Kitchen featuring white oak lower cabinetry, white painted upper cabinetry with blue accent cabinetry, including the island. Custom steel hood fabricated in-house by Ridgecrest Designs. Custom wood beam light fixture fabricated in-house by Ridgecrest Designs. Steel mesh cabinet panels, brass and bronze hardware, La Cornue French range, concrete island countertop and engineered quartz perimeter countertop. The 10' AG Millworks doors open out onto the California Room.

Modern Aspen ave. House

RG Cowan Design Build

This house was designed to maintain clean sustainability and durability. Minimal, simple, modern design techniques were implemented to create an open floor plan with natural light. The entry of the home, clad in wood, was created as a transitional space between the exterior and the living spaces by creating a feeling of compression before entering into the voluminous, light filled, living area. The large volume, tall windows and natural light of the living area allows for light and views to the exterior in all directions. This project also considered our clients' need for storage and love for travel by creating storage space for an Airstream camper in the oversized 2 car garage at the back of the property. As in all of our homes, we designed and built this project with increased energy efficiency standards in mind. Our standards begin below grade by designing our foundations with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for all of our exterior foundation walls, providing the below grade walls with an R value of 23. As a standard, we also install a passive radon system and a heat recovery ventilator to efficiently mitigate the indoor air quality within all of the homes we build.

Pine House

Bryant Alsop Architects

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, terra-cotta splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop, an undermount sink, multi-coloured splashback, brown floor and vaulted.

ZeroLot Haus

Maytree Studios

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sunshine Coast with an undermount sink, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, green floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Bow Tie House

John Patrick Cunningham / Architect

A detail view of the kitchen.
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, a peninsula, grey floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Open Kitchen

Lois MacKenzie

The original house was very dark as all the walls were dark wood. To fill the space with light, the ceiling was painted to white and walls were finished with painted gypboard. The island allows for an incredible open cooking and living space with views to the ocean.

Senara

Unique Homestays

Photo of an expansive beach style open plan kitchen with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Ristrutturazione della casa padronale nell’ambito della Masseria Cuturi

Bernardino Dimitri

Mediterranean galley eat-in kitchen in Bari with a drop-in sink, concrete benchtops, beige splashback, black appliances, cement tiles, beige benchtop, vaulted, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets and grey floor.

Contemporary Australian Cabin Kitchen

Element Design Studio

A modern Australian design with finishes that change over time. Connecting the bushland to the home with colour and texture.
This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Modern Farm House in Cherry Hills

Haley Custom Homes

This open floor kitchen has a mixture of Concrete Counter tops as well as Marble. The range hood is made of a custom plaster. The T&G ceiling with accents of Steel make this room cozy and elegant. The floors were 8 inch planks imported from Europe.

Modern Custom Home Build

TYCON Building Solutions

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Jordan Rd Whole House

CERULEAN CONSTRUCTION INC

This is an example of a midcentury kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Moonah Links House

BD Building Design

Mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Rustic Accessible Living Cabin

G. Christianson Construction, Inc.

A local Corvallis family contacted G. Christianson Construction looking to build an accessory dwelling unit (commonly known as an ADU) for their parents. The family was seeking a rustic, cabin-like home with one bedroom, a generous closet, a craft room, a living-in-place-friendly bathroom with laundry, and a spacious great room for gathering. This 896-square-foot home is built only a few dozen feet from the main house on this property, making family visits quick and easy. Our designer, Anna Clink, planned the orientation of this home to capture the beautiful farm views to the West and South, with a back door that leads straight from the Kitchen to the main house. A second door exits onto the South-facing covered patio; a private and peaceful space for watching the sunrise or sunset in Corvallis. When standing at the center of the Kitchen island, a quick glance to the West gives a direct view of Mary’s Peak in the distance. The floor plan of this cabin allows for a circular path of travel (no dead-end rooms for a user to turn around in if they are using an assistive walking device). The Kitchen and Great Room lead into a Craft Room, which serves to buffer sound between it and the adjacent Bedroom. Through the Bedroom, one may exit onto the private patio, or continue through the Walk-in-Closet to the Bath & Laundry. The Bath & Laundry, in turn, open back into the Great Room. Wide doorways, clear maneuvering space in the Kitchen and bath, grab bars, and graspable hardware blend into the rustic charm of this new dwelling. Rustic Cherry raised panel cabinetry was used throughout the home, complimented by oiled bronze fixtures and lighting. The clients selected durable and low-maintenance quartz countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, porcelain tile, and cultured marble. The entire home is heated and cooled by two ductless mini-split units, and good indoor air quality is achieved with wall-mounted fresh air units.

Craftsman Beauty

Knight Construction Design Inc.

Inspiration for a small arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, brown benchtop and vaulted.

Rustic Accessible Living Cabin

G. Christianson Construction, Inc.

Venice Loft Renovation

FAME Architecture and Design

Photographer ©MadelineTolle
Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Modern Custom Home Build

TYCON Building Solutions

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Clear Lake Summer Cottage

Kos Interiors

The Clear Lake Cottage proposes a simple tent-like envelope to house both program of the summer home and the sheltered outdoor spaces under a single vernacular form. A singular roof presents a child-like impression of house; rectilinear and ordered in symmetry while playfully skewed in volume. Nestled within a forest, the building is sculpted and stepped to take advantage of the land; modelling the natural grade. Open and closed faces respond to shoreline views or quiet wooded depths. Like a tent the porosity of the building’s envelope strengthens the experience of ‘cottage’. All the while achieving privileged views to the lake while separating family members for sometimes much need privacy.

Contemporary Australian Cabin Kitchen

Element Design Studio

A modern Australian design with finishes that change over time. Connecting the bushland to the home with colour and texture.
Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Kitchen with Concrete Benchtops and Vaulted 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!