Expanding the island gave the family more space to relax, work or entertain. The original island was less than half the size and housed the stove top, leaving little space for much else.

Portland Mid Century Modern Home

Michelle Rolens - Neil Kelly Design/Build

Open kitchen plan with 2 tier countertop/eating height. Waterfall edge from one cabinet height to eating height and again to floor. Elongated hex tile from Pratt & Larson tile. Caesarstone pure white quartz countertop.

Laura & Blake's Kitchen

Hello Kitchen

Whit Preston
Design ideas for a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in Austin with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, no island, orange floor and white benchtop.

Morristown Mid-Century

Gary Rosard Architect

The kitchen was reconfigured, and features a chartreuse backsplash. My client wanted to use that color somewhere, and it makes a bold statement in this very visible location.

Midcentury Modern Kitchen

exactly.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Detroit with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, cork floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Lake Paupac Cabin Remodel 2

J.B. Nicholson Architecture

Ben Nicholson
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, cork floors and a peninsula.

Kitchen and Dining Remodel Creates Entertaining Setting

'g' Green Design Center

Our clients wanted to remodel their kitchen so that the prep, cooking, clean up and dining areas would blend well and not have too much of a kitchen feel. They asked for a sophisticated look with some classic details and a few contemporary flairs. The result was a reorganized layout (and remodel of the adjacent powder room) that maintained all the beautiful sunlight from their deck windows, but create two separate but complimentary areas for cooking and dining. The refrigerator and pantry are housed in a furniture-like unit creating a hutch-like cabinet that belies its interior with classic styling. Two sinks allow both cooks in the family to work simultaneously. Some glass-fronted cabinets keep the sink wall light and attractive. The recycled glass-tiled detail on the ceramic backsplash brings a hint of color and a reference to the nearby waters. Dan Cutrona Photography

Yalecrest Residence

Christa Pirl Interiors

An original turn-of-the-century Craftsman home had lost it original charm in the kitchen and bathroom, both renovated in the 1980s. The clients desired to restore the original look, while still giving the spaces an updated feel. Both rooms were gutted and new materials, fittings and appliances were installed, creating a strong reference to the history of the home, while still moving the house into the 21st century. Photos by Melissa McCafferty

Contemporary Whole House Remodel

McCabe By Design LLC

Cool, dark and stadium style spice storage keeps things fresh and accessible. ©WestSound Home & Garden Magazine
Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, with island, ceramic splashback, brown floor, beige benchtop and vaulted.

Tiffany Blue Kitchen

Simply Bathroom Solutions

Kapa Photography
Large contemporary galley kitchen pantry in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, cork floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

Photo of a small transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Detroit with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors and no island.

Sleek Kitchen

Pamela Pennington Studios

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, orange floor, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, ceramic splashback, cork floors, with island and red benchtop.

Universal Design galley kitchen

Re-Vital-Eyes Interiors

Easy access is the name of pull out drawers below the counter.
This is an example of a transitional galley kitchen pantry in Toronto with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and cork floors.

Semi-Circle Sensible Kitchen Remodel

Danilo Nesovic, Designer & Builder

Visit our site for full project overview & details.

Medallion Cabinetry

Doug Ashy Cabinet Design Center

Mid-sized traditional galley separate kitchen in New Orleans with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors and with island.

Green House

nimtim Architects

Megan Taylor
Design ideas for a small contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, cork floors, no island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Arlington Addition for Music

aMortonDesign

Robert Umenhofer, Photographer
Traditional u-shaped kitchen in Boston with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, no island, brown floor, black benchtop and beige cabinets.

Kitchen with Wood Ceiling and Blue Tile

Clawson Cabinets

wood ceilings, floating shelves, cork floors and bright blue subway tile quartz and stainless counters put a twist on a traditional Victorian home. The crown moldings and traditional inset cabinets Decora by Masterbrand harken back to the day while the floating shelves and stainless counters give a modern flair. Cork floors are soft underfoot and are perfect in any kitchen.

Mindy's Kitchen

HDR Remodeling Inc.

HDR Remodeling Inc. specializes in classic East Bay homes. Whole-house remodels, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, garage and basement conversions are our specialties. Our start-to-finish process -- from design concept to permit-ready plans to production -- will guide you along the way to make sure your project is completed on time and on budget and take the uncertainty and stress out of remodeling your home. Our philosophy -- and passion -- is to help our clients make their remodeling dreams come true.

Bay House

Interiors by Brinnie T Design | Phillip Island

From an outdated 70's kitchen with non-functional pantry space to an expansive kitchen with storage galore. Tiled bench tops carry the terrazzo feature through from the bathroom and copper handles will patina over time. Navy blue subway backsplash is the perfect selection for a pop of colour contrasting the terracotta cabinets

Kitchen with Ceramic Splashback and Cork 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!