Zen-like kitchen has white kitchen walls & backsplash with contrasting light shades of beige and brown & modern flat panel touch latch cabinetry. Custom cabinetry made in the Benvenuti and Stein Evanston cabinet shop. Norman Sizemore-Photographer

The Rain Man

Rosewood Custom Builders

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, light wood cabinets and beige floor.

Appleton Way

Peters Architecture

Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Downtown Brooklyn Condo

Bolster

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and brown floor.

Clean Curves

Adams + Beasley Associates

Nat Rea Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic single-wall open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Custom Toronto Renovation

South Park Design Build

Photography by Jonathan Savoie, Nomadic Luxury
Photo of a modern galley eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Magnolia Renovation

FINNE Architects

The Magnolia Renovation has been primarily concerned with the design of a new, highly crafted modern kitchen in a traditional home located in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. The kitchen design relies on the creation of a very simple continuous space that is occupied by highly crafted pieces of furniture, cabinets and fittings. Materials such as steel, bronze, bamboo, stained elm, woven cattail, and sea grass are used in juxtaposition, allowing each material to benefit from adjacent contrasts in texture and color. The existing kitchen and dining room consisted of separate rooms with a dividing wall. This wall was removed to create a long, continuous, east-west space, approximately 34 feet long, with cabinets and counters along each wall. The west end of the space has glass doors and views to the Puget Sound. The east end also has glass doors, leading to a small garden space. In the center of the new kitchen/dining space, we designed two long, custom tables from reclaimed elm planks (20" wide, 2" thick). The first table is a working kitchen island, the second table is the dining table. Both tables have custom blued-steel bases with laser-cut bronze overlay. We also designed custom stools with blued-steel bases and woven cattail rush seats. The lighting of the kitchen consists of 15 small, candle-like fixtures arranged in a random array with custom steel brackets. The cabinets are custom designed, with bleached Alaskan yellow cedar frames and bamboo panels. The counters are a dark limestone with a beautiful stone mosaic backsplash with a bamboo-like pattern. Adjacent to the backsplash is a long horizontal window with a “beargrass” resin panel placed on the interior side of the window. The “beargrass” panel contains actual sea grasses, which are backlit by the window behind the panel. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

NICOLLET

Kate Roos Design LLC

With the wall between the kitchen and living room removed, the hood surround with it's subtle curves becomes a commanding focal point. Two islands, one for work and one for socializing, help define the space. The new oak floors throughout the first floor add a casual and inviting feel.

Modern Fun House, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Stonebridge Stunner

Design Studio West

Step into a kitchen that exudes both modern sophistication and inviting warmth. The space is anchored by a stunning natural quartzite countertop, its veined patterns reminiscent of a sun-drenched landscape. The countertop stretches across the kitchen, gracing both the perimeter cabinetry and the curved island, its gentle curves adding a touch of dynamism to the layout. White oak cabinetry provides a grounding contrast to the cool quartzite. The rich, natural grain of the wood, paired with a crisp white paint, create a sense of airiness and visual lightness. This interplay of textures and tones adds depth and dimension to the space. Breaking away from the traditional rectilinear lines, the island features curved panels that echo the countertop's gentle sweep. This unexpected detail adds a touch of whimsy and softens the overall aesthetic. The warm vinyl flooring complements the wood cabinetry, creating a sense of continuity underfoot.

Carson

Daniela Fulford Photography

Inspiration for a modern l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Pantry with Open Shelving & Panelled Refrigerator

Chervin Kitchen & Bath Inc.

In the back kitchen area, there's a practical pantry with a coffee station, a built-in microwave drawer, and open shelving with integrated lighting. A stylish panelled refrigerator stands next to a handy shallow pantry for easy access to everyday food essentials.

Kitchens

Arbor Mills

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen

Beth Howley Creative LLC

Modern farmhouse kitchen featuring two kitchen islands, wet bar, hickory cabinets, cream cabinets, marble quartz countertops, custom plaster range hood, white and gold pendant lighting, hardwood flooring, and shiplap ceiling.

Saguaro Grove

AFT Construction

This is an example of a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Saguaro Grove

AFT Construction

Design ideas for a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Giddy Up!

Kimball Modern Design + Interiors

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Silver Spurs

Enfort Homes

Farmhouse meets coastal in this timeless kitchen with white oak cabinets, brass hardware, two dishwashers + double faucets, multiple pull out trash cans, custom white oak range hood, paneled wolf appliances, and tons of storage.

Kitchen Remodel - Bellevue, Washington

Ellen Weiss Design

Full kitchen remodel in Bellevue, Washington.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Biltmore Forest Whole House Remodel

Judd Builders

Large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with an Undermount Sink and Light Wood Cabinets 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!