Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Aranda Renovation

Studio Black Interiors

Built by Pettit & Sevitt in the 1970s, this architecturally designed split-level home needed a refresh. Studio Black Interiors worked with builders, REP building, to transform the interior of this home with the aim of creating a space that was light filled and open plan with a seamless connection to the outdoors. The client’s love of rich navy was incorporated into all the joinery. Fifty years on, it is joyous to view this home which has grown into its bushland suburb and become almost organic in referencing the surrounding landscape. Renovation by REP Building. Photography by Hcreations.

Glasscock

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Love how this kitchen renovation creates an open feel for our clients to their dining room and office and a better transition to back yard!
Inspiration for a transitional open plan kitchen in Raleigh with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, stainless steel appliances and black cabinets.

Highlands Ranch Sleek Transitional Kitchen

JM Kitchen & Bath Design

Omega Cabinets: Puritan door style, Pearl White Paint, Paint MDF door Heartwood: Alder Wood, Stained with Glaze (floating shelves, island, hood)
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Remodel

House of Brazier

A full, custom kitchen remodel turned a once-dated and awkward layout into a spacious modern farmhouse kitchen with crisp black and white contrast, double islands, a walk-in pantry and ample storage.

Baker's Kitchen

Haus Interior Design

Before renovating, this bright and airy family kitchen was small, cramped and dark. The dining room was being used for spillover storage, and there was hardly room for two cooks in the kitchen. By knocking out the wall separating the two rooms, we created a large kitchen space with plenty of storage, space for cooking and baking, and a gathering table for kids and family friends. The dark navy blue cabinets set apart the area for baking, with a deep, bright counter for cooling racks, a tiled niche for the mixer, and pantries dedicated to baking supplies. The space next to the beverage center was used to create a beautiful eat-in dining area with an over-sized pendant and provided a stunning focal point visible from the front entry. Touches of brass and iron are sprinkled throughout and tie the entire room together. Photography by Stacy Zarin

Home in Hampton Lake

Coastal Signature Homes

This open kitchen, making the best use of space, features a wet bar combo coffee nook with a wine cooler and a Miele Built In Coffee machine. Nice!
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Whale Rock Addition

Ellen McKenna Design

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Inspiration for a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, an undermount sink, brown floor and flat-panel cabinets.

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

The kitchen in this Mid Century Modern home is a true showstopper. The designer expanded the original kitchen footprint and doubled the kitchen in size. The walnut dividing wall and walnut cabinets are hallmarks of the original mid century design, while a mix of deep blue cabinets provide a more modern punch. The triangle shape is repeated throughout the kitchen in the backs of the counter stools, the ends of the waterfall island, the light fixtures, the clerestory windows, and the walnut dividing wall.

Stone Shaker

Baker & Baker Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture

Photo of a transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Essex with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Glamorous Kitchen Remodel

Cindy Aplanalp & Chairma Design Group

Photography by Analicia Herrman
This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

2109 Skyview Ridge

Five Star Interiors

Cabinets: Dove Gray- Slab Door Box shelves Shelves: Seagull Gray Countertop: Perimeter/Dropped 4” mitered edge- Pacific shore Quartz Calacatta Milos Countertop: Islands-4” mitered edge- Caesarstone Symphony Gray 5133 Backsplash: Run the countertop- Caesarstone Statuario Maximus 5031 Photographer: Steve Chenn

Egerton Gardens

Kochwerk Kitchen Solutions

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern single-wall kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen 2

RS | MANNINO Architecture + Construction

Iris Bachman Photography
Photo of a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Luxurious Hamptons Kitchen incl Butlers Pantry

Makings of Fine Kitchens & Bathrooms

Large island bench - 2pac shaker cabinetry with Caesarstone Statuario Maximus benchtop and island seating and ample storage with powerpoints at end of island bench.

Mid-Century Modern Condo in Historic Capitol Hill

Finesse Design Remodeling

A two-bed, two-bath condo located in the Historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC was reimagined with the clean lined sensibilities and celebration of beautiful materials found in Mid-Century Modern designs. A soothing gray-green color palette sets the backdrop for cherry cabinetry and white oak floors. Specialty lighting, handmade tile, and a slate clad corner fireplace further elevate the space. A new Trex deck with cable railing system connects the home to the outdoors.

| garden home |

Amy Pearson Design

Relocating to Portland, Oregon from California, this young family immediately hired Amy to redesign their newly purchased home to better fit their needs. The project included updating the kitchen, hall bath, and adding an en suite to their master bedroom. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining allowed for additional counter space and storage along with improved traffic flow and increased natural light to the heart of the home. This galley style kitchen is focused on efficiency and functionality through custom cabinets with a pantry boasting drawer storage topped with quartz slab for durability, pull-out storage accessories throughout, deep drawers, and a quartz topped coffee bar/ buffet facing the dining area. The master bath and hall bath were born out of a single bath and a closet. While modest in size, the bathrooms are filled with functionality and colorful design elements. Durable hex shaped porcelain tiles compliment the blue vanities topped with white quartz countertops. The shower and tub are both tiled in handmade ceramic tiles, bringing much needed texture and movement of light to the space. The hall bath is outfitted with a toe-kick pull-out step for the family’s youngest member!

Anamor Kitchen

Landed Interiors & Homes

Photography by Brad Knipstein
Photo of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Black Kitchen Cabinets with a Walnut Accent

Brookwood Cabinet Company, Inc.

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Water Mill Refurbishment

Woodford Architecture and Interiors

Photo of a large country u-shaped kitchen in Devon with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, stone slab splashback, slate floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and panelled appliances.

Blue Kitchen with White Benchtop 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!