Simon Kennedy
This is an example of a scandinavian single-wall kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

Wickets

Boutique Homes

Simon Eldon Photography Interior Design by Carine Harrington
Inspiration for a contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

David Wilkes Builders

Not in love with the functionality and finishes in their generic inner city home, this client recognized that remodeling their kitchen and living room spaces were the key to longer-term functionality. Wanting plenty of natural light, richness and coolness, the clients sought a kitchen whose function would be more convenient and interactive for their family. The architect removed the peninsula counter and bartop that blocked flow from kitchen to living room by creating an island that allows for free circulation. Placing the cooktop on an exterior wall, out of the way at the edge of the space where cooking could occur uninterruptedly allowed the hood vent to have a prominent place viewable from the living room. Because of the prominence of this wall, it was given added visual impact by being clad in rich oak shiplap. Its wall of cabinets contain a countertop and backsplash that run up the wall, floating out just enough to allow backlighting behind to illuminate the wood. The backsplash contains an opening to the wood surface for the family’s favorite decorative items. The Robin’s Egg blue cabinets occur throughout, cooling it visually and at the island they create an extra tall and deep toekick for the family to store shoes. With a refreshing space in which to cook, eat and interact, this family now has a renewed love for their modest home. Photo Credit: Paul Bardagjy

Kylemore

Woodale

This is an example of a transitional galley kitchen in Dublin with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Linear Kitchen with Copper, Sheffield UK

Goldman and Rankin

Clean lines, simplicity and a handleless cabinet design are the key characteristics that make up the Linear. A bespoke contemporary kitchen design on the outside with wealth of personalized features on the inside.

Modena Kitchen

Creative Interiors Ltd

Using our new matt lacquer finishes we’ve combined the calming grey tones of Dove Grey and Charcoal together creating a contemporary two tone effect. The solid colour door finish has a calming effect and blends easily with the overall décor, making the kitchen feel spacious and lighter. Therefore we often use wood grains as the accent colour for the cabinet, shelving or feature panels. Try framing the tall and base cabinets with i-lite in Rough-Cut Oak, a lightweight panel solution which creates a contemporary design statement with a premium look.

Modern Kitchens

Galtee Kitchens

This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Limerick with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, grey splashback and with island.

Kitchen with Blue 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!