Kitchen Design
Get Ideas From This Year’s Top 20 Kitchen Tours
Smart storage, functionality for cooks and families, vintage touches and lots of personality mark your favorites of 2015
While rounding up your favorite Kitchen of the Week stories from the past year, we saw a huge variety of styles, sizes and design elements that attracted Houzzers. From midcentury modern to French bistro, farmhouse to Mondrian, your 20 favorites all had big style. Clever storage solutions, functionality and individuality unite them. Did you see your favorite here? Let us know which kitchen spoke to you the most in 2015.
2. Casual Equestrian Feel on a Horse Farm
During a gut renovation of a house that had been considered a tear-down, the designer placed windows so that the homeowner could see her beloved horses from every room of this house. She made sure they could come right up to the kitchen window for a snack, and they inspired the happy look of the room.
Cool feature: Iron horse head hitching-post toppers found buried in the yard repurposed as decorative accents
Location: Bow, New Hampshire
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Heather Alton, New England Design Elements
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During a gut renovation of a house that had been considered a tear-down, the designer placed windows so that the homeowner could see her beloved horses from every room of this house. She made sure they could come right up to the kitchen window for a snack, and they inspired the happy look of the room.
Cool feature: Iron horse head hitching-post toppers found buried in the yard repurposed as decorative accents
Location: Bow, New Hampshire
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Heather Alton, New England Design Elements
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3. Tile Sets the Tone in a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
A stunning geometric tile wall steals the show in this contemporary kitchen.
Cool feature: On the island, a white quartz cooking counter bounded by a 3-inch-thick counter of white oak reclaimed from a West Virginia barn
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 630-square-foot (58.5-square-meter) kitchen, dining room and family room
Designer: Katharine Otis, Sagatov Design-Build
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A stunning geometric tile wall steals the show in this contemporary kitchen.
Cool feature: On the island, a white quartz cooking counter bounded by a 3-inch-thick counter of white oak reclaimed from a West Virginia barn
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: 630-square-foot (58.5-square-meter) kitchen, dining room and family room
Designer: Katharine Otis, Sagatov Design-Build
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4. Classic Style Creates Calm for a Busy Family
Open shelves, a large island and an eye-catching light fixture ease the transition into the kitchen from the living room.
Cool feature: Calacatta d’Oro marble tiles behind the open shelves
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: About 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters), including the kitchen, dining area, pantry and family room
Designer: Leigha Heydt, Heydt Designs
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Open shelves, a large island and an eye-catching light fixture ease the transition into the kitchen from the living room.
Cool feature: Calacatta d’Oro marble tiles behind the open shelves
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: About 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters), including the kitchen, dining area, pantry and family room
Designer: Leigha Heydt, Heydt Designs
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5. Renovation Honors New England Farmhouse’s History
Putting three colors on the cabinets, treating the hearth like a range and adding stained glass details created the right country vibe for this farmhouse.
Cool feature: A light fixture fashioned from the homeowner’s grandfather’s workbench and Mason jars
Location: Hudson, New Hampshire
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Heather Alton, New England Design Elements
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Putting three colors on the cabinets, treating the hearth like a range and adding stained glass details created the right country vibe for this farmhouse.
Cool feature: A light fixture fashioned from the homeowner’s grandfather’s workbench and Mason jars
Location: Hudson, New Hampshire
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Heather Alton, New England Design Elements
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6. Function and Flow Come First
Meticulous planning went into how this kitchen would perform. Reclaimed wood accents, cookbook shelves and a beverage station with a second sink that keeps people out of the cook’s work triangle make this kitchen fully functional for a busy family.
Cool feature: A reclaimed wood kitchen table extension off the island
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Size: 350 square feet (32.5 square meters)
Designer: Sophia Reay, LemonTree & Co. Interiors
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Meticulous planning went into how this kitchen would perform. Reclaimed wood accents, cookbook shelves and a beverage station with a second sink that keeps people out of the cook’s work triangle make this kitchen fully functional for a busy family.
Cool feature: A reclaimed wood kitchen table extension off the island
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Size: 350 square feet (32.5 square meters)
Designer: Sophia Reay, LemonTree & Co. Interiors
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7. Splashes of Red for a Country Classic
Exposed beams, stone-like porcelain floor tiles and Shaker cabinetry honor this charming 1800s home’s history, while a renovation modernizes it for today’s country lifestyle.
Cool feature: A hardworking custom-designed pantry cabinet with pullouts, baskets and racks on the doors
Location: Weald area of Kent, England
Size: About 375 square feet (35 square meters)
Designer: J M Interiors
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Exposed beams, stone-like porcelain floor tiles and Shaker cabinetry honor this charming 1800s home’s history, while a renovation modernizes it for today’s country lifestyle.
Cool feature: A hardworking custom-designed pantry cabinet with pullouts, baskets and racks on the doors
Location: Weald area of Kent, England
Size: About 375 square feet (35 square meters)
Designer: J M Interiors
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8. Splashes of Color and Country Charm
Funky farmhouse style, a large banquette and colorful accessories make this kitchen the heart of this home.
