The 10 Most Popular Kitchen Photos of 2016

Fall in love with classic styles and materials all over again — and see what’s cooking for the new year

Mitchell Parker 16 December 2016

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

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Some kitchen features never go out of style. Others seem to come out of nowhere and surprise you. That’s the takeaway from this collection of the top 10 most popular kitchen photos uploaded in 2016. While classic staples like white cabinets, reclaimed wood and farmhouse style continue to dominate many kitchens, the emergence of dark-painted islands and satin brass fixtures comes as a welcoming detour. These are the photos that got the most saves to readers’ Houzz ideabooks this year. Is one of them in yours?

Fusion Kitchen by Candelaria Design Associates

Candelaria Design Associates

10. Talk about an entertainer’s dream. You could park a car on this extra-large island, although you’d probably prefer to use it as prep and serving space during holiday meals and parties. Rough, raw and rustic wood beams add heft to the soaring ceiling, while wood floors provide a warm complement to the creamy-white cabinets.

Fusion Kitchen by Signature Interior Designs

Signature Interior Designs

9. The pearlescent color of the mosaic backsplash complements the expanses of Everest quartzite on the countertops. (The island alone is 4½ by 9½ feet.) Undercabinet outlets keep the backsplashes visually clean. Meanwhile, aged brass pendants, black stools and an ebony-stained floor provide contrast to the otherwise cool-toned space.

Backsplash: Dapper Daisy in silver and white, Artistic Tile; stools: Reverb, CB2; lights: Hollis in aged brass, Hudson Valley Lighting, available on Houzz; cabinets: Brookhaven in maple, Wood-Mode; range hood: custom, RangeCraft

Country Kitchen by Dragonfly Designs

Dragonfly Designs

8. Slate gray painted alder cabinets join distressed oak cabinets, open shelves on vintage brackets, concrete brick floors and an antique mounted plate rack for a look that feels pulled together over several generations.

Sink: farmhouse sink, Rohl; floor: cement brick, Arto; cabinets: William Ohs

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Fusion Kitchen by TKS Design Group

TKS Design Group

7. An L-shaped layout wraps around a large maple island painted gray. An extra-wide farmhouse sink sits beneath a window overlooking a backyard. Warm wood floors and nickel accents give the space a traditional feel.

Backsplash: white subway tile, 3 by 6 feet, in white gloss; island: cherry with Flint stain, Woodharbor; range hood: Monogram 48-inch stainless steel professional hood, GE; floor: tongue-in-groove oak in a stain similar to Minwax’s Jacobean

Fusion Kitchen by Housing First Minnesota

Housing First Minnesota

6. A wood-paneled drop ceiling gives an unexpected look to this white kitchen and complements warm white oak floors.

Island lights: Washington pendant, Hudson Valley Lighting; dining table light fixture: Tela, Eurofase

Fusion Kitchen by USI Design & Remodeling

USI Design & Remodeling

5. It’s got to be said: Everything is bigger in Texas. This spacious Dallas kitchen features 12-foot ceilings, a large island (105 by 75 inches), massive dark-stained beams and oversized counter stools. White cabinets mix with a black island, paneled refrigerator and custom range hood for contrast.

Island countertop: Calacatta Colorado marble; perimeter countertop: Cambrian black satin granite; wall paint: Gray Clouds, Sherwin-Williams; island paint: Black Licorice, Behr; ceiling paint: Swirling Water, Behr; range hood: custom, Vent-a-Hood; floors: red oak; backsplash: brick veneer, charcoal Lueders limestone, Alliance Materials; refrigerator: panel-ready Sub-Zero; stools: Ethan Allen; faucet: Etch, Moen; pendant lights: Yoke 1, available on Houzz

Fusion Kitchen by Soda Pop Design Inc.

Soda Pop Design Inc.

4. The passing of time stands out in this Toronto kitchen. A reclaimed hemlock wood island countertop and reclaimed wood floors give a sense of age, as do “leathered” granite countertops and a cultured stone backsplash. The Shaker-style cabinets are white with black metal hardware.

Wall color: Revere Pewter, cabinet and trim color: Chantilly Lace, island color: Storm Cloud Gray, all Benjamin Moore; stools: Restoration Hardware

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Country Kitchen by Lewis Alderson & Co.

Lewis Alderson & Co.

3. A handmade pantry with two doors, drawers and baskets packs a ton of smart storage into a relatively small space: 4 feet wide, 7 feet high and 2 feet deep.

Paint color: Purbeck Stone, Farrow & Ball

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Fusion Kitchen by Elizabeth Lawson Design

Elizabeth Lawson Design

2. Satin brass pulls, faucet and light fixtures pop with sophistication against dark gray custom Shaker-style cabinets and a custom marble backsplash and countertop.

Base cabinet paint: Down Pipe, Farrow & Ball; wall and upper cabinet paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore; cabinet pulls in satin brass: Lew’s Hardware; faucet: East Linear in satin brass, Newport Brass; sink: Rohl; range: BlueStar; sconces: Schoolhouse Electric; runner: vintage; floor: reclaimed heart pine

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Country Kitchen by Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

1. A vintage farmhouse look, warm American black walnut island countertop and large-format stone tiles made this English kitchen photo the most popular of 2016.

Wall cabinet color: Smoke, Zoffany; island color: Elephant Gray, Zoffany

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More
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage

Comments (186)

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PRO

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

Belinda, If it's a regret you experience every day, perhaps you should do as mjkjrobinson suggests. You may even be able to sell your current kitchen island for good money if it's still in new condition to help you afford the redo. We spend so much time in our kitchens and they are such a major part of our daily life. It's important that they fit the needs of the people that use them. Best of luck! Mandi @ Dura

Like 30 March 2019 at 5:24am

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Isabel Bammer

hi! I 'm new to houzz and I find difficult to se the house's pictures! you can't enlarge them!!!Why???

Like 12 December 2019 at 2:29am

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PRO

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

@Isabel Bammer You should be able to enlarge them. PurhaPerhapsps what for a tutorial in the Houzz resource center or on youtube that can help walk you through how the app operates. Best of luck!

Mandi @ Dura

Like 3 January 2020 at 3:39am

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