Warm earthy tones, organic mixed coloured Fibonacci stone benchtop and beige mosaic splashback tile from Academy tiles compliment the feature timber surrounds of this family kitchen.

Park Orchards

Direct Kitchens

Design ideas for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Mosman

JPWK DESIGN

Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Fairway Project

Dion Group Projects

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with turquoise cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, with island, white benchtop, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Dark Grey Brown Sophisticated Kitchen

Joyce Kitchens

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

Flinders , Sailors Whisk

Mermaid Bay Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, distressed cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, shiplap splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

This Is The One

G&M Craftsman Cabinets

Returning clients are our favourite clients. The journey we have been on with these clients is we started on a smaller project, and over time they have ended up moving into their dream home on their dream property, and of course, they need their dream kitchen! Drawing inspiration from Hampton and Country styles, we worked with the client to combine these elements into this beautiful and inviting space where the family can make memories for years to come. Some of the big features like the piece of Santorini Quartzite Natural Stone in Honed Finish on the island bench and Nostalgie Series Appliances by ILVE make this kitchen personal and individual to the owners taste. There is something so humbling about a client coming back time and time again entrusting us with their next project, and this one was a great honour to be a part of.

HAMPTON ROAD

The Real Estate Stylist (TRES)

Transitional l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Bay Street II Project

LivingLot

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Transit House

Simon Hayward Design

Alterations and additions to a house in Port Macquarie. The site had awesome views to south and east. We introduced northern light into the ground floor living areas via courtyards. The courtyards act as protected outdoor living spaces when the southerlies are blowing. Planning allows for ocean views from all living area and all bedrooms while still having good access to north sun and north easterly cooling breezes in summer. Builder Tim Sales. Photos Simon Martin

Minimalist White Queenslander Renovation

Ethos Interiors

Lovingly called the ‘white house’, this stunning Queenslander was given a contemporary makeover with oak floors, custom joinery and modern furniture and artwork. Creative detailing and unique finish selections reference the period details of a traditional home, while bringing it into modern times.

1840's Sweet Shoppe

Hi Tech Projects

Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Naremburn

Sartorial Interiors

Photo of a large contemporary kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Mt Macedon

Lume Architecture

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Dual Occupancy: Brighton East townhouses

First Avenue Homes

Mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with Bronzed Mirror Splashbacks

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

Coogee Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Family Kitchen in Coogee Home
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Elsternwick, VIC - renovation and extension

My Architect

Photo of a scandinavian open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

MId Century Family Home

Sally Feeney Interior Design Pty Ltd

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, terrazzo benchtops, subway tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Bayview House

Aatos Design

Light-filled kitchen and dining.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey splashback, beige floor, grey benchtop and wood.

All Cabinet Finishes Kitchen with Light Hardwood Floors 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!