50 Totally Gorgeous Kitchens to Inspire a Year of Projects

A good kitchen should be the heart of your home. That’s why it’s important to make your kitchen a place you actually want to cook in. So to help inspire a your very own kitchen decorating endeavors, we rounded up the 50 most incredible kitchens we could find on Pinterest. From boldly tiled backsplashes to chicken coops-turned-center islands, these beautiful kitchens will have you calling a contractor, or at least considering a new backsplash, in no time.

Designer Justina Blakeney’s kitchen, featured on House Beautiful, is a feast for the eyes with patterned concrete floors, rustic wood shelving, and hand-glazed subway tiles that catch the light and dazzle.

A tiled backsplash in an unconventional color—like this mint-green one on Style Me Pretty—makes a statement no matter how subdued the hue.

Looking for a sophisticated way to freshen up your neutral kitchen? Marble accents—like the backsplash and counters in this photo from MyDomaine—look insanely chic without distracting from the natural furnishings.

A giant island covered in patchwork tiles brings such life to this UK Home. Staying in a neutral color family, like the gray here, prevents the look from being over the top.

Okay, so subway tile isn’t exactly “bold” or daring, but shaking up the pattern of how you use it is. Break out of the traditional brick layout for a herringbone as seen in this London flat. Still totally classic, but with a twist.

There’s a lot to point out about this kitchen by Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design from Rue Mag: those floors, the pendant lamps, but perhaps sweetest of all is the refreshing mint on the cabinetry.

Designer and stylist Tiffany Pratt‘s home feels like the personification of a box of candy hearts, and while her kitchen cabinetry itself is not a bold color, the mauve-y, dusty walls, art and accessories prove you can really instill a neutral space with some personality with decor choices that aren’t so permanent.

An all-white kitchen provides the perfect backdrop for colored cabinets to shine. Paint yours in a rich hue (like these deep blue ones we spotted on Southern Living) or simply recover them with cool contact paper.

Even bright blue kitchen cabinets pale in comparison to a colorful backsplash. Case in point: this teal number from Homepolish with a backsplash that manages to outshine its vibrant surroundings.

Paint your kitchen cabinets in a soft shade of sage green (like these from Design*Sponge) and score a surprising amount of color without deviating from an subdued color scheme.

For a classic kitchen palette with a hint of color, try covering your island or cabinets in pale sky blue like this cheery kitchen from Better Homes & Gardens.

A little color goes a long way in a mostly neutral kitchen. Consider painting just one piece of kitchen furniture in a bright color—like the buttery yellow island in this kitchen on Better Homes & Gardens—for a bold look that isn’t overwhelming.

Add definition to a neutral kitchen with a bold geometric floor tile, like these red-white-and-navy patterned floors from House Beautiful.

Emily Henderson knows a thing or two about the power of patterned kitchen floors. Her design team employed this stunning graphic tile in one of their projects to complement the grayish-blue kitchen cabinets.

Try a black, white and wood-tone color palette if you want to have some fun with finishes like your floors, ceilings and lighting. It tones down the visual clutter while still looking interesting. A great example is this space spotted on Sacramento Home.

The original dramatic floor: the black-and-white checkerboard. It’s just one of the many things to love in this lovely Seattle kitchen.

Dark-colored cabinets and appliances bring depth and dimension to a neutral kitchen—like this one by Amber Interiors—and allow white finishes to really stand out.

A marble-and-navy kitchen featured on Domino gets a contemporary boost with brass light fixtures and cabinet hardware.

An eye-catching black-and-brass hood makes a big statement in a kitchen via Domino. Customize your own (à la Ali Cayne) with some sandpaper and oil-based paint.

White floors and white walls make charcoal gray cabinetry and a black backsplash in a kitchen from Lonny really pop. The lacquer finish on the cabinet doors do some heavy lifting of spreading the brightness of the room’s lighter surfaces.

If you can’t manage to rip out your current backsplash to replace with copper facing like Cameron Diaz’s kitchen featured in Elle Decor—create your own with nothing more than some peel and stick wallpaper.

