Tempering light, heat, privacy and security by way of a dynamic facade, this Well Tempered House offers an energy efficient response to a narrow inner-Melbourne site. The renovation and extension has created a healthy, thermally comfortable home that takes advantage of its position on a north-facing laneway to enhance the lifestyles of our clients, a couple of young professionals. With the thoughtful combination of a naturally heated thermal mass slab, a high level of insulation, adjustable shading, natural light and cross-ventilation, this beautiful home will maintain a comfortable temperature with minimal energy consumption year in, year out.

Hindley & Co - Kitchen Joinery

Hindley & Co Architecture & Interior Design

A secret door leads to a laundry and powder room under the stair
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Cremorne Kitchen

Kaiko Design Interiors

Referencing the art deco period in which the apartment was build, a curved range hood finished in linear kit kat Japanese tiles forms the focal point of the kitchen. Light timber laminate for full height joinery with dark grey / charcoal ultra matte laminate for below bench cupboards and drawers. Quartzite bench tops in a leathered finish.

Kitchen

Drift Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Wollongong with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Kenthurst - Kitchen

Patterson Built Pty Ltd

Design ideas for an expansive modern galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black appliances, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop, vaulted, granite benchtops, grey splashback, granite splashback and vinyl floors.

Manly Vale Kitchen

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor, grey benchtop and coffered.

Lyneham Extension and Renovation

Build Professional

Kitchen Renovation
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic u-shaped open plan kitchen in Canberra - Queanbeyan with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Killara House

Nathan Gornall Design

The new large kitchen at Killara House by Nathan Gornall Design marries the warmth of timber with the robust, impressive visual appeal of stone slabs. Bringing brightness and gleam is an inlay of brass in the draw pulls of the custom joinery.

Glenview Residence

DCM Building Design

Inspiration for a contemporary galley kitchen in Sunshine Coast with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, vaulted and an undermount sink.

Markham Project

Lynda MacDonald Interior Design

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

New Build Transitional Style Kitchen

Svelte Kitchens

This kitchen was a perfect blend of modern and traditional. Shaker doors contrasting with modern fixtures gave the space the timeless elegance the client wanted.

Blue Moon Granite

Avant Stone

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY IN DULWICH/RESIDANCE 1

Claridge Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop, an undermount sink, stone slab splashback, black appliances and beige floor.

Church

Daniela Fulford Photography

Design ideas for a modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

James Street by BuildHer

BuildHer Collective

The stunning kitchen is a nod to the 70's - dark walnut cabinetry combined with glazed tiles and polished stone. Plenty of storage and Butlers Pantry make this an entertainers dream.

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Contemporary Kitchen, Tingira Heights

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Queens Park Kitchen

Blue Tea Kitchens and Bathrooms

A ribbed and curved soft green kitchen island.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and recessed.

Malvern East Kitchen

Studio Esar

Malvern East Kitchen renovation Photography - Suzi Appel Photography
Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, terra-cotta splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

The Bromley

Dalecki Design

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, white appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with an Undermount Sink and Grey 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!