Ease of entertaining was key for the owners, so maximising the home’s formal rooms, designing a kitchen for large-scale cooking and creating outdoor spaces to gather are much-loved additions.

TAS, Davies Design & Construction

Housing Industry Association - HIA

A combination of bricks, cement sheet, copper and Colorbond combine harmoniously to produce a striking street appeal. Internally the layout follows the client's brief to maintain a level of privacy for multiple family members while also taking advantage of the view and north facing orientation. The level of detail and finish is exceptional throughout the home with the added complexity of incorporating building materials sourced from overseas.

Lakeside Drive

Prime Design Tasmania Pty Ltd

Contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hobart with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Kingswood Residence

MH-YL Studio

Contemporary take on a traditional shaker style kitchen with reeded glass doors, timber accents and large island.
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Blue Moon Granite

Avant Stone

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY IN DULWICH/RESIDANCE 2

Claridge Construction

Design ideas for a large modern galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, red splashback, brick splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

North Balgowlah Kitchen & Bathroom

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, with island, brown floor, vaulted, white cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and beige benchtop.

Balwyn Townhouses

R ARCHITECTURE

Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Seaforth House

ACP Studio

This is an example of a large beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

New Build Transitional Style Kitchen

Svelte Kitchens

This kitchen was a perfect blend of modern and traditional. Shaker doors contrasting with modern fixtures gave the space the timeless elegance the client wanted.

The Art of Modern Kitchen Design

Nest n Style Design

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, with island, white benchtop, a double-bowl sink, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, brown floor, flat-panel cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Summer Hill Complete Renovation & Restoration

Denby Dowling Interiors

The brief was to restore the home to its former glory whilst accommodating existing cherished furnishings, to include the Chesterfield sofa, coffee table, dining table & chairs, Persian rug & hall runners. To make the quirky furnishings work with the Victorian restoration I balanced bold colours & textures with more traditional flooring & timber veneer colours throughout the home. The kitchen pendant light is a custom designed piece in collaboration with Magins Lighting. The orange splash back tiles (hand made through DeLorenzo Tiles) compliment the dining & lounge floor rugs & balance the room. The blue grout - the icing on the eclectic cake!

Coffee bar

Lisa Robazza Design

The space under the stairs was made useful as a coffee bar and for overflow storage. Ample lighting and a sink make it useful for entertaining as well. Photos: Dave Remple

Bradleys Head Road

LivingLot

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Ferrymans Project

Lynda MacDonald Interior Design

Contemporary galley kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

CLASSIC BEAUTY

Niche Design Co | Chelsey Mathieson

Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Biltmore Forrest Kitchen Remodel

Hearth and Home: Interiors & Antiques

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white splashback, coloured appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Rolling Hills Estates - Sprawling Ranch – Great Room kitchen

OCTOBER 5 Fine Home Builders

adamtaylorphotos.com
Photo of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops and subway tile splashback.

White Cabinets

Everingham Design

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Edina Elegance

RLH Studio

Spacecrafting Photography
Photo of a traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and coffered.

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!