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23 Inspiring Real-Life Kitchens
Get Ideas for Your Own Project from Creative Houzz Members' Kitchens
We asked you to show us what your kitchens are made of — and show us you did. These 23 Houzz members' kitchens include just about every type of material and style imaginable. Check out the creative solutions — from new paint to updated cabinets, to recycled countertops, handmade tile, repurposed kitchen doors and a DIY wine cork backsplash. Thinking about your own kitchen redo? Get inspired by your fellow Houzzers.
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1. Joiede's colorful kitchen update. Houzz user joiede had a limited budget for her 1926 kitchen remodel. Laminate countertops ("Western Iron" from Wilsonart) and custom open maple cabinets look great and cut down the price substantially. She then made bold but inexpensive statements with color and accessories.
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| Autumn Cover and Squirrel Tail (with just 75% of the tint) paint from Benjamin Moore accent this cozy corner. The colors complement the glass tiles on joiede's backsplash.
Fused glass knobs and pulls from Hot Knobs add a bit of jewelry to the eclectic space. |
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Joiede used the same formica from the counters and covered an IKEA UTBY table for a more substantial piece of furniture for her nook. Behr Corn Husk Green near the window brightens the room.
The charcoal floors are made of Flexitec's Majestic cushion vinyl, in the Galerie 598 color option. It's easy on the feet, hides dirt, and is beautiful to boot!
The charcoal floors are made of Flexitec's Majestic cushion vinyl, in the Galerie 598 color option. It's easy on the feet, hides dirt, and is beautiful to boot!
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2. R_okoko20's entertainment-friendly kitchen. This open and light kitchen belongs to Polish interior designer and Houzz user r_okoko20. Cooking and entertaining is a big part of her family's life, so it was important to have a kitchen that was open, comfortable, and easy to clean. Laminated countertops require little maintenance, and a tiled backsplash is easy to keep clean. The light ceramic floors are durable and wear-resistant.
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| Hooks keep dishtowels and aprons handy by the stove, while woven baskets with chalkboard labels hold dining accessories for last-minute get togethers. Just visible in the background is a laundry room, which also holds the microwave, freezer and other items that didn't fit in the kitchen. |
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| 3. Pjandb's antique-styled kitchen. When user pjandb first bought this antique house, there were no cupboards or interior walls. The upside: getting to start completely from scratch. "We wanted to make it look like the kitchen had been made over time, so we did two different custom cupboards," pjandb says. "Gold on top, and Jacobean on the bottom." |
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| The original floor was stained with a Jacobean checkerboard pattern, and pillowtop subway tiles with a crackled finish were used for the backsplash. The unique countertop is untreated copper, which means that the look of it wears and changes daily. |
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| 4. Sarvowinner's Art Deco style kitchen. Sarvowinner's home is decorated with a distinctly art-deco vibe, and that was carried into the kitchen remodel.
A stylized art deco profile was used on the door and windowpanes. A smooth granite countertop offsets the white cabinetry and chic drawer pulls imported from France. A subway-style tiled backsplash was installed on the back wall with an accent border of custom glazed art-deco tile. The gorgeous floor is the home's original terrazzo. |
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| 5. Willtv's bold black and white kitchen. Houzz user willtv transformed his 8' x 12' kitchen into a sleek and clean space. The cabinets are Shaker-style maple painted with Benjamin Moore's Gardenia.
The countertops are made with Blue In The Night granite. Montauk Black Slate was used on the floors, while simple subway tiles from Datile Rittenhouse were used on the backsplash. |
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| 6. Sunnyvmd2b's DIY backsplash. Looking for a backsplash with a little more spice? Try what sunnyvmd2b did, and go the DIY route. Just know there's quite a bit of work involved. Instead of opting for the standard tile, this Houzz user used a combination of collected and purchased corks (about 650 in total), and painstakingly cut them in half and adhered the flat side to the wall. |
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| She recommends painting the wall a similar brown color to start out with because some of the wall is bound to show through. "I just used double-stick foam tape to adhere them to the wall," she says. "Heat from the stove hasn't been a problem so far, and there's no humidity to speak of in Arizona — so I can't really speak to how they'd hold up expanding and contracting in high humidity areas."
