Narrow Scandi home with texture and colour

Photo of a large scandinavian galley open plan kitchen in Perth with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern DC Kitchen

Haus Interior Design

These terrific clients turned a boring 80's kitchen into a modern, Asian-inspired chef's dream kitchen, with two tone cabinetry and professional grade appliances. An over-sized island provides comfortable seating for four. Custom Half-wall bookcases divide the kitchen from the family room without impeding sight lines into the inviting space. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Second Home

Lume Architecture

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Braeburn Mid Century Modern, Houston, TX

Victoria Sheffield

Midcentury modern kitchen with white kitchen cabinets, solid surface countertops, and tile backsplash. Open shelving is used throughout. The wet bar design includes teal grasscloth. The floors are the original 1950's Saltillo tile. A flush mount vent hood has been used to not obstruct the view.

Storage aplenty with this well planned Walk In Pantry

Ultimate Kitchens & Bathrooms

Most people would relate to the typical floor plan of a 1980's Brick Veneer home. Disconnected living spaces with closed off rooms, the original layout comprised of a u shaped kitchen with an archway leading to the adjoining dining area that hooked around to a living room behind the kitchen wall. The client had put a lot of thought into their requirements for the renovation, knowing building works would be involved. After seeing Ultimate Kitchens and Bathrooms projects feature in various magazines, they approached us confidently, knowing we would be able to manage this scale of work alongside their new dream kitchen. Our designer, Beata Brzozowska worked closely with the client to gauge their ideals. The space was transformed with the archway wall between the being replaced by a beam to open up the run of the space to allow for a galley style kitchen. An idealistic walk in pantry was then cleverly incorporated to the design, where all storage needs could be concealed behind sliding doors. This gave scope for the bench top to be clutter free leading out to an alfresco space via bi-fold bay windows which acted as a servery. An island bench at the living end side creates a great area for children to sit engaged in their homework or for another servery area to the interior zone. A lot of research had been undertaken by this client before contacting us at Ultimate Kitchens & Bathrooms. Photography: Marcel Voestermans

Our Palm Beach Color-Splosion Apartment!

Carrie Hayward Design

I wanted to paint the lower kitchen cabinets navy or teal, but I thought black would hide the dishwasher and stove better. The blue ceiling makes up for it though! We also covered the peeling particle-board countertop next to the stove with a polished marble remnant. Photo © Bethany Nauert

House in Lewes for Cave Interiors

Luca Piffaretti Photography

Luca Piffaretti
This is an example of a transitional galley kitchen in Sussex with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Newport Beach, CA - Newly Constructed, Contemporary Home

Classic Kitchens, Etc.

Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and mosaic tile splashback.

Granite with Split Stone Backsplash

Granite Huggers

Small traditional l-shaped separate kitchen in Dallas with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island and beige floor.

Summer Lake Model Home Near Rochester - Main Level Open Concept Kitchen

Gerber Homes

This beautiful, expansive open concept main level offers traditional kitchen, dining, and living room styles.
This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Virgin Kitchen

Karry Home Solutions

Warm, mediterranean style kitchen design combines some of the very best materials into a beautiful space. Granite counters and custom made cabinets use warm tones throughout. The floor tile is imported from the Mediterranean, with a combination of stainless steel and bronze being used on hardware and fixtures.

Bowman Residence

Steve Gates Architect + E-Terra Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Albuquerque with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchens

Affordable Granite Inc

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen pantry in Austin with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, plywood floors and multi-coloured floor.

Red Oak Model Home: Kitchen

Tartan Homes

Red Oak model kitchen and eating area. Photo Credit: Marc Fowler of Metropolis Studio
Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Ottawa with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Making Home Dreams Real

Benson Builders LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, with island and grey floor.

Harrision Residence

Mockler Taylor Architects

Kitchen. Custom beach cabinetry, 15 foot long cast-in-place concrete island with custom stainless steel sink. Photo Credit: David Sundberg, Esto Photographics

Riviera Pacific

User

This luxury San Diego, CA multi-family vacation home is the perfect getaway retreat. Comprised of three separate living areas, each unit offers its own contemporary bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen, along with a shared rooftop balcony complete with a fire pit and lounge. This retreat's amenities are all accompanied with stunning views of Pacific Beach and Mission Bay.

Transitional Toronto Home

Douglas Design Studio

Peter Sellar
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic galley eat-in kitchen in Toronto with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

MLB Design Group

Those white countertops are laminate....very simple and affordable. This choice works very well for this owner, and freed up dollars that we invested in the Vetrazzo concrete and recycled glass countertop and the Mercury Mosaic tile materials. This photo shows a simple GE "Spacesaver" microwave fitted into the upper cabinets. This is a great "reheat and defrost" tool which is how most of us use a microwave.

Wheelers Hill home

Jasmine McClelland Design

Green vertical tiles and feature round lights and a sneak peak of the walk in pantry.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and black benchtop.

Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink and Mosaic Tile 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!