Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

TRANSITIONAL KITCHEN, LINCROFT, NJ

Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC

Transitional living shines in this bright kitchen featuring a triple-duty island that functions as an eating space, prep area, and storage. Its beautifully detailed corbels are repeated in the commercial grade hood corners. In the backsplash, a 24"x24" marble die-cut tile insert is detailed by a marble pencil tile for added dimension. Photography: Lauren Hagerstrom

Sprawling One Story

Sneller Custom Homes and Remodeling, LLC

Kolanowski Studio

French Country Kitchen

Sexton Development

RHOC Interior Design, Kitchen & Gardens | Coto de Caza, CA

Leanne Michael L U X E lifestyle design

Spanish Mediterranean with subtle Moroccan glazed clay tile influences, custom cabinetry and subzero custom fridge panels in a creamy white and gold hand faux finish with quartz counter tops in Taupe grey, brushed gold hardware and faux succulent arrangements. The island was designed in double length as one side is for much needed enclosed storage and the other is for open barstool seating designed to resemble an antique refectory table and then topped with stunning calacata macchia vecchia marble and three impressive custom solid hand forged iron & glass lantern light fixtures sparkling from above. Wolf Range Subzero Miele Coffee Machine Waterstone Faucets

197 Normanby Crescent

FX40 Building Design Corporation

Kingston Kitchen

Theresa Mae Interiors

Textura Anthracite and Furore Gloss Cashmere

Solo spaces

Franke Omni Tap in Copper Our client wanted to mix metals in this kitchen to add an industrial vibe. Paired with the textured doors and cashmere, the warm tones compliment each other well.

Ocean Views Condo | Small Luxury Kitchen

Liza Nicole Interiors

Small kitchen big on storage and luxury finishes. When you’re limited on increasing a small kitchen’s footprint, it’s time to get creative. By lightening the space with bright, neutral colors and removing upper cabinetry — replacing them with open shelves — we created an open, bistro-inspired kitchen packed with prep space.

Wantagh Custom Home

Heartwood Corp

Mayfair Penthouse - Contemporary Open Plan Kitchen with Gaggenau Appliances

Simon Taylor Furniture

This open plan galley style kitchen was designed and made for a client with a duplex penthouse apartment in a listed Victorian property in Mayfair, London W1. While the space was limited, the specification was to be of the highest order, using fine textured materials and premium appliances. Simon Taylor Furniture was chosen to design and make all the handmade and hand-finished bespoke furniture for the project in order to perfectly fit within the space, which includes a part-vaulted wall and original features including windows on three elevations. The client was keen for a sophisticated natural neutral look for the kitchen so that it would complement the rest of the living area, which features a lot of natural light, pale walls and dark accents. Simon Taylor Furniture suggested the main cabinetry be finished in Fiddleback Sycamore with a grey stain, which contrasts with black maple for the surrounds, which in turn ties in with the blackened timber floor used in the kitchen. The kitchen is positioned in the corner of the top floor living area of the apartment, so the first consideration was to produce a peninsula to separate the kitchen and living space, whilst affording views from either side. This is used as a food preparation area on the working side with a 90cm Gaggenau Induction Hob and separate Downdraft Extractor. On the other side it features informal seating beneath the Nero Marquina marble worksurface that was chosen for the project. Next to the seating is a Gaggenau built-under wine conditioning unit to allow easy access to wine bottles when entertaining. The floor to ceiling tall cabinetry houses a Gaggenau 60cm oven, a combination microwave and a warming drawer, all centrally banked above each other. Within the cabinetry, smart storage was featured including a Blum ‘space tower’ in Orion Grey with glass fronts to match the monochrome scheme. The fridge freezer, also by Gaggenau is positioned along this run on the other side. To the right of the tall cabinetry is the sink run, housing the Kohler sink and Quooker Flex 3-in-1 Boiling Water Tap, the Gaggenau dishwasher and concealed bin cabinets, thus allowing all the wet tasks to be located in one space.

Spanish Farmhouse and a Secret Room

S&W Kitchens

Beautiful Spanish Farmhouse kitchen remodel by designer Larissa Hicks.

Small Kitchen Remodel

Maureen's LLC

rénovation d'un appartement en hyper centre urbain

ad mansio

Private Residence. Blackrock / Dundalk

National Tile Ltd

Floor: Chambord Beige Lappato 60x90. Semi-polished porcelain tile. Photo by National Tile Ltd

Wrecked Rental Project

Arrow Point Design

Concrete counter tops, white subway tile backsplash, latte colored cabinets with black hardware. Farmhouse sink with black faucet.

Horizon 285

Hallmark Homes

The Horizon 285 creates amazing impact as soon as you walk through the front door. A large study and media room flow off the entry and lead you to the impressive kitchen/living areas. The gourmet kitchen features a walk-in pantry with its own prep bench. A large, functional laundry completes the package

Interior and Exterior Painting for Whole Home Remodel in Aurora

Adirondack Painting Company

Featured – Southbay Home Spring 2017 Issue

Custom Design & Construction

We had the pleasure of being featured in the Spring 2017 Home issue of Southbay Magazine. Showcased is an addition in south Redondo Beach where the goal was to bring the outdoors in. See the full spread for details on the project and our firm: http://www.oursouthbay.com/custom-design-construction-4/

U-shaped Kitchen with Beige Cabinets 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!