The photos were put up first (tile or other artwork would also look great), and the cork was arranged around the frames. |
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| 7. Sturney's welcoming and open kitchen. Although sturney agonized over every decision in her kitchen remodel, the result was exactly what she wanted. The cabinets were custom made in a white-painted maple, and the island was done in a dark cherry wood.
Countertop granite is Typhoon Bordeaux, with coordinates with the cherry wood of the island. The structured oil rubbed bronze hardware on the cabinets is from Restoration Hardware. "The best part about the cabinets is on the inside," she says. "They're all pull-outs, full extension, and silent close. They are so much more efficient and usable — we actually have some empty drawers now!" Crossville tile on the floor and a darling window seat to take advantage of the view round out the room. |
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| 8. Scrpbk1's tri-level island. scrpbk1 did a total kitchen remodel, putting in new Geriba granite countertops and truffle crackle glazed tile for the backsplash.
The cabinetry is custom, and painted with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee with a glaze for texture and interest. |
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Her favorite part about the new kitchen is the tri-level island. The range top with the hidden vent is at the lowest level, and the microwave oven (seen here) is on the highest level. There's a warming drawer below the oven, and the breakfast bar is on the middle level. It's all hidden, yet easy to access.
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9. Oldpye's open family kitchen. With a family of six cooks using this space, Houzz user oldpye knew tit had to be durable and functional. Gray porcelain tile was used on the floor, echoing the same subway style as the white ceramic backsplash. Caesarstone in Misty Carrera was used for the countertops, and painted white maple was used for the lower cabinets.
Notice anything missing? Instead of upper cabinets, they opted to use a long, open shelf for dishes and glasses. A great solution if you're especially proud of your dish set!
Notice anything missing? Instead of upper cabinets, they opted to use a long, open shelf for dishes and glasses. A great solution if you're especially proud of your dish set!
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| 10. Louzucaro's Mid-Century Modern Chicago kitchen. Houzz user louzucaro wanted to take his 1980s Chicago suburban ranch to the next level. "For the kitchen and family room area, we wanted a modern organic look. Almost as if someone was designing a late '60s or early '70s ranch, and had a brief glimpse into the future to look at materials!" The result is a beautiful blend of modern and vintage. Materials and orientation was chosen to create a very linear look. A beautiful distressed hickory was used for the floors, and hickory stained two colors (on the perimeter and the island) was used on the cabinets. |
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| The original fireplace was torn out and redone in Roman brick. They opted to put the fireplace slightly off center for a more mid-century feel. The two-seated bar was done in a beautiful and bold walnut, and the backsplash is made up of slate tile.
Although some people warned them against it, they opted to do the countertops in honed granite. "People said we'd hate it because it's difficult to maintain, but it cleans up easily with soapy water," he says. |
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| 11. Bubba67's colorful and quirky cabin kitchen. Bubba67 calls this look "grandma on acid." It is full of color, light, and a near-endless amount of knickknacks. Situated on the back side of an 1890s cabin, the kitchen was originally on an open back porch with a lean-to roof.
When he bought the home, it still had a sloping porch floor, a 7-foot ceiling, and some terrible cabinetry and countertops. "Everything in the kitchen was sloped, including the countertop," he says. "If we spilled something, we had to run to the other side of the room to catch it before it hit the wall or dripped off the counter!" |
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During the remodel, the floor was leveled, the ceiling was raised, and a pine floor was put in. The floor was painted various colors before painting it a final shade of green, so that the colors show through as it wears.
The large windows over the sink and absence of overhead cabinets were kept so that the kitchen would still feel light and airy. Many of the materials used in this kitchen were refurnished or recycled. Their contractor used a door from another part of the house to help create the stand-alone pantry. Everything was put up on feet (including the fridge) for added height.
The large windows over the sink and absence of overhead cabinets were kept so that the kitchen would still feel light and airy. Many of the materials used in this kitchen were refurnished or recycled. Their contractor used a door from another part of the house to help create the stand-alone pantry. Everything was put up on feet (including the fridge) for added height.
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Bubba67 loves to listen to music while cooking, so they repurposed a couple of bathroom gas heater grills as speaker grills on either side of the red concrete countertop.
The cabinets are repurposed too! On-site materials were all used to put the cabinets together, and some of them were rubbed with purple paint to bring out a little bit of funk and wear. These under-counter cabinets are modular, so if a new owner gets tired of one, it can be pulled out and replaced with something else.
