This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey floor, marble benchtops and cement tile splashback.

Spanish Modern Kitchen

Savvy Interiors

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, an undermount sink and quartzite benchtops.

Cambridge Contemporary Kitchen

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Boston with wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, metal splashback and metallic splashback.

Coconut Grove Home Remodel

Exclusively To Design

This kitchen was completely renovated into an open conversational kitchen layout. The metal hexagon backsplash accents the bejeweled artwork in the adjacent dining room and os the perfect accessory to the sleek cabinetry and Krion countertop. The luxury appliances made this kitchen design top notch.

Tobias' Kitchen

nullo Design Ltd

Modern Shaker Kitchen with classic colour scheme. Oak open shelves and sontemporary Splashback design
Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in London with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed.

Proyecto de Interiorismo, reforma y decoración

SinPar Studio

Proyecto de Interiorismo y decoración vivienda unifamiliar adosada. Reforma integral
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Madrid with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, grey floor and brown benchtop.

Hell's Kitchen Remodel

SmartDesign

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with Blackwood Timber Features

Transform-A-Space

Photo of a large country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Adelaide with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, metal splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors, a peninsula, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Ultra-Modern Desert Home

User

The A7 Series aluminum windows with triple-pane glazing were paired with custom-designed Ultra Lift and Slide doors to provide comfort, efficiency, and seamless design integration of fenestration products. Triple pane glazing units with high-performance spacers, low iron glass, multiple air seals, and a continuous thermal break make these windows and doors incomparable to the traditional aluminum window and door products of the past. Not to mention – these large-scale sliding doors have been fitted with motors hidden in the ceiling, which allow the doors to open flush into wall pockets at the press of a button. This seamless aluminum door system is a true custom solution for a homeowner that wanted the largest expanses of glass possible to disappear from sight with minimal effort. The enormous doors slide completely out of view, allowing the interior and exterior to blur into a single living space. By integrating the ultra-modern desert home into the surrounding landscape, this residence is able to adapt and evolve as the seasons change – providing a comfortable, beautiful, and luxurious environment all year long.

MAISON DARWIN

Studio Kiraw

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with a farmhouse sink, black cabinets, wood benchtops, cement tile splashback, black appliances, cement tiles, with island, multi-coloured floor, shaker cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and brown benchtop.

The Evans Floor Plan as a Model Home

Bercher Homes

Open kitchen
This is an example of a large arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

exposition heights

Floisand Studio

This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

Inspiration for a transitional single-wall eat-in kitchen in New York with white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, yellow benchtop, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, metal splashback and brown floor.

The Honeysuckle

Biringer Builders, Inc.

Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Richmond with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

The Alameda

Sogno Design Group

Photo by: Michele Lee Wilson
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, cement tile splashback and white benchtop.

TO GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE WE GO- Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Kevin Mason, Architect

BOARD & BATTEN BASE CABINETS LOOK LIKE WAINSCOTING to disguise the dishwasher seamlessly. Slab drawer heads run a band around the compact Kitchen, hiding a sponge tray. Shaker wall cabinets extend downward to meet base cabinets in a roomy pantry. Ceramic tile backsplash extends to the ceiling and around the window.

House of Blues

Alison Kandler Interior Design

Mark Lohman
This is an example of an expansive beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, blue benchtop and brown floor.

Bittersweet Dells Remodel

Roanoke Woodworking Inc.

This was a typical kitchen from the 1970's, with orange-stained cabinets and awkward storage. The homowner choose to keep the current layout, but picked out some wonderfully updated materials, including grey shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, and a beautifully textured backsplash tile. She accented the kitchen with a whimsical teal light and accessories.

West Concord Avenue House - Kansas City

Schloegel Design Remodel

A black and white kitchen with gold accents. The perimeter cabinets are Crestwood Warwick in Dove while the island is black. The cabinets on either side of the hood are glass paneled and black. The counters are Cambria Ella and the Delta champagne bronze fixtures pop against the black and white backdrop. The Palazzo porcelain Florentina tile backsplash adds character and dimension to the kitchen.

Ladera Ranch Gets California Classic make over

k. smith interiors

Inspiration for a transitional kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, quartz benchtops, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Cement Tile Splashback and Metal Splashback 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!