Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, marble benchtops and brown floor.

Residence in California

Taylor Lombardo Architects

Adrian Gregorutti
This is an example of a traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, wood benchtops, white cabinets, shaker cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback, an undermount sink, with island and dark hardwood floors.

British West Indies Inspired Custom Home in Winter Park Florida

Element Home Builders

Mid-sized beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orlando with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, white splashback, marble benchtops, dark hardwood floors, a farmhouse sink, stone tile splashback and brown floor.

Elegant Modern Black, White and Wood Kitchen and Family Room

J Rider Construction

Elegant timeless style Kitchen with black marble countertop, range hood, white cabinets and stainless accents. Farmhouse sink build in the island.
This is an example of an expansive transitional u-shaped kitchen in Tampa with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, black benchtop, an undermount sink, with island and brown floor.

Bellevue Farmhouse

RW Anderson Homes

In the prestigious Enatai neighborhood in Bellevue, this mid 90’s home was in need of updating. Bringing this home from a bleak spec project to the feeling of a luxurious custom home took partnering with an amazing interior designer and our specialists in every field. Everything about this home now fits the life and style of the homeowner and is a balance of the finer things with quaint farmhouse styling. RW Anderson Homes is the premier home builder and remodeler in the Seattle and Bellevue area. Distinguished by their excellent team, and attention to detail, RW Anderson delivers a custom tailored experience for every customer. Their service to clients has earned them a great reputation in the industry for taking care of their customers. Working with RW Anderson Homes is very easy. Their office and design team work tirelessly to maximize your goals and dreams in order to create finished spaces that aren’t only beautiful, but highly functional for every customer. In an industry known for false promises and the unexpected, the team at RW Anderson is professional and works to present a clear and concise strategy for every project. They take pride in their references and the amount of direct referrals they receive from past clients. RW Anderson Homes would love the opportunity to talk with you about your home or remodel project today. Estimates and consultations are always free. Call us now at 206-383-8084 or email Ryan@rwandersonhomes.com.

Solid wood cutlery divider

Marvista Design + Build

Adding the wood cutlery divider keeps your utensils in one place without all the clutter.
Large transitional u-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Partridge Project

Stonington Cabinetry & Designs

Photo of a transitional kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, panelled appliances and dark hardwood floors.

Cambria Atlanta

Cambria

Countertop, Island: Brittanicca from Cambria's Marble Collection
Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

NASHVILLE RESIDENCE

Marvin

Architect: Blaine Bonadies, Bonadies Architect Photography By: Jean Allsopp Photography “Just as described, there is an edgy, irreverent vibe here, but the result has an appropriate stature and seriousness. Love the overscale windows. And the outdoor spaces are so great.” Situated atop an old Civil War battle site, this new residence was conceived for a couple with southern values and a rock-and-roll attitude. The project consists of a house, a pool with a pool house and a renovated music studio. A marriage of modern and traditional design, this project used a combination of California redwood siding, stone and a slate roof with flat-seam lead overhangs. Intimate and well planned, there is no space wasted in this home. The execution of the detail work, such as handmade railings, metal awnings and custom windows jambs, made this project mesmerizing. Cues from the client and how they use their space helped inspire and develop the initial floor plan, making it live at a human scale but with dramatic elements. Their varying taste then inspired the theme of traditional with an edge. The lines and rhythm of the house were simplified, and then complemented with some key details that made the house a juxtaposition of styles. The wood Ultimate Casement windows were all standard sizes. However, there was a desire to make the windows have a “deep pocket” look to create a break in the facade and add a dramatic shadow line. Marvin was able to customize the jambs by extruding them to the exterior. They added a very thin exterior profile, which negated the need for exterior casing. The same detail was in the stone veneers and walls, as well as the horizontal siding walls, with no need for any modification. This resulted in a very sleek look. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Ultimate Casement Window

Lake of the Isles Kitchen

M. Victoria Johnson Interiors

Design ideas for a beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Woodstock Mid-century Remodel

Context

Photo of a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

DS Chicago to Birmingham

Amy Storm & Company

Joe Kwon Photography
Photo of a large transitional kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Gem in Willow Glen

Spaces By Juliana Linssen, Inc.

Small transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Minneapolis Kitchen

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Greenwich Renovation

William D. Earls AIA Architect

Pantry with fully tiled wall.
Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen pantry in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, dark hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Historic Rosegarden Kitchen and Bath Remodel

A Mind On Design-Debbie Minarik, Interior Designer

Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Oakland Ave

EuroCraft Interiors Custom Cabinetry

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Detroit with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Docking Drawer in a Mamaroneck kitchen

Studio Dearborn

A 1920s colonial in a shorefront community in Westchester County had an expansive renovation with new kitchen by Studio Dearborn. Countertops White Macauba; interior design Lorraine Levinson. Photography, Timothy Lenz.

Farmhouse Country Custom Home

Chosen Interiors

Transitional l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Ardsley Custom

M. Lahr Homes

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Orlando with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, with island, shaker cabinets, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Dark Hardwood 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!