The existing house was poorly planned after a many renovations. The entry to the house was through a verandah that had previously been enclosed and the cottage had multiple unconnected living spaces with pour natural light and connection to the beautiful established gardens. With some simple internal changes the renovation allowed removal of the enclosed verandah and have the entry realigned to the central part of the house. Existing living areas where repurposed as sleeping spaces and a new living wing established to house a master bedroom and ensuite upstairs. The new living wing gives you an immediate sense of balance and calm as soon as you walk into the double-height living area. The new wing area beautifully captures filtered light on the north and west, allowing views of the established garden on all sides to enter the interior spaces.

Camberwell Basement and Extension

5D Builders Pty Ltd

Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, panelled appliances, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

The Mews

Indulge Renovations

Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Brighton Villa

rosstang architects

Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Sorrento House by Meredith Lee

Elizabeth Schiavello Photography

White kitchen with timber features and striking green tiled splashback
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with white cabinets, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Karrinyup Home

Western Cabinets

Natural planked oak, paired with chalky white and concrete sheeting highlights our Jackson Home as a Scandinavian Interior. With each room focused on materials blending cohesively, the rooms holid unity in the home‘s interior. A curved centre peice in the Kitchen encourages the space to feel like a room with customised bespoke built in furniture rather than your every day kitchen. My clients main objective for the homes interior, forming a space where guests were able to interact with the host at times of entertaining. Unifying the kitchen, dining and living spaces will change the layout making the kitchen the focal point of entrace into the home.

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.

Minimalist White Queenslander Renovation

Ethos Interiors

Lovingly called the ‘white house’, this stunning Queenslander was given a contemporary makeover with oak floors, custom joinery and modern furniture and artwork. Creative detailing and unique finish selections reference the period details of a traditional home, while bringing it into modern times.

Central Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Design ideas for a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, concrete floors, with island and grey floor.

Preston townhouse

Jasmine McClelland Design

This well planned and designed industrial-style contemporary kitchen features Caesarstone benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, polished concrete flooring and black laminate which looks striking under the bank of skylights letting in the natural light.

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.

South Perth Apartment Project

Western Cabinets

Chunky cloudy concrete tops layered with subtle greys, velvety whites and rich timber floors.....we are loving our #SouthPerthProject ! Can you spot the gin!! We had some fun creating this project. Lots of hidden storage and the perfect spot to entertain guests in this home

Park Orchards

Direct Kitchens

Photo of a large transitional open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

This Is The One

G&M Craftsman Cabinets

Returning clients are our favourite clients. The journey we have been on with these clients is we started on a smaller project, and over time they have ended up moving into their dream home on their dream property, and of course, they need their dream kitchen! Drawing inspiration from Hampton and Country styles, we worked with the client to combine these elements into this beautiful and inviting space where the family can make memories for years to come. Some of the big features like the piece of Santorini Quartzite Natural Stone in Honed Finish on the island bench and Nostalgie Series Appliances by ILVE make this kitchen personal and individual to the owners taste. There is something so humbling about a client coming back time and time again entrusting us with their next project, and this one was a great honour to be a part of.

Modern Estate Home

Kylie Sargent

Design ideas for a contemporary separate kitchen in Geelong with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Manly Vale Kitchen

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor, grey benchtop and coffered.

U House

C. Kairouz Architects

White and black kitchen design with integrated fridge, VZUG appliances, central island bench and high window facing the open plan living and dining with views out towards the central courtyard.

Ducat Street Renovation

East Coast Village Homes

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Minimalism - Ground Floor Renovation

Revamper Interior Design

Light and airy contemporary kitchen with minimalist features. The large, stone clad island and expansive skylight hero the space.
Photo of a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Links Road

Santamaria Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, with island, white benchtop, window splashback, panelled appliances and grey floor.

Kitchen with Black Cabinets and White 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!