Cool feature: Oversize yellow lanterns and yellow ceramic hardware
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 288 square feet (26.7 square meters)
Designer: Alison Kandler Interior Design
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Funky farmhouse style, a large banquette and colorful accessories make this kitchen the heart of this home.
Cool feature: Oversize yellow lanterns and yellow ceramic hardware
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 288 square feet (26.7 square meters)
Designer: Alison Kandler Interior Design
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9. Warm Serenity in an Entertaining-Friendly Space
A four-step process gave these oak cabinets their warmth, while waterfall counters and cabinet-front appliances keep the look contemporary.
Cool feature: A hand-cut three-dimensional backsplash tile inspired by the waves in San Francisco Bay
Location: Sausalito, California
Size: About 400 square feet (37.1 square meters)
Designer: Antonio Martins
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A four-step process gave these oak cabinets their warmth, while waterfall counters and cabinet-front appliances keep the look contemporary.
Cool feature: A hand-cut three-dimensional backsplash tile inspired by the waves in San Francisco Bay
Location: Sausalito, California
Size: About 400 square feet (37.1 square meters)
Designer: Antonio Martins
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10. Good Looking and Accessible to All
A couple who couldn’t find a home that accommodated one of their wheelchairs created a beautiful kitchen complete with bamboo flooring, PaperStone counters and beech Shaker-front cabinets to suit their family’s needs.
Cool feature: Recessed cabinets under the sink that provide knee space for wheelchair accessibility
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Size: About 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer: Tracy Ronaldson, FabCab
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A couple who couldn’t find a home that accommodated one of their wheelchairs created a beautiful kitchen complete with bamboo flooring, PaperStone counters and beech Shaker-front cabinets to suit their family’s needs.
Cool feature: Recessed cabinets under the sink that provide knee space for wheelchair accessibility
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Size: About 130 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer: Tracy Ronaldson, FabCab
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11. Double Trouble and a Happy Ending
Bright ocean-inspired accessories bring color to a family kitchen with sandy-hued floor tiles, quartzite counters and white cabinets, while a banquette and island make it family-friendly. Cubbies, hooks and charging stations by the back entry create a mudroom entry out of a house without a mudroom.
Cool feature: A pendant light the designer fashioned from a damaged shade and some twine
Location: New Jersey Shore, New Jersey
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Jules Duffy, Jules Duffy Designs
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Bright ocean-inspired accessories bring color to a family kitchen with sandy-hued floor tiles, quartzite counters and white cabinets, while a banquette and island make it family-friendly. Cubbies, hooks and charging stations by the back entry create a mudroom entry out of a house without a mudroom.
Cool feature: A pendant light the designer fashioned from a damaged shade and some twine
Location: New Jersey Shore, New Jersey
Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Jules Duffy, Jules Duffy Designs
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12. Modern Art Inspires a Color-Blocked Look
Piet Mondrian serves as the artful inspiration for the kitchen in this modern house on Martha’s Vineyard.
Cool feature: Louis Poulsen Wohlert pendants bought for the house by the clients’ father in the 1960s
Location: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Size: 184 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Carole Hunter, Hunter and Company
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Piet Mondrian serves as the artful inspiration for the kitchen in this modern house on Martha’s Vineyard.
Cool feature: Louis Poulsen Wohlert pendants bought for the house by the clients’ father in the 1960s
Location: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Size: 184 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Carole Hunter, Hunter and Company
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13. Making Over a Rental for About $1,500
Fresh white paint, new lighting, matchstick blinds, shelves and beloved accessories from Grandmother transformed this blah rental kitchen into something personal and bright.
Cool feature: Unexpected Oriental rugs adding warmth and color on the floor
Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: About 90 square feet (8.3 square meters)
Designer: Peter Dolkas
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Fresh white paint, new lighting, matchstick blinds, shelves and beloved accessories from Grandmother transformed this blah rental kitchen into something personal and bright.
Cool feature: Unexpected Oriental rugs adding warmth and color on the floor
Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: About 90 square feet (8.3 square meters)
Designer: Peter Dolkas
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14. Retro-Farmhouse Mash-Up
Fiestaware inspired a party of happy colors in this Philadelphia family kitchen.
Cool feature: The live-edge wood and metal pipe shelving built by the homeowner
Location: Glenside, a suburb of Philadelphia
Size: About 200 square feet (18.6 square meters)
Designer: Hannah Dee Interiors
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Fiestaware inspired a party of happy colors in this Philadelphia family kitchen.
Cool feature: The live-edge wood and metal pipe shelving built by the homeowner
Location: Glenside, a suburb of Philadelphia
Size: About 200 square feet (18.6 square meters)
Designer: Hannah Dee Interiors
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15. Rustic Space Opens to Herb and Vegetable Gardens
Raising the ceiling to the rafters and eliminating cabinets gave this cabin a fresh take on rustic style.
