Photo of a transitional galley kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige 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.

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.

Lisa Valley Close

DMC Kitchens & Joinery

Photo of a mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Summer Hill Complete Renovation & Restoration

Denby Dowling Interiors

The brief was to restore the home to its former glory whilst accommodating existing cherished furnishings, to include the Chesterfield sofa, coffee table, dining table & chairs, Persian rug & hall runners. To make the quirky furnishings work with the Victorian restoration I balanced bold colours & textures with more traditional flooring & timber veneer colours throughout the home. The kitchen pendant light is a custom designed piece in collaboration with Magins Lighting. The orange splash back tiles (hand made through DeLorenzo Tiles) compliment the dining & lounge floor rugs & balance the room. The blue grout - the icing on the eclectic cake!

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.

Double Bay residence II

Horizon - Residential & Commercial Builders

Design by SAOTA Architects in Association TKD Architects Engineers Acor Consultants
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, brown benchtop, an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, black splashback, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, a peninsula and beige floor.

Oakland Modern

Knock Architecture and Design

This is an example of a mid-sized modern galley open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, black cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island and flat-panel cabinets.

Poliform

Poliform Australia

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with black cabinets, black appliances, flat-panel cabinets, black splashback, concrete floors and black benchtop.

Kitchen

ODS Architecture

A black steel backsplash extends from the kitchen counter to the ceiling. The kitchen island is faced with the same steel and topped with a white Caeserstone.

Bromley,BR1

AIB Contractors Ltd

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in London with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, with island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Amalfi Road

Dressed Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, slate splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Inspired Shingle Style

Christopher Hall Architect, Inc.

In the kitchen looking toward the living room. Expansive window over kitchen sink. Custom stainless hood on soap stone. White marble counter tops. Combination of white painted and stained oak cabinets. Tin ceiling inlay above island. Greg Premru

Appleton Way

Peters Architecture

Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Greenwich Modern

Voce Di ID

Costas Picadas
This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Cotswold Chapel Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Glazed oak cabinet with LED lights painted in Farrow & Ball Chappell Green maximise the space by making the most of the high ceilings. The unified colour also creates a more spacious feeling. Pine table with chapel chair hint at the origins of the house as an old chapel with the limestone flooring adding to the rustic feel.

Lombardy Lane, Laguna Beach

Clark Collins - Collins Design & Development

Photo by Grey Crawford
Photo of a small beach style galley kitchen in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, dark hardwood floors and no island.

Sellwood Library House

The Works

This turn-of-the-century original Sellwood Library was transformed into an amazing Portland home for it's New York transplants. Custom woodworking and cabinetry transformed this room into a warm living space. An amazing kitchen with a rolling ladder to access high cabinets as well as a stunning 10 by 4 foot carrara marble topped island! This open living space is incredibly unique and special! The Tom Dixon Beat Light fixtures define the dining space and add a beautiful glow to the room. Leaded glass windows and dark stained wood floors add to the eclectic mix of original craftsmanship and modern influences. Lincoln Barbour

Crane Residence

Spore Design

Inspiration for a modern open plan kitchen in Seattle with a single-bowl sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback and stainless steel appliances.

NUOVA ZONA GIORNO AD ALBIGNASEGO

Francesca Endrizzi architetto interior designer

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Kitchen with Black Splashback and Orange 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!