photo by david papazian
Design ideas for a beach style open plan kitchen in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, green splashback, black appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Seaside kitchen

H. Miller Bros

Our design process is set up to tease out what is unique about a project and a client so that we can create something peculiar to them. When we first went to see this client, we noticed that they used their fridge as a kind of notice board to put up pictures by the kids, reminders, lists, cards etc… with magnets onto the metal face of the old fridge. In their new kitchen they wanted integrated appliances and for things to be neat, but we felt these drawings and cards needed a place to be celebrated and we proposed a cork panel integrated into the cabinet fronts… the idea developed into a full band of cork, stained black to match the black front of the oven, to bind design together. It also acts as a bit of a sound absorber (important when you have 3yr old twins!) and sits over the splash back so that there is a lot of space to curate an evolving backdrop of things you might pin to it. In this design, we wanted to design the island as big table in the middle of the room. The thing about thinking of an island like a piece of furniture in this way is that it allows light and views through and around; it all helps the island feel more delicate and elegant… and the room less taken up by island. The frame is made from solid oak and we stained it black to balance the composition with the stained cork. The sink run is a set of floating drawers that project from the wall and the flooring continues under them - this is important because again, it makes the room feel more spacious. The full height cabinets are purposefully a calm, matt off white. We used Farrow and Ball ’School house white’… because its our favourite ‘white’ of course! All of the whitegoods are integrated into this full height run: oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and a gigantic pantry cupboard. A sweet detail is the hand turned cabinet door knobs - The clients are music lovers and the knobs are enlarged versions of the volume knob from a 1970s record player.

Kitchen with a View

Waterview Kitchens

Gorgeous all blue kitchen cabinetry featuring brass and gold accents on hood, pendant lights and cabinetry hardware. The stunning intracoastal waterway views and sparkling turquoise water add more beauty to this fabulous kitchen.

Beachfront

Perfect Stays

This is an example of a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Cornwall with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, with island and white benchtop.

North Curl Curl Renovation

LJW Design

A Hamptons inspired design for Sydney's northern beaches.
Design ideas for a large beach style open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and exposed beam.

Transit House

Simon Hayward Design

Alterations and additions to a house in Port Macquarie. The site had awesome views to south and east. We introduced northern light into the ground floor living areas via courtyards. The courtyards act as protected outdoor living spaces when the southerlies are blowing. Planning allows for ocean views from all living area and all bedrooms while still having good access to north sun and north easterly cooling breezes in summer. Builder Tim Sales. Photos Simon Martin

This Is The One

G&M Craftsman Cabinets

Returning clients are our favourite clients. The journey we have been on with these clients is we started on a smaller project, and over time they have ended up moving into their dream home on their dream property, and of course, they need their dream kitchen! Drawing inspiration from Hampton and Country styles, we worked with the client to combine these elements into this beautiful and inviting space where the family can make memories for years to come. Some of the big features like the piece of Santorini Quartzite Natural Stone in Honed Finish on the island bench and Nostalgie Series Appliances by ILVE make this kitchen personal and individual to the owners taste. There is something so humbling about a client coming back time and time again entrusting us with their next project, and this one was a great honour to be a part of.

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Coastal Luxe style kitchen in our Cremorne project features cabinetry in Dulux Blue Rapsody and Snowy Mountains Quarter, and timber veneer in Planked Oak.

Sand Section, Manhattan Beach CA

Eden LA Furniture and Interiors

When one thing leads to another...and another...and another... This fun family of 5 humans and one pup enlisted us to do a simple living room/dining room upgrade. Those led to updating the kitchen with some simple upgrades. (Thanks to Superior Tile and Stone) And that led to a total primary suite gut and renovation (Thanks to Verity Kitchens and Baths). When we were done, they sold their now perfect home and upgraded to the Beach Modern one a few galleries back. They might win the award for best Before/After pics in both projects! We love working with them and are happy to call them our friends. Design by Eden LA Interiors Photo by Kim Pritchard Photography

Coastal House

Santamaria Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, with island, white benchtop, subway tile splashback, black cabinets, black appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Hahka Happy Cottage Kitchen

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

This beautiful cottage styled kitchen design with Dura Supreme Cabinetry was created by Linda Williams at Hahka Kitchens. It contrasts white painted cabinetry with a black/dark kitchen island cabinetry to create an eclectic cottage feel. Black counter tops contrast the white cabinetry while a wood countertop compliments the black/dark cabinetry of the kitchen island and coordinates with the wood beams stretched across the ceiling. Designed by Linda Williams of Hahka Kitchens. http://www.houzz.com/pro/lindasadie/hahka-kitchens Request a FREE Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a dealer near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Gray & Charcoal Beach Kitchen with Double-Tiered Island

Caves Kitchens

We designed the upper cabinetry to fit around the homeowners’ existing pot rack and the base cabinetry to accommodate two built-in ovens. The sleek, silver bar pulls complement the grey and charcoal tones of the kitchen and the pale granite counter tops. Displayed seashells accentuate the space’s beach style. -Allison Caves, CKD Caves Kitchens

Turramurra House

Bawtree Design | Architecture + Interiors

Galley kitchen with servery window
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Cathy Schusler
Design ideas for a beach style open plan kitchen in Sunshine Coast with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white splashback, black appliances and with island.

Portfolio

Daily Construction

This is an example of a small beach style u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Coastal chic with a twist

At No 19

Bespoke contemporary handleless kitchen in coastal colours. Hi Macs solid surface worktops and a bespoke glass splashback. Driftwood effect laminate flooring and integrated appliances

Modern appliance pantry

Improva

Large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Beachy Boho Kitchen

Design Me By Mahlah

This property is located in the beautiful California redwoods and yet just a few miles from the beach. We wanted to create a beachy feel for this kitchen, but also a natural woodsy vibe. Mixing materials did the trick. Walnut lower cabinets were balanced with pale blue/gray uppers. The glass and stone backsplash creates movement and fun. The counters are the show stopper in a quartzite with a "wave" design throughout in all of the colors with a bit of sparkle. We love the faux slate floor in varying sized tiles, which is very "sand and beach" friendly. We went with black stainless appliances and matte black cabinet hardware. The entry to the house is in this kitchen and opens to a closet. We replaced the old bifold doors with beautiful solid wood bypass barn doors. Inside one half became a cute coat closet and the other side storage. The old design had the cabinets not reaching the ceiling and the space chopped in half by a peninsula. We opened the room up and took the cabinets to the ceiling. Integrating floating shelves in two parts of the room and glass upper keeps the space from feeling closed in. The round table breaks up the rectangular shape of the room allowing more flow. The whicker chairs and drift wood table top add to the beachy vibe. The accessories bring it all together with shades of blues and cream. This kitchen now feels bigger, has excellent storage and function, and matches the style of the home and its owners. We like to call this style "Beachy Boho". Credits: Bruce Travers Construction Dynamic Design Cabinetry Devi Pride Photography

Hamptons Dream Home

Cordony Group

Photo of a large beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, black floor and white benchtop.

Beach Style Kitchen with Black Appliances Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Beach Style Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!