Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, with island, white benchtop, window splashback, panelled appliances and grey floor.

James Street by BuildHer

BuildHer Collective

The stunning kitchen is a nod to the 70's - dark walnut cabinetry combined with glazed tiles and polished stone. Plenty of storage and Butlers Pantry make this an entertainers dream.

Kitchen and Breakfast Bar

Interior Design By Jo

These clients have a stunning view of the Story Bridge from their Spring Hill Apartment. We designed the kitchen and living space to maximise the view and create an open floorplan.

Glenview Residence

DCM Building Design

Inspiration for a contemporary galley kitchen in Sunshine Coast with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, vaulted and an undermount sink.

Lindsay Court Stage 2

Lisa Cannon Interior Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, black appliances, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Killara House

Nathan Gornall Design

The new large kitchen at Killara House by Nathan Gornall Design marries the warmth of timber with the robust, impressive visual appeal of stone slabs. Bringing brightness and gleam is an inlay of brass in the draw pulls of the custom joinery.

Cremorne House

Slater Architects

You enter the property from the high side through a contemporary iron gate to access a large double garage with internal access. A natural stone blade leads to our signature, individually designed timber entry door. The top-floor entry flows into a spacious open-plan living, dining, kitchen area drenched in natural light and ample glazing captures the breathtaking views over middle harbour. The open-plan living area features a high curved ceiling which exaggerates the space and creates a unique and striking frame to the vista. With stone that cascades to the floor, the island bench is a dramatic focal point of the kitchen. Designed for entertaining and positioned to capture the vista. Custom designed dark timber joinery brings out the warmth in the stone bench. Also on this level, a dramatic powder room with a teal and navy blue colour palette, a butler’s pantry, a modernized formal dining space, a large outdoor balcony, a cozy sitting nook with custom joinery specifically designed to house the client’s vinyl record player. This split-level home cascades down the site following the contours of the land. As we step down from the living area, the internal staircase with double heigh ceilings, pendant lighting and timber slats which create an impressive backdrop for the dining area. On the next level, we come to a home office/entertainment room. Double height ceilings and exotic wallpaper make this space intensely more interesting than your average home office! Floor-to-ceiling glazing captures an outdoor tropical oasis, adding to the wow factor. The following floor includes guest bedrooms with ensuites, a laundry and the master bedroom with a generous balcony and an ensuite that presents a large bath beside a picture window allowing you to capture the westerly sunset views from the tub. The ground floor to this split-level home features a rumpus room which flows out onto the rear garden.

Dual Occupancy: Brighton East townhouses

First Avenue Homes

Mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Kitchen

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, white benchtop, wood and grey floor.

Ferndale Cottage

Kitty Lee Architecture

Inspiration for a small contemporary open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, pink splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and pink benchtop.

Mosman

JPWK DESIGN

Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen, New Lambton Heights

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Newport Home

Joanne Green Landscape & Interior

Joanne Green Landscape and Interior transformed a dated interior into a relaxed and fresh apartment that embraces the sunlit marine setting of Sydney's Barrenjoey peninsula. The client's brief was to create a layered aesthetic that captures the property's expansive view and amplifies the flow between the interior and exterior spaces. The project included updates to three bedrooms, an ensuite, a bathroom, a kitchen with a butler's pantry, a study nook, a dedicated laundry, and a generous dining and living area. By using thoughtful interior design, the finished space presents a unique, comfortable, and contemporary atmosphere to the waterfront home.

Black Ribbon House

Studio 15b - Architecture + Interior Design

This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Queens Park Kitchen

Blue Tea Kitchens and Bathrooms

A ribbed and curved soft green kitchen island.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and recessed.

Quindalup Residence

Retreat Design

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Perth with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Evergreen

The Glade Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, orange cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

TAS, Davies Design & Construction

Housing Industry Association - HIA

A combination of bricks, cement sheet, copper and Colorbond combine harmoniously to produce a striking street appeal. Internally the layout follows the client's brief to maintain a level of privacy for multiple family members while also taking advantage of the view and north facing orientation. The level of detail and finish is exceptional throughout the home with the added complexity of incorporating building materials sourced from overseas.

Contemporary Australian Cabin Kitchen

Element Design Studio

A modern Australian design with finishes that change over time. Connecting the bushland to the home with colour and texture.
This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Blue Kitchen with Terrazzo Benchtops

Improva

A kitchen that combines sleek modern design with natural warmth. This beautifully crafted space features a curved island as its centrepiece, creating a dynamic flow that enhances both functionality and aesthetics. The island is clad with elegant terrazzo stone adding a touch of contemporary charm. The combination of the Dulux Albeit-coloured joinery and the Milano oak wall cabinets creates a captivating interplay of colours and textures, elevating the visual impact of the kitchen.

All Islands Contemporary 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 Contemporary 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!