This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

Amazing Spaces

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

Toorak Gardens

Space Craft Joinery

Jonathan VDK
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island and multi-coloured floor.

Pantry

The Organized Home

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen pantry in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, grey floor, no island, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback and slate floors.

Alberta Kitchen Remodel--Holliston, Massachusetts

Masters Touch Design Build

Inspiration for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and recessed-panel cabinets.

Mukilteo Gem

Interiors by Popov

When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! John Granen.

10th Street Renovation

West End Interiors

Kitchen Renovation, concrete countertops, herringbone slate flooring, and open shelving over the sink make the space cozy and functional. Handmade mosaic behind the sink that adds character to the home.

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Photo of a midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Steel Windows & Doors by FireRock

FireRock Building Materials

This is an example of a large country l-shaped kitchen in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, with island, multi-coloured splashback, black floor, white benchtop, a farmhouse sink, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and window splashback.

St James' Drive

David Butler Photography

David Butler
This is an example of a contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in London with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and a peninsula.

1920's Two Family Outside Davis Sq

Venegas and Company

Michael J. Lee
Traditional kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and grey floor.

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen. All appliances are under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Wynnewood Garden Kitchen

Airy Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, green floor and black benchtop.

Springlake Ave. Hinsdale Kitchen

Plain & Posh

When these homeowners first approached me to help them update their kitchen, the first thing that came to mind was to open it up. The house was over 70 years old and the kitchen was a small boxed in area, that did not connect well to the large addition on the back of the house. Removing the former exterior, load bearinig, wall opened the space up dramatically. Then, I relocated the sink to the new peninsula and the range to the outside wall. New windows were added to flank the range. The homeowner is an architect and designed the stunning hood that is truly the focal point of the room. The shiplap island is a complex work that hides 3 drawers and spice storage. The original slate floors have radiant heat under them and needed to remain. The new greige cabinet color, with the accent of the dark grayish green on the custom furnuture piece and hutch, truly compiment the floor tones. Added features such as the wood beam that hides the support over the peninsula and doorway helped warm up the space. There is also a feature wall of stained shiplap that ties in the wood beam and ship lap details on the island.

2019 Custom 2 story with Dual Island Kitchen, 5 beds, wet bar, exercise room

Teal Creek Homes

Custom Amish built full height cabinetry, double island, quartz and granite counters, tiled backsplash. Hidden walk in pantry!
This is an example of a transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, carpet, brown floor and white benchtop.

Brookline

Lisa Davis Interiors

Custom Made Shaker/ Contemporary Built-In Wall Storage System
Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen pantry in Boston with shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, black benchtop, an undermount sink, red splashback, brick splashback, slate floors and multi-coloured floor.

Hope Ranch Old World

Maraya Interior Design

Old World Mix of Spanish and English graces this completely remodeled old home in Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara. All new painted cabinets throughout, with glossy and satin finishes mixed with antiques discovered throughout the world. A wonderful mix of the owner's antique red rugs over the slate and bleached walnut floors pared with an eclectic modern art collection give a contemporary feel to this old style villa. A new pantry crafted from the unused 'maids room' attaches to the kitchen with a glossy blue island and white cabinetry. Large red velvet drapes separate the very large great room with the limestone fireplace and oversized upholstery from the kitchen area. Upstairs the library is created from an attic space, with long cushioned window seats in a wild mix of reds and blues. Several unique upstairs rooms for guests with on suite baths in different colors and styles. Black and white bath, Red bedroom, blue bedrooms, all with unique art. Off of the master features a sun room with a long, low extra long sofa, grass shades and soft drapes. Project Location Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. John Madden Construction

Bright & Fresh First Floor

Unpatterned

Photo: Dustin Halleck
Inspiration for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, no island, green floor and white benchtop.

Modern Transformation

SJ Interior Design Studio: Sara Iborra, ASID

A waterfall countertop on one side of the island and open for seating on the other highlights the peek of yellow and a splash of fun in the island! Photo Credit to SJIborra

Encinitas Kitchen Remodel

M Prevost Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop, white cabinets, white splashback, slate floors and grey floor.

Kitchen with Slate Floors and Carpet 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!