Mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

Art Deco rehab

Mattingly Thaler Architecture

Peter Medilek
Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with white cabinets, marble benchtops, ceramic splashback, linoleum floors, white benchtop, with island, glass-front cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and black floor.

309 Church Hill Residence Kitchen

re:4m LLC design build

This is an example of a small modern l-shaped separate kitchen in Richmond with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

Williams & Sons Handmade Kitchen

Kettle Co. Kitchens

This is an example of a large country single-wall kitchen in Cornwall with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, concrete benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island and black floor.

Lancaster Modern Cottage

Barefoot Dwelling

Phase 2 of our Modern Cottage project was the complete renovation of a small, impractical kitchen and dining nook. The client asked for a fresh, bright kitchen with natural light, a pop of color, and clean modern lines. The resulting kitchen features all of the above and incorporates fun details such as a scallop tile backsplash behind the range and artisan touches such as a custom walnut island and floating shelves; a custom metal range hood and hand-made lighting. This kitchen is all that the client asked for and more!

Kitchen

Christie Architecture LLC

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, black floor and black benchtop.

Rose Garden Transitional

Sublime Homes

Transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and black benchtop.

Napa Valley Showhouse Kitchen

User

Michelle Drewes Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, cement tiles, with island and black floor.

Mid century Modern kitchen

Kelly Ann Photography

Beautiful kitchen remodel in a 1950's mis century modern home in Yellow Springs Ohio The Teal accent tile really sets off the bright orange range hood and stove. Photo Credit, Kelly Settle Kelly Ann Photography

Grade II listed Islington Georgian Townhouse

Emilie Fournet Interiors

Basement Georgian kitchen with black limestone, yellow shaker cabinets and open and freestanding kitchen island. War and cherry marble, midcentury accents, leading onto a dining room.

Painted White and Rift Oak Kitchen With Hexagon Tiles (Geneseo, IL)

Village Home Stores

Koch Cabinetry in a combination of Bristol “White” and Charleston Rift Oak “Silverwood” doors. KitchenAid appliances and Cambria Quartz in “St. Giles” and “Harrogate” designs. Crayon and hexagon shaped tiles cover the wall and floor surfaces. Installed in Geneseo, IL by the Kitchen and Bath design experts at Village Home Stores.

BURLINGAME KITCHEN

Dyer Studio Inc.

Meagan Larsen Photography
Photo of a small midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, black floor and white benchtop.

San Jose White Shaker Kitchen Remodel- semi custom cabinets, quartz counter tops

Visionary Home Remodeling Inc.

Inspiration for a large modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

TUTTI

Lucia Silva Studio

Cocina
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in Madrid with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors, no island, black floor and brown benchtop.

Rénovation complète d'une maison des années 50

Emilie Melin architecte DPLG

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors and black floor.

Traditional Grey Herringbone Kitchen

Fireclay Tile

Photos by Courtney Apple
Mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Newark with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, black floor and grey benchtop.

5 B

Studio MW

Large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with a drop-in sink, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, no island, black floor and white benchtop.

Lancaster Modern Cottage

Barefoot Dwelling

Phase 2 of our Modern Cottage project was the complete renovation of a small, impractical kitchen and dining nook. The client asked for a fresh, bright kitchen with natural light, a pop of color, and clean modern lines. The resulting kitchen features all of the above and incorporates fun details such as a scallop tile backsplash behind the range and artisan touches such as a custom walnut island and floating shelves and a custom metal range hood. This kitchen is all that the client asked for and more!

HEXAGON HEAVEN

ARTO

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, with island and black floor.

Grade II listed Islington Georgian Townhouse

Emilie Fournet Interiors

Basement Georgian kitchen with black limestone, yellow shaker cabinets and open and freestanding kitchen island. War and cherry marble, midcentury accents, leading onto a dining room.

Kitchen with Ceramic Splashback and Black Floor 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!