This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Chalet "les 3 flocons"

Anne-Valérie Ollien

Inspiration for a country l-shaped open plan kitchen with light hardwood floors, exposed beam, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, no island and beige benchtop.

Preserve at Bent Pine - Kauai Model Kitchen

Masterpiece Design Group

These Sherwin Williams Iron Ore painted cabinets and Progress Lighting graphite dome pendants paired with Cambria's Skara Brae slab are the PERFECT mix in this contrasting kitchen ?

Dreaming of green and gold

Soll.Solutions

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Montreal with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Henry Kitchen

Gaspar's Construction

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Paradise Tiny Homes LLC- The Oasis Tiny Home

Ellie K Design

This coastal, contemporary Tiny Home features a warm yet industrial style kitchen with stainless steel counters and husky tool drawers with black cabinets. the silver metal counters are complimented by grey subway tiling as a backsplash against the warmth of the locally sourced curly mango wood windowsill ledge. I mango wood windowsill also acts as a pass-through window to an outdoor bar and seating area on the deck. Entertaining guests right from the kitchen essentially makes this a wet-bar. LED track lighting adds the right amount of accent lighting and brightness to the area. The window is actually a french door that is mirrored on the opposite side of the kitchen. This kitchen has 7-foot long stainless steel counters on either end. There are stainless steel outlet covers to match the industrial look. There are stained exposed beams adding a cozy and stylish feeling to the room. To the back end of the kitchen is a frosted glass pocket door leading to the bathroom. All shelving is made of Hawaiian locally sourced curly mango wood. A stainless steel fridge matches the rest of the style and is built-in to the staircase of this tiny home. Dish drying racks are hung on the wall to conserve space and reduce clutter.

HIGHLAND PARK NEW CONSTRUCTION

DAFT Interiors

Inspiration for a country kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

MONTAUK - Subtle and luxurious

HanStone Quartz by HYUNDAI L&C USA, LLC

MONTAUK - BG871 Subtle and luxurious. The soft pearl undertone of Montauk is elevated with warm sandy dappling and an ivory marble pattern for a vintage yet modern feel. PATTERN: MOVEMENT VEINEDFINISH: POLISHEDCOLLECTION: BOUTIQUESLAB SIZE: JUMBO (65" X 130") Country: United States

Industrial Minimalism

Revamper Interior Design

Inspiration for a large l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and exposed beam.

Modern Rustic Black Kitchen in Wendover

Ridgeway Interiors

With a striking, bold design that's both sleek and warm, this modern rustic black kitchen is a beautiful example of the best of both worlds. When our client from Wendover approached us to re-design their kitchen, they wanted something sleek and sophisticated but also comfortable and warm. We knew just what to do — design and build a contemporary yet cosy kitchen. This space is about clean, sleek lines. We've chosen Hacker Systemat cabinetry — sleek and sophisticated — in the colours Black and Oak. A touch of warm wood enhances the black units in the form of oak shelves and backsplash. The wooden accents also perfectly match the exposed ceiling trusses, creating a cohesive space. This modern, inviting space opens up to the garden through glass folding doors, allowing a seamless transition between indoors and out. The area has ample lighting from the garden coming through the glass doors, while the under-cabinet lighting adds to the overall ambience. The island is built with two types of worksurface: Dekton Laurent (a striking dark surface with gold veins) for cooking and Corian Designer White for eating. Lastly, the space is furnished with black Siemens appliances, which fit perfectly into the dark colour palette of the space.

Little Black Dress ADU

Nar Design Group

This inviting 850 sqft ADU in Sacramento checks all the boxes for beauty and function! Warm wood finishes on the flooring, hickory open shelves, and ceiling timbers float on a neutral paint palette of soft whites and tans. Black elements on the cabinetry, interior doors, furniture elements, and decorative lighting act as the “little black dress” of the room. The hand applied plaster-style finish on the fireplace in a charcoal tone provide texture and interest to this focal point of the great room space. With large sliding doors overlooking the backyard and pool this ADU is the perfect oasis with all the conveniences of home!

Lake Sawyer Remodel

Malone's Landscape Design | Build

Open architecture with exposed beams and wood ceiling create a natural indoor/outdoor ambiance in this midcentury remodel. The kitchen has a bold hexagon tile backsplash and floating shelves with a vintage feel.

Lauren Smyth Residence

User

Lauren Smyth designs over 80 spec homes a year for Alturas Homes! Last year, the time came to design a home for herself. Having trusted Kentwood for many years in Alturas Homes builder communities, Lauren knew that Brushed Oak Whisker from the Plateau Collection was the floor for her! She calls the look of her home ‘Ski Mod Minimalist’. Clean lines and a modern aesthetic characterizes Lauren's design style, while channeling the wild of the mountains and the rivers surrounding her hometown of Boise.

Amarra Estate

Marion Interior Design

This is an example of an expansive transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, marble floors, multiple islands, white floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Chiswick Kitchen

Alex Findlater Ltd

It is always a pleasure to work with design-conscious clients. This is a great amalgamation of materials chosen by our clients. Rough-sawn oak veneer is matched with dark grey engineering bricks to make a unique look. The soft tones of the marble are complemented by the antique brass wall taps on the splashback

2 Flat Reborn

BBA Architects

This Lincoln Park renovation transformed a conventionally built Chicago two-flat into a custom single-family residence with a modern, open floor plan. The creative new layout offers open yet defined living spaces and brings abundant natural light deep into the home. The natural wood tones of this beamed ceiling brings warmth to a streamlined modern kitchen, while generous windows beyond maximizes daylight and a strong connection to the outdoors.

Industrial Cocina

Photo of an industrial galley kitchen in Madrid with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

A l'usine

WOM DESIGN

Rénovation, agencement et décoration d’une ancienne usine transformée en un loft de 250 m2 réparti sur 3 niveaux. Les points forts : Association de design industriel avec du mobilier vintage La boîte buanderie Les courbes et lignes géométriques valorisant les espaces Crédit photo © Bertrand Fompeyrine

Lauren Smyth Residence

User

Amarra Estate

Marion Interior Design

Design ideas for an expansive transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with multiple islands, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, marble floors, white floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Kitchen with Black Cabinets and Exposed Beam 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!