photo by Pedro Marti The goal of this renovation was to create a stair with a minimal footprint in order to maximize the usable space in this small apartment. The existing living room was divided in two and contained a steep ladder to access the second floor sleeping loft. The client wanted to create a single living space with a true staircase and to open up and preferably expand the old galley kitchen without taking away too much space from the living area. Our solution was to create a new stair that integrated with the kitchen cabinetry and dining area In order to not use up valuable floor area. The fourth tread of the stair continues to create a counter above additional kitchen storage and then cantilevers and wraps around the kitchen’s stone counters to create a dining area. The stair was custom fabricated in two parts. First a steel structure was created, this was then clad by a wood worker who constructed the kitchen cabinetry and made sure the stair integrated seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen. The treads have a floating appearance when looking from the living room, that along with the open rail helps to visually connect the kitchen to the rest of the space. The angle of the dining area table is informed by the existing angled wall at the entry hall, the line of the table is picked up on the other side of the kitchen by new floor to ceiling cabinetry that folds around the rear wall of the kitchen into the hallway creating additional storage within the hall.

Mt. Vernon

Dana Clemons

photo: garey gomez

Grey High Gloss Kitchen

LWK London Kitchens

Kitchen Finish: Pearl Grey High Gloss Lacquer Laminate Bar Extension Finish: Metallic Carbon High Gloss Lacquer

Valle Vista House

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

Sally Painter

Nantucket Shores

Mountainwood Homes

Photo by: David Papazian Photography

Kirkland Kitchen Renovation

Northwest Interiors & Design

WE Studio Photography

Sorohan

NV Kitchen and Bath

Old Louisville kitchen

Designer Builders Inc.

Ingram Kitchen

User

Appartement Passage de la Fonderie

Atelier La Serre

Antoine Cadot

Soho Modern Handleless Kitchen

ParkerRose Interiors

This design boasts it's own private bar area which features a windsor grey quartz worktop and light grey cabinets, providing a practical use of the alcove by creating a seating area, and influenced by copper lighting and accessories, while the cabinetry hides a preparation area hidden by pocket doors. A tall bank of units boxed in by stud walls to create a unique built in look. The kitchen houses Neff slide and hide eye level ovens, a wine cooler, ceiling extraction and an induction hob.

Allin St.

Hamilton Architects

Transitional Kitchen & First Floor Bennett Remodel - Naperville

Redstart Construction, Inc.

Picture Perfect House

North Boulder Modern

Istoria Interior Design

Portfolio

Catherine Hastings Interiors

Matte Black Modern Kitchen

Cronos Design

Matte black cabinetry gives this kitchen a sleek modern look.

18th Centry Farmhouse

Shalford Interiors

Created for a charming 18th century stone farmhouse overlooking a canal, this Bespoke solid wood kitchen has been handpainted in Farrow & Ball (Aga wall and base units by the windows) with Pavilion Gray (on island and recessed glass-fronted display cabinetry). The design centres around a feature Aga range cooker.

Bespoke Longford Kitchen | Blackheath, London

Humphrey Munson

The focal point of the kitchen is without a doubt the large 6 oven black Aga. Traditionally associated with country homes, it’s really lovely to see an Aga in a London family home. The canopy was designed especially for this room: it catches the eye and conceals the extractor. Painted in the same bold black as the island, it helps to anchor the entire design. The clients chose the antiqued distressed effect mirror splashback, which has a softer feel than plain mirror, but still accentuates the light feel of the room. The symmetry of this kitchen is designed to create a balanced look, while the detailing is simple to add to the contemporary feel. The bold colour palette of the kitchen and dining area perfectly suits the space and is softened with accents of natural smoked oak and antique brass. Photo Credit: Paul Craig

Grey and White IKEA kitchen

Kitchen Installation.ca

IKEA kitchen, BODBYN Grey, BODBYN White, Photo by Kitchen Installation.ca

U-shaped Kitchen with Grey Floor 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!