Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, a farmhouse sink, granite benchtops, white cabinets, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, grey benchtop and raised-panel cabinets.

solid cherry cabinets, marble subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances

MN Builders

Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback and marble splashback.

Shrader Residence

User

Photo by Nicholas V. Ruiz
Inspiration for a traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, wood benchtops, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback and black appliances.

Kitchen with Paisley Tiles

Square Footage Inc.

Valerie Wilcox
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Impressionen

Neptune Home Berlin

Large country galley kitchen in Berlin with shaker cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, with island, a drop-in sink and blue cabinets.

Brownhouse Design

Brownhouse Design, Los Altos, CA

Los Altos, CA.
Traditional kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, white splashback, wood benchtops, a single-bowl sink and beaded inset cabinets.

Juneau

Heidi Caillier Design

Design ideas for a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, blue splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Contemporary Kitchen

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and brick floors.

Chestnut Street Kitchen

Venegas and Company

This is an example of a traditional kitchen in Boston with glass-front cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops and multi-coloured splashback.

andrew pogue photography

Andrew Pogue Photography

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Austin with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and grey splashback.

Contemporary Kitchen

David Sharff Architect, P.C.

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with panelled appliances, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback and glass tile splashback.

Spanish Contemporary

JRP Design & Remodel

A luxe kitchen remodel with custom-paneled, fully-integrated Thermador appliances including a wine fridge and dishwasher. Glass-front cabinets create a striking barware display flanked by white raised-panel DeWils cabinets. Cambria Torquay Marble countertops are polished and contemporary. Wrought steel birdcage bar pulls and Historic Bronze pendant lights add a rustic, hand-crafted patina to the aesthetic. The medium wood on the center island and warm terracotta floor tiles ground the white walls in this contemporary Spanish design. Photographer: Tom Clary

FINCHLEY

MATRIX DESIGN

Contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island and grey floor.

Woodmaster Kitchen & Bath

Woodmaster Kitchen & Bath Inc.

Large traditional u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback, marble benchtops, porcelain splashback, porcelain floors and with island.

Amoroso Design

hood, island
Contemporary separate kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and matchstick tile splashback.

Eichler kitchen remodel

Carol Gillum, CKD

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Omaha with a double-bowl sink, white appliances, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and glass tile splashback.

Operation ReDo

McCabe By Design LLC

The original kitchen was designed and built by the original homeowner, needless to say neither design nor building was his profession. Further, the entire house has hydronic tubing in gypcrete for heat which means to utilities (water, ventilation or power) could be brought up through the floor or down from the ceiling except on the the exterior walls. The current homeowners love to cook and have a seasonal garden that generates a lot of lovely fruits and vegetables for both immediate consumption and preserving, hence, kitchen counter space, two sinks, the induction cooktop and the steam oven were all 'must haves' for both the husband and the wife. The beautiful wood plank porcelain tile floors ensures a slip resistant floor that is sturdy enough to stand up to their three four-legged children. Utilizing the three existing j-boxes in the ceiling, the cable and rail system combined with the under cabinet light illuminates every corner of this formerly dark kitchen. The rustic knotty alder cabinetry, wood plank tile floor and the bronze finish hardware/lighting all help to achieve the rustic casual look the homeowners craved. Photo by A Kitchen That Works LLC

Grant Park Kitchen Remodel

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Portland with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, red splashback and glass sheet splashback.

Foxes Hollow

Context Design and Build

Renovations to the structure of this underground house including; new external windows, new bathroom and joinery to internal living areas.
Photo of a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, orange splashback, subway tile splashback, painted wood floors, no island and white floor.

Hacienda Kitchen

Hann Builders

Design ideas for a mediterranean kitchen in Houston with an undermount sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

All Cabinet Finishes 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!