Contemporary Kitchen, New Lambton Heights

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.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Design ideas for a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, concrete floors, with island and grey floor.

Traditional kitchen nestled in Franklin

Terri Sears, Kitchen and Bath Designer

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Elegant Kitchen Remodel in a Soft Warm Gray

Paper Moon Painting

This gorgeous kitchen features a double range, marble counters and backsplash, brass fixtures, plus these freshly-painted cabinets in Sherwin Williams' "Amazing Gray". Design by Hilary Conrey of Courtney & Co. (Plus this is one of the prettiest islands we've ever seen!)

Cooperstown Farmhouse

The Working Kitchen, Ltd.

Photo: Vicki Bodine
Large country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and marble benchtops.

Traditional Kitchen

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Tampa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Leesburg, VA

WellCraft Kitchen and Bath

Photo of a large modern eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Easton, Maryland - Traditional - Kitchen with Lake View

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Easton, Maryland Traditional Kitchen Design by #JenniferGilmer with a lake view http://gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Photo of a midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Modern Industrial Kitchen Showroom

Sustainable Kitchens

This shaker style kitchen is painted in Farrow & Ball Down Pipe. This integrated double pull out bin is out of the way when not in use but convenient to pull out when needed. The Concreto Biscotte worktop add a nice contrast with the style and colour of the cabinetry. Carl Newland

W. Creekside Residence

Dillon Kyle Architects (DKA)

Casey Dunn Photography
Design ideas for a large beach style u-shaped kitchen in Houston with with island, white cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, open cabinets, a farmhouse sink, white splashback and timber splashback.

Los Gatos Modern

Bynn Esmond Designs

Custom european style cabinets, hidden kitchen concept, procelain walls, white on white modern kitchen
Photo of a large modern eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Creating a space to entertain was the top priority in this Mukwonago kitchen remodel. The homeowners wanted seating and counter space for hosting parties and watching sports. By opening the dining room wall, we extended the kitchen area. We added an island and custom designed furniture-style bar cabinet with retractable pocket doors. A new awning window overlooks the backyard and brings in natural light. Many in-cabinet storage features keep this kitchen neat and organized. Bar Cabinet The furniture-style bar cabinet has retractable pocket doors and a drop-in quartz counter. The homeowners can entertain in style, leaving the doors open during parties. Guests can grab a glass of wine or make a cocktail right in the cabinet. Outlet Strips Outlet strips on the island and peninsula keeps the end panels of the island and peninsula clean. The outlet strips also gives them options for plugging in appliances during parties. Modern Farmhouse Design The design of this kitchen is modern farmhouse. The materials, patterns, color and texture define this space. We used shades of golds and grays in the cabinetry, backsplash and hardware. The chevron backsplash and shiplap island adds visual interest. Custom Cabinetry This kitchen features frameless custom cabinets with light rail molding. It’s designed to hide the under cabinet lighting and angled plug molding. Putting the outlets under the cabinets keeps the backsplash uninterrupted. Storage Features Efficient storage and organization was important to these homeowners. We opted for deep drawers to allow for easy access to stacks of dishes and bowls. Under the cooktop, we used custom drawer heights to meet the homeowners’ storage needs. A third drawer was added next to the spice drawer rollout. Narrow pullout cabinets on either side of the cooktop for spices and oils. The pantry rollout by the double oven rotates 90 degrees. Other Updates Staircase – We updated the staircase with a barn wood newel post and matte black balusters Fireplace – We whitewashed the fireplace and added a barn wood mantel and pilasters.

San Francisco residence

Knocknock

Full view of kitchen. Photography by Open Homes photography
Mid-sized modern single-wall open plan kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink, light hardwood floors and with island.

Raleigh Hills Kitchen

Rockwood Cabinetry

Remodel by Ostmo Construction. Photos by Dale Lang of NW Architectural Photography.
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with quartz benchtops, white splashback, white cabinets, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, marble splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and with island.

Scarborough Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation

The Good Home - Interiors & Design

Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with panelled appliances, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, exposed beam, granite benchtops and multi-coloured benchtop.

Madeira Timeless Transitional

Trace & Scale

Transitional Kitchen renovation combining existing kitchen & dining room into one larger space. Greige perimeter cabinets and soft green island cabinets with brushed gold accents and marble tile finish off the space. Soft mid-tone woods keep warmth infused throughout.

Alexandria Transitional Kitchen

Mattice Design

Vertical Lift Appliance Garage In Open Position
Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen in DC Metro with a single-bowl sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

Wyndham Beach House

Sky Architect Studio

We created a practical, L-shaped kitchen layout with an island bench integrated into the “golden triangle” that reduces steps between sink, stovetop and refrigerator for efficient use of space and ergonomics. Instead of a splashback, windows are slotted in between the kitchen benchtop and overhead cupboards to allow natural light to enter the generous kitchen space. Overhead cupboards have been stretched to ceiling height to maximise storage space. Timber screening was installed on the kitchen ceiling and wrapped down to form a bookshelf in the living area, then linked to the timber flooring. This creates a continuous flow and draws attention from the living area to establish an ambience of natural warmth, creating a minimalist and elegant kitchen. The island benchtop is covered with extra large format porcelain tiles in a 'Calacatta' profile which are have the look of marble but are scratch and stain resistant. The 'crisp white' finish applied on the overhead cupboards blends well into the 'natural oak' look over the lower cupboards to balance the neutral timber floor colour.

Classic With a New Angle

Studio Dearborn

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

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!