Custom design by Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design Inc. in Toronto, Canada. Photography by Stephani Buchman Photography.
Large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with white cabinets, with island, recessed-panel cabinets, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood floors.

Timeless Kitchen Transformation in Ballwin

Liston Design Build

Design ideas for a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in St Louis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Divine Kitchen in Darnestown

Davida's Kitchen & Tiles

Bob Narod
Photo of an expansive transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Craftsmen Kitchen Storage

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen

Once an unused butler's pantry, this Ann Arbor kitchen remodel now offers added storage for important appliances and large items infrequently used. This hard working set of cabinetry does the work of a pantry without the doors, narrow storage and poor lighting of a traditional pantry. Complete with floor to ceiling natural cherry cabinets in the craftsman style, these cabinets add interest and function with stair-step depths and height. The Medallion cabinets are a natural cherry wood with a Sonoma door style, finished in a pecan burnished glaze. Sanctuary cabinet hardware from Top Knobs comes in a Tuscan Bronze finish. Bamboo floors compliment the warm cabinetry and will deepen to a honey blond over time. Under cabinet lighting high lights crackle glass accent tile, tumbled limestone brick tiles and white quartz countertops. Fred Golden Photography©

Cape Cod

Smith Brothers

White kitchen with stainless steel appliances and handcrafted kitchen island in the middle. The dark wood floors are a wonderful contrast to the white cabinets. This home is located in Del Mar, California and was built in 2008 by Smith Brothers. Additional Credits: Architect: Richard Bokal Interior Designer: Doug Dolezal Additional Credits: Architect: Richard Bokal Interior Designer Doug Dolezal

Pino Kitchen

The Cousins

Because the client for this project is a chef each part of the design had to perform as well as look good. The traditional white scheme is set off by subtle touches of pink in the backsplash and the veins of the marble counter top. An enameled farmhouse sink brings a little bit of the countryside into this urban location. A five burner cook top, sprayer style faucet and ample fridge pack tons of function into the small space. Photo by Chris Amaral.

Better Homes & Gardens Featured Kitchen

Kitchen Planners

photo credits to better homes and gardens
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with stone tile splashback, beige splashback, recessed-panel cabinets, an undermount sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Elegant Transitional Kitchen

Drury Design

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

Glastonbury Residence_Kitchen

FACET Design

Transitional u-shaped kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Full Circle

Sho and Co

This light and bright kitchen has layers of texture and timeless appeal. Beautiful handmade zellige tile runs up to the ceiling to elongate the verticality of the space. The panel ready fridge is paneled in rift cut white oak and finished with a light rubio monocoat finish. Custom arched white oak doors add an elegant entryway into a custom pantry area that is suited for a queen.

Soft Mood Trinité

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Un appartement familial haussmannien rénové, aménagé et agrandi avec la création d'un espace parental suite à la réunion de deux lots. Les fondamentaux classiques des pièces sont conservés et revisités tout en douceur avec des matériaux naturels et des couleurs apaisantes.

Rénovation complète d’un appartement de 56 m²

LES DECOREUSES

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Alhambra del mar #4, Marbella

LID, Linadela Interior Design

Contemporary galley kitchen in Malaga with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, a peninsula, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Italian Farmhouse Custom Kitchen Remodel | Santaluz, San Diego, CA

Leanne Michael L U X E lifestyle design

Italian farmhouse custom kitchen complete with hand carved wood details, flush marble island and quartz counter surfaces, faux finish cabinetry, clay ceiling and wall details, wolf, subzero and Miele appliances and custom light fixtures.

A NEW DAY Studio - Dorset Road

A New Day - Interior Design Studio

Bespoke kitchen design - pill shaped fluted island with ink blue wall cabinetry. Zellige tiles clad the shelves and chimney breast, paired with patterned encaustic floor tiles.

Symphony on the Hill

Vela Interior Design

Modern kitchen with rift-cut white oak cabinetry and a natural stone island.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Casper Kitchen

Norm Tessier Cabinets, Inc.

Traditional Kitchen, 2-Tone Cabinetry with Glazed Finish. Custom Finish Color hand created with client. Custom Carvings X-Lite Doors
Photo of a large mediterranean l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with with island, an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Custom Ranch Prescott AZ

DLB Custom Homes, Inc

Inspiration for an u-shaped kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, beige splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Boho Bungalow Kitchen

Arcata Cabinet & Design Company

This is an example of a small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Crystal Lake Craftsman

Think Design

Walnut cabinets with natural finish, Taj Mahal counters and backsplash, porcelain farmhouse sink, timber beam ceiling
Inspiration for 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.

All Cabinet Styles Kitchen with Beige 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!