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.

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.

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.

YORK RESIDENCE

Kitchens by Emanuel

CURVES & TEXTURE - Custom designed & manufactured cabinetry in 'matte black' polyurethane - Large custom curved cabinetry - Feature vertical slates around the island - Curved timber grain floating shelf with recessed LED strip lighting - Large bifold appliance cabinet with timber grain internals - 20mm thick Caesarstone 'Jet Black' benchtop - Feature textured matte black splashback tile - Lo & Co matte black hardware - Blum hardware Sheree Bounassif, Kitchens by Emanuel

Laëtitia & Christophe - A la montagne

Lily Cuisines & Cie

Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Nantes with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, a peninsula, grey floor, black benchtop, black splashback and granite splashback.

Industrial Home Design

Seabold Architectural Studio

Designed by Seabold Studio Architect: Jeff Seabold
Design ideas for an industrial l-shaped kitchen in Jackson with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, black splashback, subway tile splashback, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

The American Dream Home

Susan Anthony Interiors

Tim Lee
This is an example of a transitional eat-in kitchen in New York with raised-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

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

Custom Modern IKEA Kitchen Remodel

Dendra Doors

Custom IKEA Kitchem Remodel by John Webb Construction using Dendra Doors Modern Slab Profile in VG Doug Fir veneer finish.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, with island, black splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige floor, black benchtop and vaulted.

Luxury Kitchen Remodel

Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

This was a full gut an renovation. The existing kitchen had very dated cabinets and didn't function well for the clients. A previous desk area was turned into hidden cabinetry to house the microwave and larger appliances and to keep the countertops clutter free. The original pendants were about 4" wide and were inappropriate for the large island. They were replaced with larger, brighter and more sophisticated pendants. The use of panel ready appliances with large matte black hardware made gave this a clean and sophisticated look. Mosaic tile was installed from the countertop to the ceiling and wall sconces were installed over the kitchen window. A different tile was used in the bar area which has a beverage refrigerator and an ice machine and floating shelves. The cabinetry in this area also includes a pullout drawer for dog food.

New House in Chatswood Heritage Area

Danny Broe Architect

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

CUISINE _ BACHAUMONT

ARCHIWORK

Cuisine sur-mesure avec îlot central by ARCHIWORK / Photos : Cecilia Garroni-Parisi
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Paris with an integrated sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, limestone splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Black and White Kitchen with Walnut Accents

MAK Design + Build Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sacramento with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Ruxton

Elizabeth Lawson Design

Photo of a large transitional eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

The Soft Light Apartment

Azari Architects

Modern minimalistic kitchen in the condo apartment.
Photo of a small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, granite splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Pine Needle Cove

Jarrett Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Pietra Grey Naturali Collection

Ollin Stone

Pietra Grey is a distinguishing trait of the I Naturali series is soil. A substance which on the one hand recalls all things primordial and on the other the possibility of being plied. As a result, the slab made from the ceramic lends unique value to the settings it clads.

Reforma "El Putxet"

Sincro

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Barcelona with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, black floor and black benchtop.

PROYECTO ROGER DE FLOR

Brákara Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Barcelona with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and black benchtop.

All Backsplash Materials Kitchen with Black 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!