The cabinets are repurposed too! On-site materials were all used to put the cabinets together, and some of them were rubbed with purple paint to bring out a little bit of funk and wear. These under-counter cabinets are modular, so if a new owner gets tired of one, it can be pulled out and replaced with something else.
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| 12. Moezoo's sleek kitchen accents. moezoo's open concept kitchen is elegant and modern in several shades of gray, black and white with stainless steel accents.
A coat of London Fog's Reversed Shaker was used on the cherry wood cabinets — a nice contrast agasint the Arctic White granite. Brushed nickel Richelieu pulls were used on the cabinetry, and a textured backsplash of quartzite fiddlesticks was installed on the back wall. |
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| The curved eating bar has Flexxstone on the back. It offsets the birch tavern hardwood floors for a natural-luxe look. |
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| 13. Lwarren2's golden color palette. Lwarren2 decided to base this kitchen's colorway around the beautiful golden tumbled travertine floor. Shaker style cabinets in a warm but muted yellow were given wider stiles and rails for a more modern twist. Stainless steel hardware, a vertical running glass tiled backsplash and Caesarstone counters with no added edge contribute to the smooth and contemporary look. |
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| 14. Khougton's quick and inexpensive kitchen update. Instead of replacing cabinets, Houzz user khoughton simply repainted the cabinets in a glossy off-white (Starched Linen from the Martha Stewart Collection), added trim to the door faces and replaced the hardware. |
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| IKEA oak countertops and a painted beaded backboard flow from the kitchen into the walk-in pantry. |
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15. Kgbnc's rosy and warm cooking space. Kbgnc's kitchen is a warm, textured space with great materials that blend together beautifully. Cabinets made from reclaimed Dominican Rosewood are accented with handmade ebony pulls. The rosy countertop is a colored concrete, which complements the color of the Honey Onyx marble subway tile backsplash and the hint of wood grain on the butcher block counter.
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| 16. Karenheff's simply luxurious kitchen update. Perfectly classic and put together, the kitchen of Houzz user karenheff looks simple, but is outfitted to the nines.
The white cabinets were painted in Benjamin Moore's White Dove and are offset with honed Absolute Black countertops and a white subway tile backsplash. The island is the exact opposite, with black cabinetry, and a Kashmir White granite counter. The warm wood floor is stained red oak, which warms up the subtle Benjamin Moore Gray Owl paint on the walls. The wine refrigerator next to the butler's pantry is from Sub-Zero, and is a luxurious addition to the already high-end appliance selection. |
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17. Eglantine4's eco-friendly kitchen. How do you know for sure if the material you've chosen will last? Houzz user eglantine4 came up with a smart solution: She kept a large sample of the counter material by the sink for weeks before making a decision. She ended up with Squak Mountain Stone — a recycled paper and concrete product with a slightly rustic feel.
The backsplash is made of Sumi-e recycled glass tile. Its blue/green color was chosen to match the ceramics on the counter.
The backsplash is made of Sumi-e recycled glass tile. Its blue/green color was chosen to match the ceramics on the counter.
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The cabinets in eglantine4's kitchen are all from IKEA, with mid-century modern style hardware. The floor tile is a dark charcoal from Daltile called Asian Black. It extends into the office area off the kitchen and is repeated in the home's entryway, hearth, and master bath.
