Get inspired to elevate your cooking space.
No matter how cozy and comfortable the rest of your home is, everyone always gravitates toward the kitchen. It’s where you prepare daily meals and gather with friends and loved ones around the table. It only makes sense that this room should be as functional and beautiful as possible to accommodate the hustle and bustle of everyday life and special occasions like holiday parties. However, the kitchen you have may not exactly be the kitchen of your dreams. If your space looks outdated or the layout just doesn’t work, it might be time for a refresh—and these kitchen remodel ideas from designers are sure to inspire you.
No matter the size of your kitchen makeover—whether you’re completely gutting it or simply switching out the hardware—make sure you design it to be exactly what you want. We asked interior designers for their best kitchen remodel ideas to help you take your cooking space to the next level.
Most of the designers we spoke to about kitchen remodel ideas pointed to specific colors, details, and trends rather than distinct design styles. Designer Danielle Chiprut of Danielle Rose Design Co. sums up the most popular aesthetics for kitchen remodels in three separate categories: warm minimalism, bold color moments, and European-inspired designs.
The factors that determine the cost of a kitchen remodel idea include the scope of your project and where you live. If you’re looking to do a complete overhaul (i.e., switching out appliances, adding new cabinets, putting up a different backsplash, installing new flooring) you can expect the starting cost to be around $65,000, according to Angi. Factors like customization and high-end appliances will push that final cost a lot higher, though. For a smaller remodel with bargain appliances and prefab cabinets, you could get a beautiful result with a budget of around $20,000.
Refinishing hardwood floors returns 147 percent on the investment, while installing new wood floors has an ROI of 118 percent, according to a 2022 report from the National Association of Realtors. That ranks above a complete kitchen renovation (75 percent) or a kitchen upgrade (67 percent).
A sure-fire way to save money in any renovation is doing parts of it yourself, given that you actually know what you’re doing. You wouldn’t want to DIY your backsplash and then wake up to it crashing down in the middle of the night! Working with the existing layout is another budget-friendly tip, since you won’t have to move around your plumbing or electrical systems.
In any renovation, it’s important to figure out which changes will have the most impact on your lifestyle. That will help you decide what you need to spend on and where you can save. For instance, if you love to cook and entertain, maybe you’ll want to allocate more of your budget for a top-of-the-line range than for custom cabinetry.
Mark Schubert of Phillip Harrison Interiors wants every homeowner and builder to remember that if you’re changing the layout of a kitchen during a remodel, then you need to create an entirely new lighting plan. This includes architectural recessed lighting, interior cabinet lighting, undercabinet lighting, accent lighting, and decorative lighting. He explains that it’s “key to not only the success of the design but to also create layers of light that work together that will create a highly functional space.”
In this kitchen by Intimate Living Interiors, pendants illuminate the island and sink zones, complemented by a sconce over the shelves.
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Designer Sarah Robertson’s clients had a unique requirement for their kitchen remodel idea: a built-in pet station. Robertson, the founder of Studio Dearborn, ingeniously converted an empty cabinet space. It features an inset bar sink that serves as a water bowl that never runs dry for the family dog and a pot filler to make refilling convenient and easy.
When most of your cooking prep happens on the kitchen island, you might as well add a storage area in it to make chopping and dicing easier. The team at Studio Dearborn put in these cabinets specifically to hold cutting boards and knives for that purpose.
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If you’re a home cook thinking about kitchen remodel ideas, consider a dedicated workstation. Harper Halprin of AAHA Studio often incorporates this feature by installing a wide sink and bar seating at the large kitchen island. “And if not seating, at least a standing area for a ‘chef’s island’ with nothing in it,” she adds.
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In the words of designer Allison Handler: panel, panel, panel. As you’re dreaming up kitchen remodel ideas, many experts feel that a paneled refrigerator is a must. “Nothing worse than seeing large chunks of stainless steel, in my opinion,” she says. “We always integrate the appliances, specifically the fridge/freezer.”
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For a kitchen that’s truly timeless, you should choose features that will gain a patina over time to show how well-loved they are. In designer Shavonda Gardner’s kitchen, she went with unlacquered copper pots, a sink, and soapstone counters that look just as beautiful now as they will when they’re decades old.
This tip may seem obvious, but it can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting something simply because it’s new, beautiful, or trendy. You must consider what matters most to you when it comes to function and form before deciding on the general direction of your kitchen remodel idea, Danielle Chiprut of Danielle Rose Design Co. says. “These personal considerations should be front and center as you embark on your design journey,” she adds. “They will serve as the foundation for every decision, ensuring that your new kitchen not only looks stunning but also enhances your lifestyle in meaningful ways.”
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“Nothing says ‘wow’ more than a great stone in a kitchen,” Amy Kalikow tells House Beautiful. “With the new membranes that can be applied to stone, worrying about staining is a thing of the past!” However, if you are going to invest in stone countertops, make sure you know how to take care of them and ensure you can spare the time to do so before picking something out.
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A pot filler is a small detail that will completely change the way you cook, and it simply looks so professional and chic. In this Chicago kitchen, Erin Shakoor added a sleek reflective silver one above the cooktop and just under the bronze mirrored hood, so there will be no precarious trips to the sink for this homeowner.
Whether it’s for cooking purposes, ease of storage, or both, having separate stations in your kitchen is a must-have for designer Nicole Roe of R. Nickson Interiors. She explains, “Dividing the space into activity-based zones, such as a baking area with space for ingredients, mixing bowls, and a stand mixer, can be incredibly helpful for efficiency.” Not to mention, it will feel and look so professional.
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After spending so much time and money on your kitchen remodel idea, you don’t want to then cover it up with small appliances, cookware, and other necessities. Make sure you have enough storage-centric cabinetry to hide everything stylishly away, as Vani Sayeed of Vani Sayeed Studios suggests. “Must-haves include storage-centric cabinetry like deep drawers for pots and pans, pull-out shelves, and built-in organizers to maximize space,” she says.
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Nothing says luxury like a wine cabinet. If you’re already installing custom cabinetry in your kitchen remodel idea, you might as well create spaces specifically for your interests. Designer Erin Shakoor made sure this storage spot looked absolutely seamless.
For a kitchen remodel idea that really stands out, choose a single stone slab for your backsplash rather than tiles. “A marble backsplash, often extending from counter to wall, can add character and create a cohesive, luxurious look,” Emma Corner of Emma Corner Interiors says.
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If your home has enough space, incorporating a dirty kitchen is a trend among high-end designers. A dirty kitchen, as exemplified here by designer Lindsey Black, serves as a practical cooking area separate from the main kitchen, where guests typically gather.
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