With tall ceilings, an impressive stone fireplace, and original wooden beams, this home in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, had plenty of character and a style that felt coastal. Six months into the purchase of their home, this family of six contacted Alessia Loffredo and Sarah Coscarelli of ReDesign Home to complete their home’s renovation by tackling the kitchen. “Surprisingly, the kitchen was the one room in the home that lacked interest due to a challenging layout between kitchen, butler pantry, and pantry,” the designer shared, “the cabinetry was not proportionate to the space’s large footprint and height. None of the house’s architectural features were introduced into kitchen aside from the wooden beams crossing the room throughout the main floor including the family room.” She moved the pantry door closer to the prepping and cooking area while converting the former butler pantry a bar. Alessia designed an oversized hood around the stove to counterbalance the impressive stone fireplace located at the opposite side of the living space. She then wanted to include functionality, using Trim Tech‘s cabinets, featuring a pair with retractable doors, for easy access, flanking both sides of the range. The client had asked for an island that would be larger than the original in their space – Alessia made the smart decision that if it was to increase in size it shouldn’t increase in visual weight and designed it with legs, raised above the floor. Made out of steel, by Wayward Machine Co., along with a marble-replicating porcelain countertop, it was designed with durability in mind to withstand anything that her client’s four children would throw at it. Finally, she added finishing touches to the space in the form of brass hardware from Katonah Chicago, with similar toned wall lighting and faucet.

Portland Craftsman Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel

COOPER Design Build

We love these charming yellow cabinets with glass-front doors!

Kitchen

Coastal Signature Homes

Cabinets: Centerpoint Cabinets, KithKitchens (Bright White with Brushed Gray Glaze) Black splash: Savannah Surfaces (Venatto Grigio Herringbone) Perimeter: Caesarstone (Alpine Mist Honed) Island Countertop: Precision Granite & Marble- Cygnus Leather Appliances: Ferguson, Kitchenaid Sink: Ferguson, Kohler Pendants: Circa Lighting

The Cabin

Mosaic Home ltd

Painting - Fine finishes from exceptional craftsmen

Lossing Construction

Saint Paul Craftsman

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: William Wright

Pool House

GJK Building & Remodeling

Farmhouse Kitchen

Santa Barbara

Sinclair Associates Architects

Valley Run

JLF & Associates, Inc.

History, revived. An early 19th century Dutch farmstead, nestled in the hillside of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offered a storied canvas on which to layer replicated additions and contemporary components. Endowed with an extensive art collection, the house and barn serve as a platform for aesthetic appreciation in all forms.

New Country French Cottage

Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.

Photographer: Anice Hoachlander from Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC Principal Designer: Anthony "Ankie" Barnes, AIA, LEED AP

Cheerful Formality

Superior Woodcraft, Inc.

Covenant Kitchens & Baths teamed up with Superior Woodcraft to create a kitchen that provides utility, beauty and harmony. This project was so successful that it graces the cover of Dream Kitchens and Baths – Best of the Best-30 Timeless Looks, Spring 2011 Photo credit: Jim Fiora

Beachwood Canyon Kitchen

LA Dwelling Inc

This small kitchen and dining nook is packed full of character and charm (just like it's owner). Custom cabinets utilize every available inch of space with internal accessories

Tidal Mill Place

Delpino Custom Homes

Patrick Brickman

A Sanctuary in the Maine Woods

Katahdin Cedar Log Homes

Home by Katahdin Cedar Log Homes

Kitchen Remodel in Newtown Square

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

TRADITIONAL- MANTALOKING NJ

Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC

Design Excellence Award winning kitchen. The open kitchen and family room coordinate in colors and performance fabrics; the vertical striped chair backs are echoed in sofa throw pillows. The antique brass chandelier adds warmth and history. The island has a double custom edge countertop providing a unique feature to the island, adding to its importance. The breakfast nook with custom banquette has coordinated performance fabrics. Photography: Lauren Hagerstrom Photography-LAUREN HAGERSTROM

Bedford, MA New Construction Coastal Kitchen

Kitchen Associates

New construction coastal kitchen in Bedford, MA Brand: Kitchen - Brookhaven, Bathroom - Wood-Mode Door Style: Kitchen - Presidio Recessed, Bathroom - Barcelona Finish: Kitchen - Antique White, Bathroom - Sienna Countertop: Caesar Stone "Coastal Gray Hardware: Kitchen - Polished Nickel, Bathroom - Brushed Nickel Designer: Rich Dupre Photos: Baumgart Creative Media

Pull Out Spice Rack

KraftMaster Renovations

There are a lot of options when it comes to cabinetry storage. A spice rack and shelf guards are one way to create a well thought out pull out cabinet. Photography by Bob Gockeler

Hendricks Churchill New Farmhouse

Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography

Yellow Kitchen with a Farmhouse Sink 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!