Photo of a traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and shaker cabinets.

Beaded inset Cabinetry

Wende Woodworking LLC

Main shot of kitchen with Rustic Alder stained perimeter cabinetry and painted and glazed finish on island. Kern Group
Design ideas for a traditional kitchen in Kansas City with subway tile splashback and granite benchtops.

Gorgeous white kitchen

The Site Foreman

The window splash-back provides a unique connection to the outdoors, easy to clean and plenty of light through the day.
Inspiration for a small contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, window splashback, white appliances, with island, white benchtop, quartz benchtops, porcelain floors and grey floor.

Crowe Lake, Marmora Cottage

Emily Griffin Design

Sian Richards
This is an example of a large beach style eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed-panel cabinets, subway tile splashback and no island.

Farm House Retreat

BKC of Westfield

BKC of Westfield
Small country single-wall separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, grey benchtop, with island and brown floor.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Cramer Kreski Designs

Expanded kitchen and oversized island provide additional seating for guests as well as display space below. Cabinetry fabricated by Eurowood Cabinets.

Rustic Eclecticism Kitchen Remodel: Chester Springs, PA

HomeTech Renovations, Inc.

A dynamic and multifaceted entertaining area, this kitchen is the center for family gatherings and its open floor plan is conducive to entertaining. The kitchen was designed to accomodate two cooks, and the small island is the perfect place for food preparation while family and guests interact with the host. The informal dining area was enlarged to create a functional eating area, and the space now incorporates a sliding French door that provides easy access to the new rear deck. Skylights that change color on demand to diminish strong, unwanted sunlight were also incorporated in the revamped dining area. A peninsula area located off of the main kitchen and dining room creates a great space for additional entertaining and storage. Character cherry cabinetry, tiger wood hardwood flooring, and dry stack running bond slate backsplash make bold statements within the space. The island top is a 3" thick Brazilian cherry end grain top, and the brushed black ash granite countertops elsewhere in the kitchen create a beautiful contrast against the cabinetry. A buffet area was incorporated into the adjoining family room to create a flow from space to space and to provide additional storage and a dry bar. Here the character cherry was maintained in the center part of the cabinetry and is flanked by a knotty maple to add more visual interest. The center backsplash is an onyx slate set in a basketweave pattern which is juxtaposed by cherry bead board on either side. The use of a variety of natural materials lends itself to the rustic style, while the cabinetry style, decorative light fixtures, and open layout provide the space with a contemporary twist. Here bold statements blend with subtle details to create a warm, welcoming, and eclectic space.

Compact Shoreditch shaker/freestanding kitchen

Murray & Ball Furniture Ltd

Central storage unit that comprises of a bespoke pull-out larder system and hoses the integrated fridge/freezer and further storage behind the top hung sliding door.

Un 2 pièces revisité

Bulles & Taille-crayon

Olivier HALLOT
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Paris with wood benchtops, timber splashback, with island and grey floor.

New Home in Orefield

Laslo Custom Kitchens, Inc.

Perimeter Hardware Paint Island - Rift White Oak Wood Driftwood Dark Stain
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Farmhouse Kitchen

User

An open plan kitchen with white shaker cabinets and natural wood island. The upper cabinets have glass doors and frame the window looking into the yard ensuring a light and open feel to the room. Marble subway tile and island counter contrasts with the taupe Neolith counter surface. Shiplap detail was repeated on the buffet and island. The buffet is utilized as a serving center for large events. Photo: Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo

Kitchen

Coastal Signature Homes

Cabinets: Centerpoint Black splash: Savannah Surfaces Perimeter: Caesarstone Island Countertop: Precision Granite & Marble- Cygnus Leather Appliances: Ferguson, Kitchenaid

Contemporary Kitchens

Hurst Design Build Remodeling

Darren Sinnett
Large contemporary kitchen in Cleveland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, with island, quartz benchtops, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Whitefish Bay Tudor Kitchen

Angela Westmore, LLC.

Mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, with island, grey floor, marble benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors and multi-coloured benchtop.

Traditional Kitchen

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in Other with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, with island and grey floor.

Classic Coastal

Oakley Home Builders

Luxury kitchen
This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and granite benchtops.

Custom Kitchen

Terra Designs Interiors

Expansive transitional single-wall eat-in kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and glass tile splashback.

Transitional waterfront in Yarmouth

balance design studio

Jeff Roberts
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and brown floor.

House at Leeside Farm Circular Kitchen

Studio Hillier

This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, black splashback, with island, solid surface benchtops, stone tile splashback, black appliances, marble floors, grey floor and wood.

Mesa Residence

Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design

Photos by Emily Hagopian
Inspiration for a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and with island.

All Backsplash Materials 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!