Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, brown splashback, panelled appliances, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop, timber and vaulted.

Lake Austin Contemporary

Paula Ables Interiors

An open floor plan with high ceilings and large windows adds to the contemporary style of this home. The view to the outdoors creates a direct connection to the homes outdoor living spaces and the lake beyond. Photo by Jacob Bodkin. Architecture by James LaRue Architects.

Junior League Show House Boston

Kathy Marshall Design

The Commandants House in Charlestown Navy Yard. I was asked to design the kitchen for this historic house in Boston. My inspiration was a family style kitchen that was youthful and had a nod to it's historic past. The combination of wormy cherry wood custom cabinets, and painted white inset cabinets works well with the existing black and white floor. The island was a one of kind that I designed to be functional with a wooden butcher block and compost spot for prep, the other half a durable honed black granite. This island really works in this busy city kitchen.

Paintbrush Ridge

Miller-Roodell Architects Ltd

David O Marlow
Inspiration for a country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and turquoise benchtop.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen

Studio One | San Francisco

This was an interesting project to work on, The original builder/ designer was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The challenge with this project was to update the kitchen, while honoring the original designer's vision.

Кухня-гостиная

Ekaterina Efimova

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, no island, brown benchtop, a drop-in sink, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances and brown floor.

Осознанная экологичность

HomeNature

Сергей Ананьев
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island, white floor, an undermount sink and medium wood cabinets.

Roll-Out Shelves

Shelf Confident

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Austin with medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, porcelain splashback, porcelain floors, brown floor and flat-panel cabinets.

Ароматы леса

Студия дизайна Елены Илюхиной

автор проекта--Илюхина Елена фотограф--Шангина Ольга
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in Moscow with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown splashback, no island, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, porcelain splashback, black appliances and porcelain floors.

Лофт

Анна Попова

Николай Ковалевский - фотограф
Photo of a large industrial u-shaped open plan kitchen in Yekaterinburg with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown splashback.

Universal Design Dream Home

Signature Design Interiors

Gina Simpson of Decor and You DC and Monarch Design Remodeling created multiple layouts for the kitchen. Warm maple gingersnap cabinets compliment a lighter Silestone countertop to create a cozy feel. Universal design elements include a sink and multiple wall cabinets that lift and lower, as well as an under counter microwave and drawers. Jonathan Miller

Taylor Creek Ranch

Upside Development

Upside Development completed an contemporary architectural transformation in Taylor Creek Ranch. Evolving from the belief that a beautiful home is more than just a very large home, this 1940’s bungalow was meticulously redesigned to entertain its next life. It's contemporary architecture is defined by the beautiful play of wood, brick, metal and stone elements. The flow interchanges all around the house between the dark black contrast of brick pillars and the live dynamic grain of the Canadian cedar facade. The multi level roof structure and wrapping canopies create the airy gloom similar to its neighbouring ravine.

Breckenridge Vacation Home- Kitchen

Markel Design Group

Michael Yearout Photography
Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, subway tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Rustic Kitchen

This is an example of a country kitchen in Other with panelled appliances, wood benchtops, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, brown splashback and metal splashback.

Open To The View

Design First Interiors

This kitchen was only made possible by a combination of manipulating the architecture of the house and redefining the spaces. Some structural limitations gave rise to elegant solutions in the design of the demising walls and the ceiling over the kitchen. This ceiling design motif was repeated for the breakfast area and the dining room adjacent. The former porch was captured to the interior for an enhanced breakfast room. New defining walls established a language that was repeated in the cabinet layout. A walnut eating bar is shaped to match the walnut cabinets that surround the fridge. This bridge shape was again repeated in the shape of the countertop. Two-tone cabinets of black gloss lacquer and horizontal grain-matched walnut create a striking contrast to each other and are complimented by the limestone floor and stainless appliances. By intentionally leaving the cooktop wall empty of uppers that tough the ceiling, a simple solution of walnut backsplash panels adds to the width perception of the room. Photo Credit: Metropolis Studio

Cherry shaker kitchen

The Cabinetworks

Beautifully remodeled kitchen in southern NH., furniture style cherry shaker inset cabinetry with an antique distress island. Multifuntional kitchen designed for entertaining, family get togethers and every use.

Hobart, IN. Haas Signature Collection. Rustic Maple Kitchen

Bailey's Cabinets

Cabinet Brand: Haas Signature Collection Wood Species: Maple Cabinet Finish: Pecan Door Style: Shakertown V Counter top: Hanstone Quartz, Bevel edge, Serenity color

Budget Friendly Kitchen remodel

RAJ Kitchen and Bath, LLC

This Kitchen was designed for a small space with budget friendly clients. We were very careful choosing the materials to bring this one under budget and on time. The whole process took just about 2 weeks from demo to completion.

Boise Residence

Hsu McCullough

Kitchen. Photo by Clark Dugger
Small contemporary galley separate kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, no island and brown floor.

Transitional Kitchen

Riverwood Homes of Colorado

Transitional kitchen with beautiful wood cabinets with natural finish, dark brown and black accents, brick backsplash, double stoves, large fridge, gas stovetop, two sinks, and stunning views

Kitchen with Medium Wood Cabinets and Brown 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!