Large Kitchen Island, Marble countertops, crackle ceramic subway tile backsplash
Traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

La Vista Dr.- Dallas

Montgomery Custom Homes

Shoot 2 Sell
Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Modern English Country Style

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Toco Hills Renovation

Alair Homes Decatur

This is an example of an eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Suburban Baltimore Two-Tone Kitchen Remodel

AR Interiors

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Breezy Blue Home

Courtney Thomas Design

We made some small structural changes and then used coastal inspired decor to best complement the beautiful sea views this Laguna Beach home has to offer. Project designed by Courtney Thomas Design in La Cañada. Serving Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Altadena. For more about Courtney Thomas Design, click here: https://www.courtneythomasdesign.com/

Orono Custom Home

Divine Custom Homes

Design ideas for a large beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Antarctica Quartzite Kitchen

Boston Counters

Greg Premru
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, glass tile splashback, with island, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Bright Eclectic Remodel

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

A goal of this kitchen design was to create a space that was light and bright! Chantilly Lace cabinets and a soft blue tile backsplash emphasize natural light and keep this space feeling bright and open.

Fresh Kitchen

Laurie DiGiacomo Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Tree House Kitchen in Piedmont

Hanomoco Design

Open view from Kitchen
Photo of an expansive transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Cooper Woods 2 Story

Havlicek Builders Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and dark hardwood floors.

Crystal Bay

Studio M Interiors

Scott Amundson Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized country single-wall eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Sunnyvale one of a kind colorful resident

Tal Goldstein

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

The Pantry Blue Utility Room by deVOL

deVOL Kitchens

This is an example of a mid-sized country kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, blue splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Broderick Street Residence

TINEKE TRIGGS

Inspiration for a traditional eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stone tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Robinson Street, North Redondo Beach

Dannielle Albrecht Designs

Open floorplan kitchen with contrasting island
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Coastal Cottage Kitchen

Francie Milano Kitchens inc.

"Maron Cohiba" Leathered Granite countertops. Photo by John Martinelli. Tile by Serenity Design.
Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, blue benchtop and coffered.

Clean Classic White Kitchen

DZines By Nicole

Mid-sized beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Kitchen with Blue Splashback and Dark Hardwood Floors 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!