This is an example of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Sylvania

Clinton Built Pty Ltd

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, white cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Illawarra Road

Prime Design Tasmania Pty Ltd

Photo of a beach style u-shaped kitchen in Hobart with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Fairfield House

CRiSP GREEN HOMES

This contemporary light filled kitchen is the heart of this home. The induction V-Zug cooktop sits on top of a gorgeous marble counter. The fridge is hidden behind sleek v-groove joinery, with the butlers pantry and desk tucked away behind. Designed by the clever Heartly crew, joinery crafted by Evolve Interiors.

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY IN DULWICH/RESIDANCE 2

Claridge Construction

Design ideas for a large modern galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, red splashback, brick splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Scandinavian White Kitchen with Fluted Paneling

Western Cabinets

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Caulfield House

User

White walls and ceiling are combined with wood and sand tones to create this beautiful open plan kitchen.
Design ideas for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

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.

Kitchen | Project Coolum

desculpto

This kitchen design effortlessly marries reimagined traditional elements with a touch of postmodern flair, crafting a truly one-of-a-kind and personalized space. One cannot help but be drawn to the unique brushed brass rangehood, a true hero piece in this design. It not only adds a powerful stroke of creativity but also serves as a sturdy anchor, grounding the entire space with its commanding presence.

Coomodore Drive

BJF Joinery

Inspiration for a large transitional galley kitchen pantry in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Calder Street House

Charles Maccora Design

Mid-sized tropical galley eat-in kitchen in Geelong with a drop-in sink, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, engineered quartz splashback, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

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.

Wheelers Hill home

Jasmine McClelland Design

Green vertical tiles and feature round lights and a sneak peak of the walk in pantry.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and black benchtop.

Kitchen with hand painted Glass panel doors

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Port Melbourne Project - Provincial Oak

Suburban Flooring Co.

Why choose engineered European oak flooring? It's not just flooring; it's an investment in lasting beauty and functionality. This stunning development chose from the Provincial Oak range by MarcKenzo Designer Flooring to complete their modern look.

Modern Kitchen with Connection to Loft

Wexhaus Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, black benchtop and vaulted.

Teneriffe Kitchen & Living Area Project

New Leaf Design Studios

A bold and contemporary kitchen with extension of cabinetry into the living area creates a seemless look for this high end inner city apartment.
This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with an undermount sink, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

City Beach Residence II

Retreat Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley kitchen in Perth with black cabinets, granite benchtops, with island, black benchtop, flat-panel cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

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.

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.

Kitchen with Black Benchtop and White 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!