Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

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.

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.

Contemporary Kitchen

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Perth with an integrated sink, black cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Killara Project

Design Artistry

This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Coastal Home Lennox Head

Stuart Osman

Contemporary galley kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Wanneroo Project

Western Cabinets

Custom designed and lacquered slatted curved ends to the overheads add texture and interest to the chalky matte cabinetry The use of existing timber that had been used in other areas of the home, not wanting to waste the beautiful pieces, I incorporated these into the design The kitchen needed a modern transformation, selection of chalky black slabbed doors are carefully considered whilst detailed curved slatted ends bounce natural light, concrete grey matte benches, reflective glass custom coloured back splash and solid timber details creates a beautifully modern industrial elegant interior.

Butlers Pantry

User

Spacious butlers pantry with sink, cooktop and lots of storage space.
Contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with a single-bowl sink, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, medium hardwood floors, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets and black cabinets.

Crafers Living Renovation

Plush Design Interiors

Three small rooms were demolished to enable a new kitchen and open plan living space to be designed. The kitchen has a drop-down ceiling to delineate the space. A window became french doors to the garden. The former kitchen was re-designed as a mudroom. The laundry had new cabinetry. New flooring throughout. A linen cupboard was opened to become a study nook with dramatic wallpaper. Custom ottoman were designed and upholstered for the drop-down dining and study nook. A family of five now has a fantastically functional open plan kitchen/living space, family study area, and a mudroom for wet weather gear and lots of storage.

Brighton: Renovation & Extension

First Avenue Homes

Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, black cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY IN DULWICH/RESIDANCE 1

Claridge Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop, an undermount sink, stone slab splashback, black appliances and beige floor.

Kitchen

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and black cabinets.

Balwyn Townhouses

R ARCHITECTURE

Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, white benchtop, wood and grey floor.

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.

North Beach

Western Cabinets

This is an example of a mid-sized industrial galley eat-in kitchen in Perth with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, grey splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation - Abbotsford

Damco Kitchens

Using all available space for storage is key, allowing the design not only to look stunning, but also functional.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, orange splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances and black benchtop.

Kitchen with Black Cabinets and Turquoise Cabinets 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!