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| 18. Beatriz's modern European-inspired kitchen
Houzz user beatriz wanted her kitchen to have a modern European look — inspired by Italian design and her Francis Francis espresso maker. White ABSTRACT cabinetry from IKEA provides a clean and simple setting, and a beautiful honed Carrara marble countertop is reminiscent of those in coffee shops all over Italy. |
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| Mid-century modern style tile from Heath Ceramics adds a splash of color to the streamlined kitchen. This same shade of green is used in several different accents throughout beatriz's home. |
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| 19. Deconut's kitchen storage solution. Houzz user deconut's old kitchen had a severe lack of storage — and hardly any drawers! So when it came time to do a remodel, drawers were an absolute must. "I've wanted drawers for so long — now I've got a total of 20," deconut says. IKEA ADEL style cabinetry (in cherry and creamy white) were installed as both above and below counter storage. Drawer handles and pulls are also from IKEA. |
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| The countertop is a Caesarstone quartz in a latte color. A white backsplash with glass tiled accents adds a bit of visual interest, while still looking fresh and clean against the countertops. Although it's a relatively small kitchen — just 12' x 18' — the small island makes the kitchen efficient and easy to move around in. |
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| 20. Bud_dietrich's blend of modern and traditional. Bud_dietrich lives in a 1930s French Country style home. "We wanted our kitchen to be a bridge between this older, more traditional style, and a sleeker and more modern appearance," he says. His kitchen pays tribute to the traditional with clear stained cabinetry and a beaded inset in glazed alder, while the stainless steel appliances and an Ann Sacks glass tile backsplash pay tribute to the modern. |
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| 21. Bjackson's shimmering stainless backsplash. Although bjackson's kitchen was updated about five years ago, the simple style of the design and the wear-resistance of the material has helped it maintain a shiny and new look. White laminate cabinets offset Absolute Black granite countertops and a butcher block on the island. Although the shimmering backsplash looks mirrored, it's actually made up of 2-inch stainless steel tiles — which provide a surprising and modern accent to the simple cabinetry and counters. |
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| Avaloncj's parents' Fiesta dishware display. A kitchen can be the perfect place to highlight a collection. The photos of this kitchen are from Houzz user avaloncj's parents' lake house, and the amazing collection of assorted Fiesta dishware is her mother's. The home, built in 1914, has a cabin feel, which is something her parents wanted to maintain in their remodel. The knotty pine cabinetry actually used to be in the bedroom, but her father converted them into kitchen cabinets. |
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23. Lenoreldavies's clean and classic kitchen remodel. The kitchen in lenoreldavies' 100-year-old Victorian-style house needed to be renovated to meet modern needs (with three hungry boys in the household, modern appliances were a must), but she also wanted to make sure the kitchen fit the home's style. The living area on the main floor was small and made up of many smaller rooms, so she had the rear wall and other partitions knocked down to create a larger kitchen space.
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There are two under-counter ovens in this kitchen, each on either side of the Viking gas range. This allowed lenoreldavies to purchase a high-end range and relatively inexpensive ovens instead of buying an expensive range-and-oven combination. Deep drawers underneath the range store pots and pans. Electrical strip molding was installed underneath all of the cabinets, so the beautiful subway tile backsplash didn't have to be interrupted.
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Butcher block built into the island serves as the main prep area. Instead of purchasing a huge high-end refrigerator, lenoreldavies installed two standard models that hinge on opposite sides. They open like French doors, provide a lot of storage space, and look like luxury models. Behind the partial refrigerator wall is an area with cubbies for her sons, a half-bath, a wine fridge, and a farm sink for basic cleanup and gardening.
Have you just finished a kitchen, too? Show us what you did!
Next: More kitchen guides
See the original call for kitchens
Have you just finished a kitchen, too? Show us what you did!
Next: More kitchen guides
See the original call for kitchens
Ideabook updated on July 21, 2011.
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It turned out to be super-practical and can seat 6
Thank's
My kitchen is almost done, can't wait to see what you guys think!
Cabinets: Reclaimed fir bleacher board frames drawer faces, trim and molding. Salvaged wavy glass used for door panels. Shelves of reclaimed fir T & G flooring.
Windows: Sashes rebuilt and reglazed with wavy glass all with salvaged materials. Window frames constructed with reclaimed fir.
Storm Windows: also of reclaimed fir boost energy performance to the level of new double glazed windows.
Flooring: Oak topnail, salvaged
Table: Salvaged ships hatch top, reclaimed fir structure
Siding: Salvaged beveled cedar siding.
@ChiefHomeDesign
http://www.brandwave.org
PS - kayton: do you love it?
Also loved Lenoreldavies victorian kitchen with the unique appliance solutions. Not only do they save money but I I liked her layout and configuration better than the more expensive highend appliances they were replacing.
http://www.aliciatappdesigns.com
Am such a fan of freezer/refrigerator drawers, which I wager will become even more popular as both an energy saving green idea, and popular by the increasing number of singles and childless families.
And anyone who have ever owned all stainless appliances knows you have to constantly be cleaning them if you actually cook in the kitchen. Alas I think most shows on TV that have stainless appliances and home buyer clients who say they 'must have' stainless obviously are buying into what is being pushed by someone else, and not by anyone who actually cooks meals on a daily basis.