Photo: Kathryn Clark
This is an example of a country galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, coloured appliances and white cabinets.

Poggenpohl

Teak Decor Lava Cubanit Perlmutt HG
Inspiration for a modern galley kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

English Country Kitchen

Studio3 Kitchen Bath Interiors

Daniel O,Connor Photography
Design ideas for a traditional galley kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Loughlin Bridge

Woodale

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Dublin with recessed-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, with island, beige floor, grey cabinets, black appliances and light hardwood floors.

Contemporain Cuisine

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Paris with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors, with island and white splashback.

David Hicks Kitchen

Tim Wood Limited

This painted kitchen was designed for the Chairman of David Hicks Plc. It was designed to complement the classic, elegant interior of a Cornish manor house. The interiors of the kitchen cupboards were made from maple with dovetailed maple drawers. The worktops were made from maple and iroko. The finial hinges to all the doors were silvered to add a touch of luxury to this bespoke kitchen. This is a kitchen with a classic understated English country look. Designed and hand built by Tim Wood

The Albert Bridge Kitchen

Naked Kitchens

Tim Doyle
This is an example of a small contemporary galley kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, purple cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop and a peninsula.

Noe Valley Renovation, kitchen

Michael Mullin Architect

Several smaller rooms were combined to make this chef's kitchen the center of the home. The Mahogany cabinets and white end wall work together to give the room a more elegant sense of proportion. The Carrara backplash and countertops are timeless, uniting a contemporary room and the original Queen Ann context.

The New American Home

Phil Kean Design Group

This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen in Orlando with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets and white splashback.

Modern All Glass Kitchen - Renovation and Interior Design

Brett Design

Ethereal Modern Pied-à-terre Kitchen by Brett Design. This all glass kitchen is clad in back painted glass from the refrigerator to the cabinets to the dishwasher to the walls, counter top and backsplash. This small New York City kitchen lacks nothing. With careful space planning the custom contemporary glass flat front cabinets provide plenty of storage, while well placed top of the line stainless steel range is a dream for an urban home chef. Recessed under cabinet lighting and ceiling lighting concealed above dropped modern crown molding provide understated and beautiful illumination.

Grey Star

LaPierre Cabinetry, Inc.

Doug Thompson
Contemporary galley kitchen in Orlando with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and no island.

Perene - Hubler

DUO.

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Lyon with blue cabinets, panelled appliances and with island.

rutledge st. residence - from open kitchen to the view

building Lab, inc.

this extensive whole house remodel in the bernal heights area of san francisco transforms the home from insular and compartmentalized to open and flowing. the most prominent moves include reorganization of and opening up the main stair, relocation of the kitchen and capture of space under house for master suite. the new stair draws light deep into the entry foyer and features a sculptural acrylic screen. the new open concept kitchen, dining, and living space emphasizes comfort, continuity and functionality while highlighting a spectacular panoramic view to downtown san francisco. architect: neal schwartz; photo by Matthew Millman .

Aristokraft Cabinetry

Great Kitchens & Baths

These photos are credited to Aristokraft Cabinetry of Master Brand Cabinets out of Jasper, Indiana. Affordable, yet stylish cabinetry that will last and create that updated space you have been dreaming of.

Charming West Vancouver Cape Cod by McCabe Design & Interiors

McCabe Design & Interiors

Photography: 360hometours.ca A Charming Cape Cod Home in West Vancouver underwent a full renovation and redesign by Tina McCabe of McCabe Design & Interiors. The homeowners wanted to keep the original character of the home whilst giving their home a complete makeover. The kitchen space was expanded by opening up the kitchen and dining room, adding French doors off the kitchen to a new deck, and moving the powder room as much as the existing plumbing allowed. A custom kitchen design with custom cabinets and storage was created. A custom "princess bathroom" was created by adding more floor space from the adjacent bedroom and hallway, designing custom millworker, and specifying equisite tile from New Jersey. The home also received refinished hardwood floors, new moulding and millwork, pot lights throughout and custom lighting fixtures, wainscotting, and a new coat of paint. Finally, the laundry was moved upstairs from the basement for ease of use.

Hill Country Residence

Cornerstone Architects

Nestled into sloping topography, the design of this home allows privacy from the street while providing unique vistas throughout the house and to the surrounding hill country and downtown skyline. Layering rooms with each other as well as circulation galleries, insures seclusion while allowing stunning downtown views. The owners' goals of creating a home with a contemporary flow and finish while providing a warm setting for daily life was accomplished through mixing warm natural finishes such as stained wood with gray tones in concrete and local limestone. The home's program also hinged around using both passive and active green features. Sustainable elements include geothermal heating/cooling, rainwater harvesting, spray foam insulation, high efficiency glazing, recessing lower spaces into the hillside on the west side, and roof/overhang design to provide passive solar coverage of walls and windows. The resulting design is a sustainably balanced, visually pleasing home which reflects the lifestyle and needs of the clients. Photography by Andrew Pogue

Punggol Residences @Punggol Walk

Fuse Concept Pte Ltd

Contemporary galley kitchen in Singapore with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, glass sheet splashback and no island.

Luxury white kitchen with discrete LED lighting

Stoneham Kitchens

The large, open-plan room provided wide scope for experimentation, and was the perfect space to showcase an eye-catching island in Stone Grey.
This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets and with island.

Swanbourne House 11

Rodrigues Bodycoat Architects

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback and a peninsula.

Downtown Brooklyn

Amber Rogers Design

Mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, an undermount sink and white benchtop.

Galley 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!