Our Interior Designers tell clients, “Be true to yourself, and you will love the results.” This kitchen remodel reflects that motto. The owners of this Salem area ranch home had a long-standing appreciation of the classic white, black, and red color combination. So when C&R Senior Interior Designer Linda Stewart selected the new color palette, she stayed close to that theme. A challenge in nearly every older kitchen is the new refrigerator sizes. Remember the day when you could replace your refrigerator and the new one would fit perfectly in the existing space? Not anymore. Now, the super-sized refrigerators wreck havoc on most kitchen spaces. If, by luck, it happens to fit beneath the upper cabinet, it more than likely protrudes out into the room. This kitchen had that issue. The refrigerator stuck out a good six inches from the cabinet edge, seriously affecting the visual flow. And with that much added depth, reaching the cabinet above was almost impossible. C&R solved this problem with a custom cabinet and side pantry that extends the full depth of the refrigerator. This accomplished two good things: added architectural interest and a refrigerator proportional to the kitchen as a whole. Terry Poe Photography

Transitional Kitchen

N C R

A farmhouse kitchen with the best of both worlds - traditional and modern elements. Through classic shaker cabinets, a farmhouse sink made from stainless steel, and timeless white micro subway tile, we were able to perfectly showcase new and old presented through our clients' preferred farmhouse look. Throughout the whole kitchen we installed Nevern stone countertops from Cambria and added a convenient cabinet on one end of the large kitchen island. The cabinet features two quartzite shelves, which are accompanied by USB and receptacle outlets. Designed by Chi Renovation & Design who serve Chicago and it's surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Wilmette, and all of the way up to Lake Forest.

Sorrento House Kitchen

Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors

The consistent use of concrete, honed basalt and hand-hewn timbers delivers a signature RMA palette where the honesty and character of the materials is evident. Photography Earl Carter

3 Dimensional Backsplash

CWW Kitchens, Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Orlando with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island and white floor.

Prospect Park Apartment

Barker Associates Architecture Office

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, green splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Sag Harbor Residence

User

This 7,500 square feet home, situated on a waterfront site in Sag Harbor, New York, was designed as a shared vacation home for four brothers and their families. A collaborative effort between the clients and Cecil Baker + Partners yielded a contemporary home that pays homage to the Eastern Long Island vernacular. The home is composed of three distinct volumes that step back from one another to optimize both the water view and privacy. The two outer wings take on familiar cedar-clad, pitched roof geometry while the central three-story glass box links them together and anchors the home. The two car garage, with a private living space above, projects from the main house via a breezeway, defining a private garden. The interior of the home integrates warm, tactile materials and clean modern lines. The use of full-height windows, floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, and an operable overhead glass door creates an indoor-outdoor living experience and floods the home with natural light. The subtle choreography of the interior space lends flexibility to the Client for both social and private uses of the home. The first floor contains an open plan for the kitchen, living room, dining area and sunroom, and the second floor includes two full master suites facing the bay, a guest room with spectacular water views, and a children's room that overlooks the garden. The fully finished basement holds a large playroom, a gym, a full spa bath and a wine cellar. In addition, views in all directions are unobstructed from a third floor roof terrace. Michael Grimm Photography

City Beach

Glenda Roff

Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with an integrated sink, white cabinets, limestone benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Maximizing small NYC apartment space

Atelier036 - Architecture,Interior Design,Lighting

A tiny kitchen that maximizes every possible inch. Pat of a total gut renovation of a 1 bedroom apartment
Photo of a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, white appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Roma Road

Studio Fabbri

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Rénovation de 2 studios

Studio Gazelles

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, terra-cotta floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Фили

Ze|Workroom Studio

Contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Moscow with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances, a peninsula, grey floor, concrete benchtops and cement tile splashback.

Aylmer Avenue Kitchen

OakWood Designers & Builders

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Ottawa with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Drawers Galore Designed by David Kiljanowicz

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

Photography by Treve Johnson Photography
Photo of a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Studio Cocooning à Paris

KAST DESIGN

KAST DESIGN
Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, light hardwood floors and no island.

HOLZ+FORM Küche in Tübingen

HOLZ+FORM werkraum für wohnkultur

Foto: Beate Armbruster
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Stuttgart with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, black splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Cuisine familiale

Un Archi Dans Ma Cuisine

MEERO / Marie Janiszewski
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Paris with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, stainless steel appliances, multi-coloured splashback, no island, grey floor, a drop-in sink and cement tile splashback.

Cuisine

Lucie DAVAZE

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, black cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, coloured appliances, terra-cotta floors and with island.

Norway Project

Carpenter + Lueckemeyer Custom Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Colorful Contemporary White Kitchen

C&R Remodeling

Frenchs Forest

User

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen pantry in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen with Cement Tile Splashback 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!