Derek Makekau
Inspiration for a beach style open plan kitchen in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Red Ledges

Studio McGee

This is an example of a large country u-shaped kitchen in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop, shaker cabinets and brown floor.

Lake Harriet Tudor

Renae Keller Interior Design, Inc.

Troy Thies Photography
Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Modern House in Kingsgate - Kitchen

Shepel Homes - Kitchen and Bath

We used an open floor plan for the kitchen and dining, with both being part of the great room together with the living room. For this contemporary gray kitchen and dining, we used flush cabinet surfaces to achieve a minimalist and modern look. The backsplash is made with beautiful 3” x 16” light gray tiles that perfectly unite the white wall cabinets and the darker gray base cabinets. This monochromatic color scheme is also evident on the white dining table and countertops, and the gray and white chairs. We opted for an extra large kitchen island that provides an additional surface for food preparation and having quick meals. The modern island pendant lights serve as the functional centerpiece of the kitchen and dining area.

Marine Loft

SUBU Design Architecture

Kitchen remodel with reclaimed wood cabinetry and industrial details. Photography by Manolo Langis. Located steps away from the beach, the client engaged us to transform a blank industrial loft space to a warm inviting space that pays respect to its industrial heritage. We use anchored large open space with a sixteen foot conversation island that was constructed out of reclaimed logs and plumbing pipes. The island itself is divided up into areas for eating, drinking, and reading. Bringing this theme into the bedroom, the bed was constructed out of 12x12 reclaimed logs anchored by two bent steel plates for side tables.

Kitchen

jamie florence designs

Traditional kitchen in Boston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Beacon Falls Kitchen Renovation

Mathieson Design

Photo of a country l-shaped kitchen in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

The Hammocks- new construction

User

Inspiration for a beach style kitchen pantry in Tampa with open cabinets, wood benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Haight Ashbury Residence

Nerland Building & Restoration, Inc.

David Kingsbury, www.davidkingsburyphoto.com
Mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Cambridge Kitchen and Breakfast Nook

Leah Ward Interiors

Traditional white marble New England kitchen with walnut wood island and bronze fixtures for added warmth. Photo: Michael J Lee Photography
Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and wood benchtops.

Stony Brook

Cole Harris Associates LLC

Design ideas for a large country galley open plan kitchen in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, soapstone benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Freeman Residence

LMK INTERIOR DESIGN

Scott Zimmerman, Modern kitchen with walnut cabinets and quartz counter top.
This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Southlake Transitional

Simmons Estate Homes

Photo of a traditional open plan kitchen in Dallas with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Summer Days

Sho and Co

This space was created for a beach loving family who wanted to bring the sense of calm serenity to their every day. The countertop material mimics the motion of the waves on the sandy shores, the plaster hood celebrates the feel of sand and earth, The greens and texture bring the surrounding nature inward. The cement pendants and brass fixtures provide an added layer of beauty and charm.

Custom Kitchen Range Hoods

Bauer Metal

Design ideas for a country u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Telluride Cabin

Artisan Builders LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized country u-shaped separate kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, distressed cabinets, concrete benchtops, brown splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances and exposed beam.

Geneva Transitional Home with Farmhouse Kitchen

Havlicek Builders Inc.

Double island kitchen with 2 sinks, custom cabinetry and hood. Brass light fixtures. Transitional/farmhouse kitchen.
This is an example of an expansive traditional l-shaped kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and mosaic tile splashback.

Classic Coastal

White Sands Coastal Development

This 4,000-square foot home is located in the Silverstrand section of Hermosa Beach, known for its fabulous restaurants, walkability and beach access. Stylistically, it’s coastal-meets-traditional, complete with 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a 3-stop elevator and a roof deck with amazing ocean views. The client, an art collector, wanted bold color and unique aesthetic choices. In the living room, the built-in shelving is lined in luminescent mother of pearl. The dining area’s custom hand-blown chandelier was made locally and perfectly diffuses light. The client’s former granite-topped dining table didn’t fit the size and shape of the space, so we cut the granite and built a new base and frame around it. The bedrooms are full of organic materials and personal touches, such as the light raffia wall-covering in the master bedroom and the fish-painted end table in a college-aged son’s room—a nod to his love of surfing. Detail is always important, but especially to this client, so we searched for the perfect artisans to create one-of-a kind pieces. Several light fixtures were commissioned by an International glass artist. These include the white, layered glass pendants above the kitchen island, and the stained glass piece in the hallway, which glistens blues and greens through the window overlooking the front entrance of the home. The overall feel of the house is peaceful but not complacent, full of tiny surprises and energizing pops of color.

Bronxville Shingle Style

Michael Smith Architects

Jon Wallen
Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, a single-bowl sink, marble benchtops and subway tile splashback.

Kansas City Full Home Renovation

Chastain Interiors

Design ideas for a large u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

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!