Cool feature: A shutter repurposed as a cabinet door under the sink
Location: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Size: About 295 square feet (27.4 square meters) for kitchen and attached dining area
Designer: Christine Dandeneau
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Raising the ceiling to the rafters and eliminating cabinets gave this cabin a fresh take on rustic style.
Cool feature: A shutter repurposed as a cabinet door under the sink
Location: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Size: About 295 square feet (27.4 square meters) for kitchen and attached dining area
Designer: Christine Dandeneau
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16. 27 Years in the Making for New Everything
A new layout was life-changing for a couple who designed with function in mind. Designated hang-out-with-the-cook space is a new favorite element of the room.
Cool feature: A lower-than-standard counter (seen here) for a petite avid baker to roll out pie crusts and work on bread dough at a comfortable height for her
Location: Greendale, Wisconsin
Size: 200 square feet (18.5 square meters)
Designers: Homeowners Deb and Michael Linley and Elisabeth Loeser of Renovations Group
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A new layout was life-changing for a couple who designed with function in mind. Designated hang-out-with-the-cook space is a new favorite element of the room.
Cool feature: A lower-than-standard counter (seen here) for a petite avid baker to roll out pie crusts and work on bread dough at a comfortable height for her
Location: Greendale, Wisconsin
Size: 200 square feet (18.5 square meters)
Designers: Homeowners Deb and Michael Linley and Elisabeth Loeser of Renovations Group
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17. Galley Kitchen Is Long on Style
A restaurant owner’s kitchen makes the grade thanks to smart storage, a deep counter and French bistro-inspired style that suits the Victorian-era home.
Cool feature: A stunning leaded glass transom over the large pass-through that eases the transition from the dining room to the kitchen
Location: Toronto
Size: About 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Peter Brooks, BedfordBrooks Design
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A restaurant owner’s kitchen makes the grade thanks to smart storage, a deep counter and French bistro-inspired style that suits the Victorian-era home.
Cool feature: A stunning leaded glass transom over the large pass-through that eases the transition from the dining room to the kitchen
Location: Toronto
Size: About 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Peter Brooks, BedfordBrooks Design
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18. Midcentury Meets Sweden in Minneapolis
What a surprise — this designer made avocado and orange enviable, up-to-date kitchen colors again. Kudos! Combined with sleek white cabinets, a stainless steel farmhouse sink and Marmoleum floors, the look suits this 1951 midcentury modern house to a T.
Cool feature: A cozy built-in banquette complete with storage benches
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 133 square feet (12.4 square meters)
Designer: Christine Nelson, Christine Nelson Design
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What a surprise — this designer made avocado and orange enviable, up-to-date kitchen colors again. Kudos! Combined with sleek white cabinets, a stainless steel farmhouse sink and Marmoleum floors, the look suits this 1951 midcentury modern house to a T.
Cool feature: A cozy built-in banquette complete with storage benches
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 133 square feet (12.4 square meters)
Designer: Christine Nelson, Christine Nelson Design
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19. One Man’s Vintage-Modern Mash-Up
A strong connection to the backyard and carefully selected vintage pieces break up the mostly white palette of this bachelor’s kitchen.
Cool feature: The unexpected texture of chicken wire glass in some cabinet doors
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Shelby Wood, Shelby Wood Design
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A strong connection to the backyard and carefully selected vintage pieces break up the mostly white palette of this bachelor’s kitchen.
Cool feature: The unexpected texture of chicken wire glass in some cabinet doors
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Shelby Wood, Shelby Wood Design
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20. Storage and Style Galore
There’s a place for everything in this kitchen, made contemporary and beautiful by 2¾ -inch-thick white Floratta granite countertops and a mix of cherry and back-painted glossy glass lift-up cabinets.
Cool feature: The large island, with big drawers on one side and a wine rack on the other
Location: Mukilteo, Washington
Size: About 140 square feet (13 square meters), plus an additional 100 square feet (9.2 square meters) for an attached kitchen table and eating area
Designer: Chanelle M Woodis/Creative Kitchen & Bath
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There’s a place for everything in this kitchen, made contemporary and beautiful by 2¾ -inch-thick white Floratta granite countertops and a mix of cherry and back-painted glossy glass lift-up cabinets.
Cool feature: The large island, with big drawers on one side and a wine rack on the other
Location: Mukilteo, Washington
Size: About 140 square feet (13 square meters), plus an additional 100 square feet (9.2 square meters) for an attached kitchen table and eating area
Designer: Chanelle M Woodis/Creative Kitchen & Bath
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An update that included a period-appropriate William Morris wallpaper makes this kitchen fit right in with the rest of the Victorian-era 1905 home.
Cool feature: Ripping up the vinyl flooring to reveal beautiful antique longleaf pine floorboards that matched the rest of the floors in the house
Location: Moulton, Texas
Size: 19 feet, 5 inches by 15 feet, 2 inches (about 6 by 4.5 meters)
Designer: Sarah Stacey, Sarah Stacey Interior Design
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