I am not a pro, but I'll give you my two cents, if you don't mind. I find it helpful to look at high end kitchen designers' IG accounts, like Christopher Peacock, Bilotta Kitchens, Mick di Giulio (he's not on IG though,) as well as high end brands, like SZ, Wood Mode, plus of course the shelter magazines. That gives me an idea of where the trends are going. European trends are helpful too, but they are much more modern on the whole. Even the English, who use more wood and less high gloss are much more sparse in their designs (a plus in my opinion.) Lots of people are looking at deVol and Plain English kitchens- I like some of David Linley's kitchens too.

Rita- so then do you bring these ideas to your own designer or architect to include in the plans they are building for you? Or would they typically provide options for you to look at instead?

Or does it really depend on the client or home value? Specifically, I'm asking for remodeling a very high-end, luxury kitchen.

In your case, a designer should be suggesting appliances in the Sub-Zero/ Miele/Wolf price range...and above (Aga, La Cornue, etc.) While Samsung, LG, GE, Kitchenaid and the ilk make some great products, they’re not “luxury” brands.

Marie, Here is how I am working on our ski/mountain house now. I am redoing the kitchen, which has some severe limitations. So I've gone through Google images of mountain/chalet kitchens in houses similar to mine to get an idea of what I like and what I don't like. That led me to decide on a black kitchen then I figured out I needed a black kitchen (the house is practically 100 percent yellow pine, so the black balances the endless yellow.) I looked at tons of black kitchens and found one that I really liked (modern, matte black finish). I showed my KD and she developed a plan based on that information.

With respect to appliances, I am an appliance geek, so I specify those without any input from the KD- the best information about appliances is available right here- there are some very talented cooks with incredibly detailed knowledge about brands, histories, functionality, engineering, you name it, someone here knows and is generous enough to write it up for you.

With my main house, I've had two scenarios. One where I loved the kitchen, but it just needed some GW/Houzz tweaks, so I had my husband (he's a naval architect and mechanical engineer, so he can make design plans) draw up my plans and we worked with Crown Point cabinets to change out things.

And the second time, I did not like the kitchen at all and I looked for something that appealed to me and worked within the existing parameters of my kitchen and had my ID adapt my ideas (the ID has a KD on staff.)

I have had a lot of time living without nice kitchens, so I have been playing with ideas in my head (and on paper) for many years since finding GW/Houzz.

I hope this helps a bit.

“Specifically, I'm asking for remodeling a very high-end, luxury kitchen”

It would be better if you determined a ballpark amount you intend to spend, than to say what I copied above. To some, a “high-end luxury kitchen” means $80-100k. But for others that is mid-level. Mick de Giulio who is mentioned above doesn’t get out of bed in the morning for less than $150k, and the majority of his kitchens are $200k++. When you determine what you want to spend it will help you to focus on what is possible for you when looking at the various inspiration methods mentioned here.

Like this one:

With this level of detail - this is the toekick of the fridge. Is that the kind of thing you mean by "very high-end luxury"?

Since you mentioned appliances, here’s another de Giulio kitchen with appliances galore. Though it’s the cabinetry that slays me. Show this pic to your designer and have him/her price out something similar if it interests you.

I'll take a cook in a modest kitchen over any of those pictured...or my own modest but attractive kitchen in which I do the cooking. Those are trophy kitchens - no one really cooks in them and uses all that stuff.

Anglophilia - the OP said “Specifically, I'm asking for remodeling a very high-end, luxury kitchen”. And asked where designers look for inspiration. Your comment evinces your reverse snobbery, and you made a blanket assumption with no basis in fact, but you have not addressed the OP’s questions or responded to them.

When I initially meet with a potential client, the focus is primarily on layout and function first. At its most basic level, designing is problem solving. So I want to learn about the reasons why a client wants the remodel first, and it often has as much to do about function as it does form.

Then I need to know the budget. No designer should start pulling ideas or finishes until they understand the budget. If a client does not know what a suitable budget is, I review averages with them to see if there is a budget range that works for them. Why hire a designer if the kitchen they design for you is three times your budget? Don't assume your idea of high-end or luxury is the same as the designer's.

Then, I want to see examples from the client of kitchens they like and I want to understand the reasons why they like them. I stress to my clients that they are not responsible for finding EXACTLY the kitchen they want...I just need clues. It could be a light fixture, a tile, a faucet, etc. Remember, you are hiring a designer, not a personal shopper. What works in an inspiration photo may not work in your home. A good designer will know how to fit your personal preferences into your home and lifestyle.

With regard to appliances, I believe the client should select the appliances they want and I will design around them. I offer consultation based on my experience with different brands, but I do not insist they use a particular appliance if they prefer another.

While design should include a good amount of collaboration, you should also trust your designer. You don't hire a professional chef and then go in the kitchen and tell them how to cook. So interview a number of designers to find the best fit for you. When you trust your designer, it's a more enjoyable experience for both you and the designer!

EDITED TO ADD: To answer your initial questions...inspiration comes from EVERYWHERE. We have vendors that stop in weekly with new products and samples. We visit trade shows and showrooms. We read trade magazines and blogs. It's not unusual for me to design an entire bathroom around one new tile sample that shows up on my desk. I believe the most creative designers do not necessarily browse Houzz or Pinterest. But they are the ones that create the kitchens that will eventually end up popular on those sites! So don't constrain yourself or your designer to finding the "perfect" kitchen image on Houzz. Let your designer create it for you.

Thank you friedajune. Snark is so damn prevalent on those discussion boards.