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.

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

Knopp Scott Residence

Synthesis Design Inc.

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, porcelain floors, with island and brown floor.

JC Project

De Anza Interior

De Anza Interior
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, quartz benchtops, an undermount sink, beige splashback, raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors, with island, mosaic tile splashback, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Art-Deco apartment combination/renovation

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Alyssa Kirsten
Inspiration for a small industrial u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, quartz benchtops, porcelain floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Alki Cottage

Ventana Construction LLC

Transitional kitchen in Seattle with coloured appliances and quartz benchtops.

Kitchen

Denise Maloney Interior Design

Photography: davidduncanlivingston.com
This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Lady Lux. Морозная свежесть

VERONA mobili

Автор проекта - Марина Саркисян (Marina Sarkisyan)
Mid-sized transitional single-wall eat-in kitchen in Moscow with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and blue cabinets.

The Grand View

TriVistaUSA Design + Build

Darko Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Mediterranean Residence

Emerick Architects

This is an example of a large mediterranean l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor and medium hardwood floors.

Alki Cottage

Ventana Construction LLC

Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, coloured appliances, quartz benchtops and beaded inset cabinets.

Eclectic Kitchen

Eclectic kitchen in Minneapolis with panelled appliances, a farmhouse sink, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback and ceramic splashback.

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops 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!