How to Plan Your Kitchen Renovation With Houzz
Let Houzz point you and your interior designer and contractor in the right direction for your next kitchen reno
Denise O'Connor
26 April 2017
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD. After graduating in Dublin she moved to London where she worked on residential, healthcare and office schemes including the award-winning headquarters for Holiday Extras for which she was project architect at Walker and Martin. In 2005 she returned to Dublin and set up architecture and interior design consultancy Optimise Design.
Denise is an architecture and interiors columnist for the Irish Times and a contributor for HOUZZ. She is also a regular contributor to various other publications and also gives lectures on a range of topics. She was a presenter for the first series of the RTE TV show ‘The Design Doctors’ and is the creator and name behind the successful paint collection for Dulux called Signature...
Denise holds a degree in architecture from Richview School of Architecture in UCD.... More
Whether you’re doing a quick kitchen makeover or a complete renovation, gathering together inspirational images on a moodboard or in a Houzz ideabook is a very handy way to develop and understand your own personal style. It’s also a useful communication tool for designers and contractors working on your project.
When you’re compiling ideas, however, remember the kitchens will include features very different from those in your own home. While it’s fantastic to glean inspiration for your own kitchen project, bear in mind you’ll rarely be able to replicate a design totally and will need to find a way to adapt the look for your own space.
When you’re compiling ideas, however, remember the kitchens will include features very different from those in your own home. While it’s fantastic to glean inspiration for your own kitchen project, bear in mind you’ll rarely be able to replicate a design totally and will need to find a way to adapt the look for your own space.
Create the ideal layout
When it comes to designing the best kitchen layout, a simple, linear arrangement tends to function better than the more traditional wraparound L-shaped and U-shaped versions. When planning your kitchen, try to open up the space as much as possible to create good flow from the living area through to the kitchen.
The trick, when searching for inspiration, is to look out for examples with a similar configuration to your own home, as it’s important to see where the sink and stove have been positioned.
Planning a bathroom revamp instead? See how to get started
When it comes to designing the best kitchen layout, a simple, linear arrangement tends to function better than the more traditional wraparound L-shaped and U-shaped versions. When planning your kitchen, try to open up the space as much as possible to create good flow from the living area through to the kitchen.
The trick, when searching for inspiration, is to look out for examples with a similar configuration to your own home, as it’s important to see where the sink and stove have been positioned.
Planning a bathroom revamp instead? See how to get started
Look for inventive storage ideas
When it comes to great kitchen design, good ergonomic planning and clever storage are essential, and a quick search for ‘kitchen storage’ under the stories tab or in the photos stream on Houzz will give you plenty of good ideas.
This compact kitchen has been designed using the work triangle principle. This is a concept used to ensure the layout is as efficient as possible. The imaginary lines of the triangle run between the sink, stove and fridge, which are the areas where the primary tasks in the kitchen are carried out.
When it comes to great kitchen design, good ergonomic planning and clever storage are essential, and a quick search for ‘kitchen storage’ under the stories tab or in the photos stream on Houzz will give you plenty of good ideas.
This compact kitchen has been designed using the work triangle principle. This is a concept used to ensure the layout is as efficient as possible. The imaginary lines of the triangle run between the sink, stove and fridge, which are the areas where the primary tasks in the kitchen are carried out.
Seek out clever solutions
Gather a folder or ideabook of innovative solutions to help particular problems, such as creating an extra work surface.
This kitchen wasn’t large enough to accommodate an island. Instead, the dining table has been pushed up against a compact, freestanding, mobile unit, creating a lovely dining area that doubles up as an island and work space.
Do You Have Space for a Kitchen Island?
Gather a folder or ideabook of innovative solutions to help particular problems, such as creating an extra work surface.
This kitchen wasn’t large enough to accommodate an island. Instead, the dining table has been pushed up against a compact, freestanding, mobile unit, creating a lovely dining area that doubles up as an island and work space.
Do You Have Space for a Kitchen Island?
Find inspiration for awkward spaces
Look for inspiring ways other homeowners have dealt with unconventional spaces. The owners of this long and narrow kitchen have made it feel bright, spacious and open by fitting a bank of tall units along most of one wall and blending them to match the wall colour, leaving the window wall free to take the low-level units.
Scroll through kitchen photos – you can search for only Singapore homes to find comparable spaces – and save any that share architectural or layout elements with your own space.
Look for inspiring ways other homeowners have dealt with unconventional spaces. The owners of this long and narrow kitchen have made it feel bright, spacious and open by fitting a bank of tall units along most of one wall and blending them to match the wall colour, leaving the window wall free to take the low-level units.
Scroll through kitchen photos – you can search for only Singapore homes to find comparable spaces – and save any that share architectural or layout elements with your own space.
Consider open shelving
Open shelving is a fast-growing kitchen trend, following on from the idea of kitchens spilling into living spaces. Creating more areas for display will help to make your kitchen feel more integrated. However, bear in mind you’ll need to be a relatively tidy person to make this feature work in your own home.
