Kitchen Design Ideas, Renovations & Photos

Kickstart your kitchen renovations with these handy tips on how to harness kitchen designs to help kitchen designers (or the DIY experts in your family) bring your ideas to fruition.

Use these kitchen photos to decide between different kitchen layouts - from L-shaped to U-shaped kitchens with a large centre island or peninsula to galley layouts for small spaces. Other ideas could be vertically stacked shelves and innovative storage containers and double-duty pieces for narrow spaces. Different kitchen designs will help you make decisions about cabinet and benchtop space, as well as additions such as bar-height benches. Match these kitchen designs to the spaces available to you and soon you’ll see which shape is your best bet.

Outdoor kitchens aren’t as common as they should be (although the Aussie love for eating in the open is making its presence felt in interior design). But if the most you’ve done is set up a BBQ by the deck or balcony, then take a peak at what kitchen designers have done with outdoor kitchens. You’ll be amazed at just how functional and creative these spaces can be, especially the seamless indoor-outdoor kitchens that combine the best of both worlds.

Flat-pack kitchens are pretty common with every DIY home renovator, but they don’t have to be boring (or standard!). A simple solution is to look at different arrangements to understand just how diverse and unique flat-pack kitchens can be. While you could opt for custom kitchen cabinets, you can also simply bookmark ideas that will make your own kitchen layout unique. For instance, see how you can vary the kitchen grid, the base or drawer units, any special wall features, or sections for kitchen appliances and the pantry.

Because layout and storage options are pretty standard, picking interesting materials is key for helping your kitchen stand out. When it comes to benches, granite benchtops and marble benchtops are elegant options, while concrete, limestone and stainless steel benches are a little more trendy. For a bit of colour, add a bright mosaic tile backsplash or pick out a vibrant wood floor finish. You can even mix up your cabinetry! Frosted cabinets are great for a modern feel, while painted cabinets make for a nice but cheap kitchen renovation. But all this is easier said than done.

While kitchen designers and specialists are able to envision how certain kitchen benchtops will blend with your decor, us lesser mortals often struggle with all the choices at hand. Once again, kitchen photos come to your rescue. Get a good look at how these materials look with your preferred overall home decor and your choices will soon be more defined.

In order to store all your cookware, bakeware and small appliances, you need kitchen cabinets, drawers and shelves to spare. Make your space work with cabinets in your island, spice racks, hanging pot racks, and kitchen carts. Since most of these storage features will sit on top of benchtops or within eye-level even if placed down below, you need to select them with decor in mind. Well-organised accessories take up less space, so taking the time to properly store them will be a lifesaver.

Inspiring photos don’t always have to be about layouts and overall home decor; selecting photos of kitchen designs is as much about the finer details. For instance, photos of interesting kitchen sinks or islands can also set your imagination on fire, as can wall features like a magnet wall for your very kitchen cabinet; the ideas never stop. You can use kitchen photos to drill down every decision in your kitchen ideas to-do list, right down to the tiniest detail.