an impressive stone fireplace, and original wooden beams, this home in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, had plenty of character and a style that felt coastal. Six months into the purchase of their home, this family of six contacted Alessia Loffredo and Sarah Coscarelli of ReDesign Home to complete their home’s renovation by tackling the kitchen. “Surprisingly, the kitchen was the one room in the home that lacked interest due to a challenging layout between kitchen, butler pantry, and pantry,” the designer shared, “the cabinetry was not proportionate to the space’s large footprint and height. None of the house’s architectural features were introduced into kitchen aside from the wooden beams crossing the room throughout the main floor including the family room.” She moved the pantry door closer to the prepping and cooking area while converting the former butler pantry a bar. Alessia designed an oversized hood around the stove to counterbalance the impressive stone fireplace located at the opposite side of the living space. She then wanted to include functionality, using Trim Tech‘s cabinets, featuring a pair with retractable doors, for easy access, flanking both sides of the range. The client had asked for an island that would be larger than the original in their space – Alessia made the smart decision that if it was to increase in size it shouldn’t increase in visual weight and designed it with legs, raised above the floor. Made out of steel, by Wayward Machine Co., along with a marble-replicating porcelain countertop, it was designed with durability in mind to withstand anything that her client’s four children would throw at it. Finally, she added finishing touches to the space in the form of brass hardware from Katonah Chicago, with similar toned wall lighting and faucet.

Premier Downtown Condo

cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

Eclectic Kitchen Design

Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath

West Chelsea Townhouse

Suk Design Group LLP

Photographer: Jeffrey Kilmer

Stylish South Kensington, SW7

Jemimah Barnett

Photographer: Graham Atkins-Hughes | Kitchen sprayed in Farrow & Ball's 'Purbeck Stone' with black granite worktops | Built in appliances by Miele | Kitchen artwork - framed Miro print via Art.co.uk | Copper finish kitchen bar stools from Atlantic Shopping | Lava stone dining table, Indigo woven dining chairs & 'mushroom' jute rug from West Elm | Bench seat cushions from Andrew Martin | Floorings are the Quickstep long boards in 'Natural Oak' from One Stop Flooring | Walls are painted in Farrow & Ball 'Ammonite' with woodwork contrast painted in 'Strong White' | Roman blind made in the UK by CurtainsLondon.com, from the Harlequin fabric 'Fossil'

The Weekender

Nistenhaus Design LLC

This space is the perfect example of the power of paint color. What was once all red (walls, floor, & cabinets hue) is now fresh and neutralized. To balance out the red-toned wood floor, a lighter wall color adds contrast while making the space feel brighter and lighter. Gray lower cabinetry add interest and weight to balance out all the lightness above. Accents of brass warm up the space and modern lighting adds a playful mood.

Mersea | Victorian, Industrial Kitchen

Davonport Kitchen & Home

This Victorian property in Colchester, Essex, required a kitchen that honours and enhances the architectural features of the room, such as the period fireplace and original floorboards.

Small to Spacious Kitchen Remodel

Roberta Frank Designs Inc.

A small kitchen remodel complete with beautiful faux stone and wood tiling

In The Spotlight

Morrison Interiors

The mix of stain finishes and style was intentfully done. Photo Credit: Rod Foster

Scarsdale NY kitchen

Riemer Kitchens & Fine Cabinetry

David Sloane

ASID DESIGN EXCLLENCE SILVER AWARD for TRANSITIONAL KITCHEN DESIGN

Design Theory Interiors, LLC

Bright beautiful white kitchen is balanced with lighter stained wood elements and wood floors to warm up the space. All cabinets, table an hood are custom designed . Table can pull out from the island, opening up a space for bar stools when entertaining.

Cleveland Park Renovation

MPR Architecture

Kitchen with eat-in banquette

Elbow Valley Estate

Brenda Motter Interiors LTD

Space, Storage, and Style Upgrades

Meadowlark Design+Build

A ground floor remodel creating larger, more functional rooms without increasing the property's actual size. Meadowlark incorporated custom cabinetry solutions that not only added to the flow of the rooms but also added storage and purpose.

Wil Rose - Whole Home Remodel

Anderson & Rodgers Construction

Rupen

Etch Design Group

Black and Alder Kitchen

CabAve

Picturesque Parkside

M-Squared Contracting Inc.

Bernal Heights Sustainable Kitchen

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

View of kitchen galley through to dining room. Undermount sink with pull-down faucet, 24" speed oven, dishwasher, with the induction cooktop and fridge opposite. Stacked cabinets with LED lighting add display storage.

Transitional Kitchen with Black Benchtop 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!