Photo of a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, beige benchtop and exposed beam.

Kitchen Coffee Bar

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Milton Renovation

New River Building Co.

Photo Credit: David Cannon; Design: Michelle Mentzer Instagram: @newriverbuildingco
Design ideas for a country l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, beige benchtop, beige cabinets, quartzite benchtops and porcelain splashback.

Custom Coffee Station

Great Rooms Building Group

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Transitional Shingle Style

Ellwood Interiors

Photos: Beth Singer Architect & Builder: LUXE Homes Design + Build Interior design: Ellwood Interiors, Inc
This is an example of a transitional open plan kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, beige splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, beige benchtop and with island.

Crystal Lake Craftsman

Think Design

Walnut cabinets with natural finish, Taj Mahal counters and backsplash, porcelain farmhouse sink, timber beam ceiling
Photo of a large arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, beige benchtop and exposed beam.

Holmberg Park

Erika Jayne Design Build

A conceptual kitchen design in Arlington, Virginia with decor and materials inspired by African art, handicrafts and organic materials juxtaposted with modern lines, materials, and fixtures. Floating marble shelves are used in lieu of wall cabinets to allow for easy-access to kitchenware and to display decorative items and cookbooks.

Hidden Gem

Esslinger Design Company

Cabinet paint color: Cushing Green by Benjamin Moore
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Мята

Kutenkovs project

Photo of a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Novosibirsk with grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, no island, brown floor, beige benchtop, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and mosaic tile splashback.

Victorian Bead, Hand Painted Kitchen

Sculleries of Stockbridge

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Edinburgh with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige splashback, black appliances, with island and beige benchtop.

Oak Knoll

Hudson Construction Group

Design ideas for a country l-shaped kitchen in Dallas with grey cabinets, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, beige benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

Plano | Normandy Estates | Kitchen & Butler Cabinets (Partner)

Kitchen Design Concepts

The builder we partnered with for this beauty original wanted to use his cabinet person (who builds and finishes on site) but the clients advocated for manufactured cabinets - and we agree with them! These homeowners were just wonderful to work with and wanted materials that were a little more "out of the box" than the standard "white kitchen" you see popping up everywhere today - and their dog, who came along to every meeting, agreed to something with longevity, and a good warranty! The cabinets are from WW Woods, their Eclipse (Frameless, Full Access) line in the Aspen door style - a shaker with a little detail. The perimeter kitchen and scullery cabinets are a Poplar wood with their Seagull stain finish, and the kitchen island is a Maple wood with their Soft White paint finish. The space itself was a little small, and they loved the cabinetry material, so we even paneled their built in refrigeration units to make the kitchen feel a little bigger. And the open shelving in the scullery acts as the perfect go-to pantry, without having to go through a ton of doors - it's just behind the hood wall!

Derry Kitchen

Kitchen Nation

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Old Mission penninsula

Design Strategies

Transitional/traditional design. Hand scraped wood flooring, wolf & sub zero appliances. Antique mirrored tile, Custom cabinetry
Expansive traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, recessed-panel cabinets, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Natural Maple Cabinets in Open Kitchen with Quartz Countertops

Denise Quade Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Elegant Oak

Rencraft Ltd

Clean, simple, uncluttered. This elegant oak and hand-painted kitchen features an understated bevelled door detail which lends the room a classic, timeless style. The layout flows around the central island which houses a built-in wine cooler and has a circular prep sink at one end balanced by a larger, circular solid oak dining area at the other. These curves complement the two arched doorways at the far end of the room, filling the space with light. Plenty of storage has been provided thanks to a traditional larder with oak interiors and twin double-door butler cupboards. Finishing touches include Miele appliances, quartz worktops with a profiled edge detail, a mirrored glass splashback and polished stainless steel handles.

Кухня

Екатерина Шубина

Дизайн Екатерина Шубина Ольга Гусева Марина Курочкина фото-Иван Сорокин
Photo of a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Saint Petersburg with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, beige splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Avant/ Apres transformation d'un F3 par un jeune couple

QUALIRENOVATION

Photo of a scandinavian l-shaped separate kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, black appliances, no island, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Kitchen with Recessed-panel Cabinets and Beige Benchtop 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!