Three small rooms were demolished to enable a new kitchen and open plan living space to be designed. The kitchen has a drop-down ceiling to delineate the space. A window became french doors to the garden. The former kitchen was re-designed as a mudroom. The laundry had new cabinetry. New flooring throughout. A linen cupboard was opened to become a study nook with dramatic wallpaper. Custom ottoman were designed and upholstered for the drop-down dining and study nook. A family of five now has a fantastically functional open plan kitchen/living space, family study area, and a mudroom for wet weather gear and lots of storage.

Northgate Kitchen

CarsonSpeer Builders

This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. The vertical grain fir ceilings were reclaimed, refinished, and reinstalled. The floors were a special epoxy blend to imitate terrazzo floors that were so popular during this period. The quartz countertops waterfall on both ends and the handmade tile accents the backsplash. Reclaimed light fixtures, hardware, and appliances put the finishing touches on this remodel. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios

Wohnhaus Berlin Grunewald

Reuter Schoger Architektur Innenarchitektur

raumhohe Einbauküche Foto: Reuter Schoger
Photo of a large modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Berlin with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and coffered.

Kitchen

Herrick Design Group

Photo of a midcentury kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Midtown Modern

ROTHERS Design/Build

view of kitchen with dining room beyond photo by Sara Terranova
Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Kansas City with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, a double-bowl sink and blue splashback.

Contemporary Kitchen

Photo of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige floor, grey benchtop, dark wood cabinets and no island.

Blue Glass Grey Stone Mosaic Kitchen Wall Tile SGMT026

My Building Shop

glass mosaic stone mosaic kitchen wall tile backsplash
Mid-sized modern galley kitchen pantry in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, coloured appliances, brick floors and with island.

Macquarie Street, Roseville

Cordony Group

Elegant forties character combines with modern alfresco bliss in this tranquil home. Gracious entrance foyer, high ceilings, plantation shutters Flowing living/dining area embraces a sunlit dual aspect Alfresco deck overlooks the level north-facing backyard Abundant kitchen storage, Ilve gas range, dishwasher Serene third bedroom links to deck through French doors.

2014 Utah County Parade of Homes

Sweetwater Homes

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Highams Park

A Martens Kitchens & Bathrooms

Inspiration for a small modern galley separate kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and no island.

Laura & Blake's Kitchen

Hello Kitchen

Whit Preston
Design ideas for a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in Austin with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, no island, orange floor and white benchtop.

Greenwich Backcountry Estate

Rebecca Reynolds Design -New Canaan Kitchens

A complete makeover of a tired 1990s mahogany kitchen in a stately Greenwich back country manor. We couldn't change the windows in this project due to exterior restrictions but the fix was clear. We transformed the entire space of the kitchen and adjoining grand family room space by removing the dark cabinetry and painting over all the mahogany millwork in the entire space. The adjoining family walls with a trapezoidal vaulted ceiling needed some definition to ground the room. We added painted paneled walls 2/3rds of the way up to entire family room perimeter and reworked the entire fireplace wall with new surround, new stone and custom cabinetry around it with room for an 85" TV. The end wall in the family room had floor to ceiling gorgeous windows and Millowrk details. Once everything installed, painted and furnished the entire space became connected and cohesive as the central living area in the home.

Glencoe Cream

Wickes

Glencoe Cashmere's cool colouring and high gloss finish offer the the ultimate in urban style - perfect for the modern home. Create a striking contrast of colour and texture by completing your kitchen with smooth Corian worktops and split-face slate mosaic wall tiles.

Rustic Kitchen Renovation

The Good Home - Interiors & Design

Liz Donnelly - Maine Photo Co.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

From Pandora's Box to Jewel Box - Kitchen/Dining Room

McCabe By Design LLC

A Sapele buffet with wine storage provides a physcial separation between the kitchen and the dining area while maintaining access to the beautiful view beyond the dining room. A Kitchen That Works LLC

Beach Condo Remodel

Nancy Dyer Designs

This bright new coastal kitchen was part of a remodel project in a dated condominium. The owner chose wood looking tile floors throughout. A large, underutilized laundry room was divided in half and a walk-in pantry was created next to the kitchen. Because space was at a premium, a sliding barn door was used. We chose a more coastal looking louvered door. The cabinets originally were light oak which we had painted. The aqua glass subway tile adds a translucent water affect and the Cambria countertops finish the look with a high degree of sparkle.

Coastal Kitchen

Baine Contracting, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback and a peninsula.

Whiskey Smash Contemporary Kitchen (Detroit, MI)

Whiski Kitchen Design Studio

In this 1905 Tudor home, the intent of this design was to take advantage of the classic architecture of the home and incorporate modern conveniences. Located in the Joseph Berry Subdivision in Detroit, this stellar home presented several design challenges. The most difficult challenge to overcome was the 11” slope from one end of the kitchen to the other, caused by 110 years of settling. All new floor joists were installed and the floor by the side door was then recessed down one step. This created a cozy nook when you first enter the kitchen. A tiered ceiling with strategically planned cabinetry heights and crown molding concealed the slope of the walls at the ceiling level. The second challenge in this historic home was the awkward foot print of the kitchen. It’s likely that this kitchen had a butler’s pantry originally. However it was remodeled sometime in the 70’s and all original character was erased. Clever pantry storage was added to an awkward corner creating a space that mimicked the essence of a butler’s pantry, while providing storage desired in kitchens today. Keeping the large footprint of the kitchen presented obstacles with the working triangle; the distance from the sink to the cooktop is several feet. The solution was installation of a pot filler over the cooktop that added convenience and elegance (not sure about this word). Not everything in this project was a challenge; the discovery of a brick chimney hiding behind plaster was a welcome surprise and brought character back honoring the historic charm of this beautiful home. Kitchen Designer: Rebekah Tull of Whiski Kitchen Design Studio Remodeling Contractor: Renaissance Restorations, Inc. Counter Top Fabricator: Lakeside Solid Surfaces - Cambria Cabinetry: Legacy Crafted Cabinets Photographer: Shermin Photography Tile: TileBar.com Tresco Undercabinet LED Lighting

Contemporary Kitchen cabinets with a classic bent

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

White Cabinetry - Lakeview door style with Dove White finish on Maple. Gray Cabinetry - Transition 3˝ door style with Carbon finish on Maple.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Modern Farmhouse

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

The light filled living space is the center of the home. The kitchen features light grey cabinets and blue/grey subway tile. The wood burning stove can be rotated to face each of the three seating areas.

Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink and Blue 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!