Three small rooms were demolished to enable a new kitchen and open plan living space to be designed. The kitchen has a drop-down ceiling to delineate the space. A window became french doors to the garden. The former kitchen was re-designed as a mudroom. The laundry had new cabinetry. New flooring throughout. A linen cupboard was opened to become a study nook with dramatic wallpaper. Custom ottoman were designed and upholstered for the drop-down dining and study nook. A family of five now has a fantastically functional open plan kitchen/living space, family study area, and a mudroom for wet weather gear and lots of storage.

HGTV Modern Farmhouse Marine Blue Kitchen

SH interiors

We completely renovated this space for an episode of HGTV House Hunters Renovation. The kitchen was originally a galley kitchen. We removed a wall between the DR and the kitchen to open up the space. We used a combination of countertops in this kitchen. To give a buffer to the wood counters, we used slabs of marble each side of the sink. This adds interest visually and helps to keep the water away from the wood counters. We used blue and cream for the cabinetry which is a lovely, soft mix and wood shelving to match the wood counter tops. To complete the eclectic finishes we mixed gold light fixtures and cabinet hardware with black plumbing fixtures and shelf brackets.

Wallace Road, Ranui

The Joneses Limited

Kitchen-dining area in a small, newly renovated Auckland home staged by Vision Home.
Small contemporary eat-in kitchen in Auckland with white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Sacramento Farmhouse

DESIGN LAB 444

Nicole Dianne Photo
Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kern

Inavogue Kitchens & Cabinets

Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Adelaide with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Mid-Century Bungalow Kitchen

Remodel Boutique

This throwback mid-century modern kitchen is functional and funky. Funktional? We like it.
Design ideas for a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, no island, beige floor and brown benchtop.

Rénovation complète d'un studio de 20m2 à Clichy

ERA architecture

This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, laminate floors, no island and black benchtop.

Open plan kitchen living

Ogli

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, pink splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and recessed.

Farmhouse kitchen with wood counter tops

JB Adaptations

Aimee Clark
Expansive country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

2022 Legend Model

Tamara Johnson, CKD

white and navy blue kitchen
This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Eagle Rock, CA / Complete Accessory Dwelling Unit Build / Kitchenette

ING Construction

Kitchenette in newly finished Accessory Dwelling Unit. Kitchenette featuring a laminate flooring, gray shaker style cabinetry with brass colored drawer pulls and kitchen sink. White tiled back splash with wood shelving added for extra storage space. Also provided is a stainless steel stove and mini-refrigerator to complete the accommodations.

Sophisticated Contemporary Kitchen

Marta Mitchell Interior Design

Mid-sized contemporary eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

HGTV Modern Farmhouse Marine Blue Kitchen

SH interiors

Crafers Living Renovation

Plush Design Interiors

Rindge, NH Kitchen

G. M. Roth Design Remodeling, Inc.

This is an example of a large traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Manchester with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors and with island.

Kitchen 13

Lisa OBrien Interior Designs

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Nolte Plus Schichtstoff Schwarz Softmatt

Küchenhaus Gebr. Jansen

Small contemporary galley separate kitchen in Dusseldorf with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Sophisticated Contemporary Kitchen

Marta Mitchell Interior Design

Coopers Hawk

Reece Homes, LLC

Ryan Price Studio
Inspiration for a mid-sized country single-wall open plan kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Sacramento Farmhouse

DESIGN LAB 444

Nicole Dianne Photo
Photo of a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Cement Tile Splashback and Laminate 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!