Inheriting a white kitchen with glazed cabinets was not what this new homeowner expected. She is more of a shabby-chic farmhouse type. While they loved the hearth and tile work, it would be quite an expense to replace this many cabinets. The solution, reface them in a Driftwood and Portobella stain that both offer the rustic look the homeowner was going for. Maintain the new warm palette by replacing the countertops in Cambria Warm for a subtle, yet elegant kitchen design.

Project Dover Shores

Mark Design Co.

Mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Grand Prairie Peaceful Chic

Cedar Hill Home and Design

This kitchen is beautiful and inviting. The large kitchen island provides plenty of seating for guests and guest access to the beverage fridge. The The dark stained cabinets are offset nicely with the bright counters and glass backsplash. To tie it all together, a unique chandelier was added over the island.

North Point

Rautmann Custom Homes

Mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped open plan kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Prairie Village Residence II

Marc Bertolino Architect

A 2-story 1,500 SF addition to a Prairie Village residence that included a new kitchen, living room, master bedroom, master bath, and full basement.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, beige benchtop and exposed beam.

Belleair Beach Contemporary Kitchen

Van Selow Design Build L.L.C.

Contemporary eat-in kitchen in Tampa with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Inspiration- Cambria Quartz Surfaces

Jamie the Cabinet Nerd, Virtual Assistant

CAMBRIA QUARTZ SURFACES: Perimeter & Island Set against a bone-white marbled backdrop, bold translucent olive green veins plunge in various directions with subtle white and black tributaries interspersed throughout Skara Brae slabs.

Geneva 2019 MBA Parade of Homes Model

Victory Homes of Wisconsin, Inc

Serving station in dinette area
This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and brown cabinets.

Oakland Park Lot 396

J&J Building

Mid-sized country single-wall open plan kitchen in Orlando with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Galley Kitchen with Gray Tones

Normandy Remodeling

This view of the galley kitchen features beautiful grey washed cabinetry with glass front upper cabinets to show off your favorite bowls! Not to mention the nice compliment of the quartzite countertops, the short under mount apron front sink and built in appliances.

Brookline

Lisa Davis Interiors

L Shaped Jewett Farms Kitchen, with Brick Walls
Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and black benchtop.

Peachtree City Transitional Kitchen Remodel

Rosa Moreno Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen | Modern Espresso Cabinets | Glass Mosaic Tile & Quartz Marble

WREEDONE ("re-done")

This customer wanted to replace their very outdated kitchen with a very modern style/feel. The results are absolutely gorgeous. It provides a great balance of contrast and the final product looks huge

Irvine

SIDG Design

Photo of a mid-sized modern open plan kitchen in Orange County with brown cabinets, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors and with island.

Transitional Full Home Remodel (Hill)

Mariano & Co., LLC

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Phoenix with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Via Locatelli

Domus Viridis

This is an example of a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Milan with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartzite benchtops, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Klassisch-moderne U-Küche mit intelligenten Stauraumlösungen

Gutsmann Küchen

Design ideas for a small industrial u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dresden with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, brick splashback, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and black appliances.

Dreamy Details - Bar

Conceptual Kitchens & Millwork

Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial l-shaped open plan kitchen in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Carbon Canyon Residence

Vitus Mataré & Associates, Inc.

Photo: Tom Hofer
This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island and brown floor.

Contemporary

RDM General Contractors

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

All Cabinet Finishes Kitchen with Brown 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!