Browse images that show different configurations of shelves – long, short, single or stacked – and work out which items you’d store on them to get an idea of what might work in your layout.
10 Tips When Designing Open Shelving for Your Kitchen
Open shelving is a fast-growing kitchen trend, following on from the idea of kitchens spilling into living spaces. Creating more areas for display will help to make your kitchen feel more integrated. However, bear in mind you’ll need to be a relatively tidy person to make this feature work in your own home.
Browse images that show different configurations of shelves – long, short, single or stacked – and work out which items you’d store on them to get an idea of what might work in your layout.
10 Tips When Designing Open Shelving for Your Kitchen
Explore ways to achieve a streamlined look
Many contemporary kitchens are quite minimal in style. If you want to recreate this look in your own home, you need to be realistic about what you can achieve in the available space.
Integrating appliances, such as a washing machine or under-counter fridge, is a great way to create a streamlined look, but if you want larger items, such as an American-style fridge-freezer, you’ll either need a generous-sized kitchen.
Pick out images that look sleek and clean on first glance and examine the features. Handleless cupboard doors, a uniform colour, a flush-fitting induction hob and an undermount sink all contribute to the slick feel of this space.
Many contemporary kitchens are quite minimal in style. If you want to recreate this look in your own home, you need to be realistic about what you can achieve in the available space.
Integrating appliances, such as a washing machine or under-counter fridge, is a great way to create a streamlined look, but if you want larger items, such as an American-style fridge-freezer, you’ll either need a generous-sized kitchen.
Pick out images that look sleek and clean on first glance and examine the features. Handleless cupboard doors, a uniform colour, a flush-fitting induction hob and an undermount sink all contribute to the slick feel of this space.
Think about darker shades
Using darker colours in the kitchen is a growing trend and one that’s likely to continue. However, before committing to the latest moody hue, consider the light available in your kitchen, as you could find a dark design too oppressive.
Collate images of kitchens in deeper hues – think black, grey, blue and green – and see which appeal. Take note of the size of each space and the light levels in comparison to your own when making your choice.
A clever way to give a nod to this style if you think the whole look could be too much is to go for a dark-painted island and keep the rest of the kitchen light.
10 Knock-’Em-Dead Gorgeous Black Kitchens
Using darker colours in the kitchen is a growing trend and one that’s likely to continue. However, before committing to the latest moody hue, consider the light available in your kitchen, as you could find a dark design too oppressive.
Collate images of kitchens in deeper hues – think black, grey, blue and green – and see which appeal. Take note of the size of each space and the light levels in comparison to your own when making your choice.
A clever way to give a nod to this style if you think the whole look could be too much is to go for a dark-painted island and keep the rest of the kitchen light.
10 Knock-’Em-Dead Gorgeous Black Kitchens
Add a splash of marble
Marble and marble-style quartz worktops are becoming increasingly popular. They can add real design oomph, particularly when the rest of the kitchen is kept very plain. You could also consider the addition of a backsplash, but bear in mind that stone and quartz are pricey, so work out your budget in advance.
Gather photos that show different ways you could use marble in the kitchen. The wraparound island worktop and full-height backsplash shown here might not work with your space or budget, but finding schemes you could replicate in your kitchen will help you pinpoint the look you’re after – and explain it to an interior designer or contractor.
Marble and marble-style quartz worktops are becoming increasingly popular. They can add real design oomph, particularly when the rest of the kitchen is kept very plain. You could also consider the addition of a backsplash, but bear in mind that stone and quartz are pricey, so work out your budget in advance.
Gather photos that show different ways you could use marble in the kitchen. The wraparound island worktop and full-height backsplash shown here might not work with your space or budget, but finding schemes you could replicate in your kitchen will help you pinpoint the look you’re after – and explain it to an interior designer or contractor.
Dip lightly into the latest trends
You’ll come across lots of new trends on Houzz, but be careful about introducing too many bang-up-to-date looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a plain design, then accessorise with the latest metal lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
Here, copper pendant lights give a lift to this beautifully simple kitchen, while the bright tiled backsplash introduces the latest colours and can easily be updated a few years down the line.
TELL US
How do you use Houzz when you’re planning a project? Tell us your tips and tricks – or ask any questions – in the Comments below.
MORE
Are These Kitchen Trends Functional as Well?
You’ll come across lots of new trends on Houzz, but be careful about introducing too many bang-up-to-date looks in a big way, as you could quickly tire of them. A better idea is to select a plain design, then accessorise with the latest metal lighting and on-trend handles, say, as these are cost-effective and relatively easy to change.
Here, copper pendant lights give a lift to this beautifully simple kitchen, while the bright tiled backsplash introduces the latest colours and can easily be updated a few years down the line.
TELL US
How do you use Houzz when you’re planning a project? Tell us your tips and tricks – or ask any questions – in the Comments below.
MORE
Are These Kitchen Trends Functional as Well?
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Great
Nice designs with good combination of colors and
backgrounds. Love them
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Builders in kumbakonam
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