In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Capitol Hill Rowhome

EastWing Architects

Seaforth

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

High Meadow Drive

Jessica Koltun Home

Coastal modern renovation with interior design and listing by Broker and Designer Jessica Koltun. Features: woven chandelier pendants, tropical, island flair, black tile bedrosians cloe backsplash, white shaker cabinets, custom white and wood hood, wood and zellige square tile fireplace, open living room and kitchen concept, california contemporary, quartz countertops, gold hardware, gold faucet, pot filler, built-ins, nook, counter bar seating stools, paneling, windows in kitchen, shiplap

Mercer Island Cottage-Award Winning

Potter Construction Inc

Nautical Navy

Timber Trails Development Company

Bridge Modern Project

Laura Design Company

All Matte Black Prairie Style, Bend OR

Curtis Homes

Newport

Elton R Construction

The open-concept of space keeps the house feeling free and bright! Dark cabinets with a built-in fridge are offset by a bright quartz island with double waterfall edges.

Edgewater - Entire Home Renovation

Mancuso Homes

Scandi Boho Kitchen

Create Good Sinks

Our large workstation sinks are perfect for installing dual faucets. You can divide and conquer the kitchen with your favorite at-home sous chef.

Thorpedale Road, N4

Build Team

This open plan space is split into segments using the long and narrow kitchen island and the dining table. It is clear to see how each of these spaces can have different uses.

LAMBER - Rénovation complète 150m2, Paris

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design

White oak flooring, walnut cabinetry, white quartzite countertops, stainless appliances, white inset wall cabinets

Clear Cove Lane

Jessica Koltun Home

Designed by Jessica Koltun in Dallas, TX. Blue island paired with white cabinets and a marble backsplash. Shiplap and wood custom hood. Glass globe pendant lighting by restoration hardware. Black faucet, Dal Tile countertops. Gold and clear lucite counter stools. Light wood flooring, shaker inset cabinetry, custom island in Sherwin Williams paint color. Gold handle hardware, wine beverage fridge, window lets in natural light. Modern, contemporary, coastal, California, neutral kitchen design.

Aqua Verde Residence

Clark Richardson Architects

The Kitchen exemplifies the idea of creating a medley of Eastern and Western influences brought together by contemporary design. A subdued color palette, rich in texture variety, give this kitchen its character. The range hood clad in black Venetian Plaster, takes its inspiration from ideas expounded by the traditional Japanese aesthetic principals of wabi sabi, which values transience and imperfection.

Sherwood Eclectic Farmhouse

Northland Design & Build

White Kitchen with Light Hardwood Floors 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!