Inspiration for a large mediterranean l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, marble benchtops and marble splashback.

Contemporary Farmhouse

Alair Homes Chilliwack

This contemporary farmhouse is located on a scenic acreage in Greendale, BC. It features an open floor plan with room for hosting a large crowd, a large kitchen with double wall ovens, tons of counter space, a custom range hood and was designed to maximize natural light. Shed dormers with windows up high flood the living areas with daylight. The stairwells feature more windows to give them an open, airy feel, and custom black iron railings designed and crafted by a talented local blacksmith. The home is very energy efficient, featuring R32 ICF construction throughout, R60 spray foam in the roof, window coatings that minimize solar heat gain, an HRV system to ensure good air quality, and LED lighting throughout. A large covered patio with a wood burning fireplace provides warmth and shelter in the shoulder seasons. Carsten Arnold Photography

Pompano Beach New Construction Waterfront Home

Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

RMStudio
Design ideas for a transitional galley kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white floor.

Kitchen After

KOI Interiors

Transitional kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, marble floors, with island and white floor.

Klarviksgatan

Stylingbolaget

This is an example of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Stockholm with blue cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and shaker cabinets.

A Touch of Brass

User

Alise O'Brien Photography
Design ideas for a large transitional kitchen in St Louis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Traditional Kitchen

Large traditional separate kitchen in San Francisco with white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown floor, white splashback, marble splashback and dark hardwood floors.

East Tulsa

Kirkendall Design

Traditional l-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Meridian Kessler Bungalow | Transitional Kitchen Renovation

Steven Sears Building Company

Design ideas for a transitional galley separate kitchen in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Pasadena Kitchen

Eden Builders

Complete custom kitchen remodeling project in Pasadena
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island and white floor.

Kitchen with Marble 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 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!