A small flood prompted a dramatic kitchen update, extending the island, painting the existing cabinets, new granite countertops and tile backsplash. Photography by Brian Covington

Creek Hollow Ave Renovation

Studio Steidley

This kitchen was very 1980s and the homeowners were ready for a change. As amateur chefs, they had a lot of requests and appliances to accommodate but we were up for the challenge. Taking the kitchen back down to the studs, we began to open up their kitchen while providing them plenty of storage to conceal their bulk storage and many small appliances. Replacing their existing refrigerator with a panel-ready column refrigerator and freezer, helped keep the sleek look of the cabinets without being disrupted by appliances. The vacuum sealer drawer is an integrated part as well, hidden by the matching cabinet drawer front. Even the beverage cooler has a door that matches the cabinetry of the island. The stainless, professional-grade gas range stands out amongst the white cabinets and its brass touches match the cabinet hardware, faucet, pot-filler, and veining through the quartzite. The show-stopper of this kitchen is this amazing book-matched quartzite with its deep blues and brass veining and this incredible sink that was created out of it as well, to continue the continuity of this kitchen. The enormous island is covered with the same stone but with the dark wood, it provides a dramatic flair. The mercury glass pendants, do not distract but complete the look. Photographer: Michael Hunter Photography

Arlington, VA - Becket Glen

Ronda Royalty

Transforming power of BLUE . . . and well-designed island. This kitchen kept it's blend of medium stained cherry, but punched it out with "blue lagoon" island cabinetry and proves again that Corian continues to have a place in the kitchen. Juniper island tops compliment the white perimeter countertops with always pleasing integral bowls. Delicate tile mosaic pulls the blue to the windows before looking out on gorgeous back gardens.

Gorgeous Transitional Silver Creek Remodel

Spaces By Juliana Linssen, Inc.

Tideland Haven

The Marler Company

Transitional Navy

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design

Hilton British Cottage

Aeris Home

If I were to explain the atmosphere in this home, I’d say it’s happy. Natural light, unbelievable view of Lake Murray, the mountains, the green hills, the sky – I used those natural colors as inspiration to come up with a palette for this project. As a result, we were brave enough to go with 3 cabinet colors (natural, oyster and olive), a gorgeous blue granite that’s named Azurite (a very powerful crystal), new appliance layout, raised ceiling, and a hole in the wall (butler’s window) … quite a lot, considering that client’s original goal was to just reface the existing cabinets (see before photos). This remodel turned out to be the most accurate representation of my clients, their way of life and what they wanted to highlight in a space so dear to them. You truly feel like you’re in an English countryside cottage with stellar views, quaint vibe and accessories suitable for any modern family. We love the final result and can’t get enough of that warm abundant light!

House in Hampton for Kia Designs

Anna Stathaki | Photography

©AnnaStathaki

Contemporary Kitchen

Trevor Fulmer Design

Contemporary. Expansive. Multi-functional. An extensive kitchen renovation was needed to modernize an original design from 1993. Our gut remodel established a seamless new floor plan with two large islands. We lined the perimeter with ample storage and carefully layered creative lighting throughout the space. Contrasting white and walnut cabinets and an oversized copper hood, paired beautifully with a herringbone backsplash and custom live-edge table.

Charlevoix luxury home photography

James Noud Real Estate Photography

From Pandora's Box to Jewel Box - Kitchen

McCabe By Design LLC

This Chef's Pantry provides oodles of storage space and keeps busy cooks organized. There are multiple adjustable shelves behind the swing out shelves. WestSound Home & Garden

A Touch of Navy

Hermitage Kitchen Gallery LLC

When Three Become One

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox

Milford, Transitional White Kitchen

The Muir Showrooms

The island seats four and provides a large, uninterrupted work surface.

Lakehouse Total Transformation

Corinthian Fine Homes

These homeowners requested a complete makeover of their dated lake house with an open floor plan that allowed for entertaining while enjoying the beautiful views of the lake from the kitchen and family room. We proposed taking out a loft area over the kitchen to open the space. This required moving the location of the stairs to access the basement bedrooms and moving the laundry and guest bath to new locations, which created improved flow of traffic. Each bathroom received a complete facelift complete with the powder bath taking a more polished finish for the lone female of the house to enjoy. We also painted the ceiling on the main floor, while leaving the beams stained to modernize the space. The renovation surpassed the goals and vision of the homeowner and allowed for a view of the lake the homeowner stated she never even knew she had.

Phinney Ridge Backyard Cottage: Kitchenette

Jackson Design Build

Build: Jackson Design Build. Design: Kruger Architecture. Photo: Dale Lang, NW Architectural Photography

Artistic Mix | Beaverton Kitchen Remodel

Mountainwood Homes

The kitchen island features a microwave drawer and stacking refrigerator drawers.

Condo - dramatic changes

Partners 4, Design

When Three Become One

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox

Kitchen Refurbishment in Centennial

Natasha Sanchez/ Featured Interiors

A kitchen refurbishment with a revised layout- removing the peninsula and moving the sink and dishwasher to a new larger island, and removing a corner closet pantry allowing to widen the space with new cabinet pantries. The room is mostly light with a subtle Blue Andes teal blue stone island countertop and backsplash tiles, with contrasting Mont Blanc stone counters and island die. The added black and gold hardware and lighting accentuate the new faucets, and mix well with all of the new appliances. The niche now serves as a dry bar with custom wood shelves to compliment the new shelves inside the kitchen. Lighting was added all around to brighten each zone.

Transitional Kitchen with Blue 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!