Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Beach House

Sarah Schmidt

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style galley open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

R+S

Taylor + Taylor

Midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, blue splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation

Herron Horton Architects, Inc.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.
This is an example of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Little Rock with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, white benchtop, exposed beam, vaulted, flat-panel cabinets and brown floor.

North Curl Curl Renovation

LJW Design

A Hamptons inspired design for Sydney's northern beaches.
Large open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and exposed beam.

Eichler Kitchen Renovation

Cathie Hong Interiors

We had a tight timeline to turn a dark, outdated kitchen into a modern, family-friendly space that could function as the hub of the home. We enlarged the footprint of the kitchen by changing the orientation and adding an island for better circulation. We swapped out old tile flooring for durable luxury vinyl tiles, dark wood panels for fresh drywall, outdated cabinets with modern Semihandmade ones, and added brand new appliances. We made it modern and warm by adding matte tiles from Heath, new light fixtures, and an open shelf of beautiful ceramics in cool neutrals.

1517 Newport Beach

William Guidero Planning and Design

Beach style l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Van Norden Lodge

Colossus Mfg.

Cabin kitchen with light wood cabinetry, blue and white geometric backsplash tile, open shelving, milk globe sconces, and peninsula island with bar stools. Leads into all day nook with geometric rug, modern wood dining table, an eclectic chandelier, and custom benches.

Traditional Country Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

COTTAGE ON THE LAKE

JN Interior Spaces

The renovation of a mid century cottage on the lake, now serves as a guest house. The renovation preserved the original architectural elements such as the ceiling and original stone fireplace to preserve the character, personality and history and provide the inspiration and canvas to which everything else would be added. To prevent the space from feeling dark & too rustic, the lines were kept clean, the furnishings modern and the use of saturated color was strategically placed throughout.

Contemporary Kitchen Remodel in Bethesda, MD

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Mr & Mrs M

Vita Nova Interiors Ltd

This is an example of a mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, laminate benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Arrowhead Farmhouse

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

With expansive fields and beautiful farmland surrounding it, this historic farmhouse celebrates these views with floor-to-ceiling windows from the kitchen and sitting area. Originally constructed in the late 1700’s, the main house is connected to the barn by a new addition, housing a master bedroom suite and new two-car garage with carriage doors. We kept and restored all of the home’s existing historic single-pane windows, which complement its historic character. On the exterior, a combination of shingles and clapboard siding were continued from the barn and through the new addition.

Arrowhead Farmhouse

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

Traditional Country Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

Design ideas for a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Beach House

Sarah Schmidt

Wellesley Residence 2

Elms Interior Design

Photography by Michael. J Lee Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Fairway Tudor Transformation

Architectural Craftsmen

Design ideas for a large traditional kitchen in Kansas City with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Classic Black and White kitchen

Vision Design

A small but very functional kitchen remodel makes a small house live much larger
Design ideas for a small transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop and exposed beam.

College Hill Mid-Century Kitchen

Neil Kelly Company

A modern contemporary kitchen remodel with mid-century modern influences. The eye catching exposed beams are complemented by a large island with panels capping the quartz counter top, which is a common mid-century design feature. The custom glass tile backsplash makes a statement, as do the pops of cobalt blue and the contemporary glass pendant lights.

Kitchen with Blue Splashback and Exposed Beam 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!