A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano

All Custom Woodworks

Old Cutler

Luis Carlos Torres, CKD

Luis C Torres, CKD

Santa Fe, NM Kitchen

Kitchen Design Gallery, INC

This is a Kitchen space in Santa Fe, NM. A true adobe home with palm plaster ceilings and walls and the exposed vegas are structural. A rustic tree-stump island support piece was used to bring in a touch of natural texture. The hand hewn mesquite wood floors and fully-integrated appliances blend flawlessly with the distressed custom cabinetry. This creates a truly custom, one of a kind space that reflects the clients’ personal style.

Cleveland Park Renovation

MPR Architecture

Kitchen with eat-in banquette

North Shore Gem

Leah Bolger Design

The Party's At Our House

Studio Dearborn

Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped a neighbor and friend to update a “builder grade” kitchen into a personal, family space that feels luxurious and inviting. The homeowner wanted to solve a number of storage and flow problems in the kitchen, including a wasted area dedicated to a desk, too-little pantry storage, and her wish for a kitchen bar. The all white builder kitchen lacked character, and the client wanted to inject color, texture and personality into the kitchen while keeping it classic.

Westmoreland Project

Making Room for Peace

I mean… WOW! We cannot get over how much some paint, new backsplash, new light fixtures, and some styling transformed this kitchen!!! While before it was dark and dated, now its up to speed with the times while still fitting in with the traditional bones of the home.

Contemporary kitchen design in Allendalle, NJ.

WL Kitchen & Home

Fall is approaching and with it all the renovations and home projects. That's why we want to share pictures of this beautiful woodwork recently installed which includes a kitchen, butler's pantry, library, units and vanities, in the hope to give you some inspiration and ideas and to show the type of work designed, manufactured and installed by WL Kitchen and Home. For more ideas or to explore different styles visit our website at wlkitchenandhome.com.

Lowry Hill Kitchen

Kate Roos Design LLC

By removing a wall and combining two previously compartmentalized spaces, the new kitchen is an efficient, welcoming space centered around a large island with seating for guests.

Quaint Kitchen Design in Middleburg, VA

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Walnut Hill- Kitchen

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography

Lot 35

F1 Cabinets and Furniture

West End Kitchen

Hermitage Kitchen Gallery LLC

Designer: Terri Sears Photographer: Steven Long

Plymouth Meeting

Timeless Kitchen Cabinetry

Betsy Barron

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.

Providence at Atlanta National Kitchen

B Interiors

New custom cabinetry in an off-white finish offer storage galore. Hand made zellige tiles provide a pop of color in this otherwise neutral kitchen. New European range and hood provide a handsome focal point.

Adirondack Update

Zobel & Co. Kitchens

This 1970s kitchen in the Adirondacks got a big lift and a fabulous new bar. Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinets, Shaker door, Saybrook Sage. Silver Gray Granite with leathered finish. Brook Custom Artisan Slant Shaped hood with cast nickel finish. Pine flooring. Interior features include LeMans swing outs, pull out pantry, angled dividers for utensils, and roll-shelves in cabinets.

Wimbledon Renovation

Randell Design Group

Complete renovation of Wimbledon townhome. Features include: vintage Holophane pendants Stone splashback by Gerald Culliford custom cabinetry Artwork by Shirin Tabeshfar

Bernal Heights Sustainable Kitchen

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

View of induction cooktop wall, including a wall oven and a 36" french door refrigerator. A bright orange backsplash of 4 x 4 ceramic tile adds brightness to the two-tone white/green cabinets.

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!