Meticulously crafted cabinets, thick slabs of marble and wood, and reflective glass and stainless-steel surfaces create a workspace that functions well for serious cooks—or “cocktails only.” Smart storage—like the floor-to-ceiling wine rack—keeps it clutter-free.

Valley Run

JLF & Associates, Inc.

History, revived. An early 19th century Dutch farmstead, nestled in the hillside of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, offered a storied canvas on which to layer replicated additions and contemporary components. Endowed with an extensive art collection, the house and barn serve as a platform for aesthetic appreciation in all forms.

Division Street

Emerick Architects

A machined hood, custom stainless cabinetry and exposed ducting harkens to a commercial vibe. The 5'x10' marble topped island wears many hats. It serves as a large work surface, tons of storage, informal seating, and a visual line that separates the eating and cooking areas. Photo by Lincoln Barber

Painted White Shaker Style Brookhaven Kitchen, Statutory Marble Tile Backsplash

Orren Pickell Building Group

http://www.pickellbuilders.com. Photography by Linda Oyama Bryan. Painted White Shaker Style Brookhaven Kitchen, Statutory Marble Tile Backsplash, and Blue Ice Granite Countertops. Brazillian Cherry hardwood floors.

Applegate Tran Interiors

The decision to remodel your kitchen isn't one to take lightly. But, if you really don't enjoy spending time there, it may be time for a change. That was the situation facing the owners of this remodeled kitchen, says interior designer Vernon Applegate. "The old kitchen was dismal," he says. "It was small, cramped and outdated, with low ceilings and a style that reminded me of the early ‘80s." It was also some way from what the owners – a young couple – wanted. They were looking for a contemporary open-plan kitchen and family room where they could entertain guests and, in the future, keep an eye on their children. Two sinks, dishwashers and refrigerators were on their wish list, along with storage space for appliances and other equipment. Applegate's first task was to open up and increase the space by demolishing some walls and raising the height of the ceiling. "The house sits on a steep ravine. The original architect's plans for the house were missing, so we needed to be sure which walls were structural and which were decorative," he says. With the walls removed and the ceiling height increased by 18 inches, the new kitchen is now three times the size of the original galley kitchen. The main work area runs along the back of the kitchen, with an island providing additional workspace and a place for guests to linger. A color palette of dark blues and reds was chosen for the walls and backsplashes. Black was used for the kitchen island top and back. "Blue provides a sense of intimacy, and creates a contrast with the bright living and dining areas, which have lots of natural light coming through their large windows," he says. "Blue also works as a restful backdrop for anyone watching the large screen television in the kitchen." A mottled red backsplash adds to the intimate tone and makes the walls seem to pop out, especially around the range hood, says Applegate. From the family room, the black of the kitchen island provides a visual break between the two spaces. "I wanted to avoid people's eyes going straight to the cabinetry, so I extended the black countertop down to the back of the island to form a negative space and divide the two areas," he says. "The kitchen is now the axis of the whole public space in the house. From there you can see the dining room, living room and family room, as well as views of the hills and the water beyond." Cabinets : Custom rift sawn white oak, cerused dyed glaze Countertops : Absolute black granite, polished Flooring : Oak/driftwood grey from Gammapar Bar stools : Techno with arms, walnut color Lighting : Policelli Backsplash : Red dragon marble Sink : Stainless undermountby Blanco Faucets : Grohe Hot water system : InSinkErator Oven : Jade Cooktop : Independent Hoods, custom Microwave : GE Monogram Refrigerator : Jade Dishwasher : Miele, Touchtronic anniversary Limited Edition

Cape Cod

Noelle Interiors

Mid-sized traditional open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, blue splashback, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and blue benchtop.

Rodgers Kitchen

Turan Designs, Inc.

Traditional White Kitchen with Formal Wood Hood
Large traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, travertine splashback, a farmhouse sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Four Seasons Residence -- San Francisco

Jeff Schlarb Design Studio

Peter Medilek
This is an example of a contemporary galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Gahanna Residence

Matrka Group

Michael Houghton
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Columbus.

Suburban New Home Remodel

Darlene Shaw Design Inc.

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Toronto with stainless steel appliances.

Lake Washington residence

BAAN design

New construction over existing foundation
Inspiration for a modern kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and marble benchtops.

Traditional Kitchen

Photo of a traditional kitchen in Other with granite benchtops and stainless steel appliances.

Black high gloss kitchen

The Creative Edge, Inc. - Nava Slavin

RSS
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in New York with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets and black cabinets.

Courtyard & Pool House Newtown

Zugai Strudwick Architects

The clients insisted upon bright purple kitchen cupboards. The concrete benchtops contrast with the bright colours.
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, glass sheet splashback, a drop-in sink, orange splashback and purple cabinets.

Old Mill Park

Barbra Bright Design

Andrew McKinney LED strip lighting is applied to the sides of cabinet behind the faceframe. This lights the entire cabinet and makes the cabinet glow.

Brooklyn Home

Home & Stone

Photographed by Donald Grant
Photo of a large traditional kitchen in New York with panelled appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, with island, an undermount sink, grey splashback and white floor.

Magnolia

Hyde Evans Design

Award winning kitchen addition by Seattle Interior Design firm Hyde Evans Design.
Contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with stainless steel appliances, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops and an undermount sink.

Cape Cod

Noelle Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Michigan Residence

Hamilton Snowber Architects

David Reeve Architectural Photography; This vacation home is located within a narrow lot which extends from the street to the lake shore. Taking advantage of the lot's depth, the design consists of a main house and an accesory building to answer the programmatic needs of a family of four. The modest, yet open and connected living spaces are oriented towards the water. Since the main house sits towards the water, a street entry sequence is created via a covered porch and pergola. A private yard is created between the buildings, sheltered from both the street and lake. A covered lakeside porch provides shaded waterfront views.

Portland Modern Tudor Kitchen

risa boyer architecture

Lincoln Barbour
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Portland with wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, an undermount sink and medium hardwood floors.

Black Kitchen 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 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!