Certainly the look of this Australian kitchen—home of retailer Kip&Co’s founder—isn’t for everyone, but if it is for you, please send us photos when redo your space using this as a jumping off point.

An all-white kitchen is the perfect place to experiment with mixed metal finishes, such as the silver fixtures and brass shades in this classic kitchen from Studio McGee.

Eye-catching pendant lamps (like these shapely silver stunners from Elle Decor) are a great place to experiment with going heavy on metal finishes.

Counter your neutral kitchen decor by sprinkling in some metallic accessories (like the copper storage jars and light fixtures in this kitchen on Design*Sponge. Not only will they help liven up the space, they’ll add depth and dimension to a muted color scheme.

Want to visually extend your ceilings? Go with white on top and a dark color like navy on the bottom like in this kitchen featured on Rue Daily.

Navy might very well be the new neutral. Case in point: this dreamy kitchen from Studio McGee, that employs a rich shade of navy on the island to balance out the all-white kitchen finishes.

Mix-and-match in the kitchen doesn’t only have to apply to built-in cabinetry. Case-in-point, the heirloom teal pantry in this modular loft kitchen is the star of the space, and juxtaposes not just color but also styles.

One of the most fail-proof ways to shake up your kitchen is to bring in a well-worn wood island or hutch (or both, as in the case of this enviable Buenos Aires space).

While vintage and antique rugs are all the rage in kitchens and bathrooms right now, a graphic black-and-white runner like in this Austin home can be just as noteworthy.

Anchor an all-white kitchen with a boldly hued appliance, like Elsie Larson’s bright blue oven featured on Domino and a vintage rug or mat.

Obviously, this colorful kitchen from Jungalow isn’t exactly lacking personality, but the Southwestern kilim runner really ties everything together (and would look just as lovely in a quieter space).

Filled with rich but muted earthy hues such as hunter green and natural finishes, this kitchen on Amber Interiors is part traditional, part trendy (and all parts stunning). The antique rug brings together the subtle palette and styles.

If you are so lucky to have the space, instead of forgoing covered cabinets for open shelving, dedicate a whole wall to the look instead like in this dreamy space from Ideal Home.

Classic kitchens or loudly modern spaces aren’t for every homeowner. Sometimes quiet minimal design is the ultimate luxury, as seen in this wood kitchen from Veneer Designs.

Open shelving is one thing; Bookcase-like shelving in an already stunning, super luxe kitchen (via MyDomaine), are our new kitchen crush.

On the completely opposite spectrum from the previous ritzy space is this humble user-friendly space in Kate Payne’s Austin home. Takeaway here: a good old-fashioned pegboard can offer up a surprising amount of storage (just try to keep it dry). Mount one above your stove or anywhere you have wall space to hang up your pots, pans, coffee mugs, etc.

Replacing upper cabinets with open shelving is a hot trend that’s a bit controversial, but we can’t see anyone arguing with the smart use of space in this Chicago kitchen. A wrap-around shelving unit makes use awkward architecture.

The open display cases in this Montreal kitchen have us fan-girling just a bit.

Add a touch of rustic charm with weathered or reclaimed wood shelves, as seen in this South Africa home.

Concrete countertops, dark gray walls and an unusual oversized chandelier gives us a lot to talk about in this kitchen on Elle Decor.

Another show-stopping lighting scheme in an already eye-popping kitchen, featured on Elle Decor.

Less bulky than most pendant lamps, wall-mounted sconces (like this sleek stunners in this kitchen from Studio McGee) create a streamlined kitchen lighting scheme.

Stylist, designer and blogger Emily Henderson shook up the traditional cabinetry in her kitchen with a modern sconce just above her sink.

Bring attention to a beautifully molded kitchen ceiling by employing contrasting light fixtures—like the graphic black pendants in this kitchen by Studio McGee—that draw the eye upwards.

Infuse a burst of color into your muted kitchen palette with the help of a few brightly hued light fixtures, like these we spotted on Design Milk.