This is an example of a large traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a single-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Linden

Mosaic Architects Boulder

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

A dramatic whole-home transformation

Dover Home Remodelers

Design ideas for a large single-wall open plan kitchen in Cleveland with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, white benchtop and dark wood cabinets.

Somerset Home Project

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

This home has lots of storage including the wood units that flank the entrance to this walk in pantry!
Mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Raleigh with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Midwest Modern

Kitchens by Eileen

Photo of a kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and vaulted.

The Kingsway Transitional

Geometra Design Ltd.

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Colleton River

Elite Kitchen & Bath Concepts, LLC

Photo of a mediterranean kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, medium hardwood floors and dark wood cabinets.

Mid-Century Raised Ranch Remodel

The Artisans Group, Inc.

Winner of the 2018 Tour of Homes Best Remodel, this whole house re-design of a 1963 Bennet & Johnson mid-century raised ranch home is a beautiful example of the magic we can weave through the application of more sustainable modern design principles to existing spaces. We worked closely with our client on extensive updates to create a modernized MCM gem. Extensive alterations include: - a completely redesigned floor plan to promote a more intuitive flow throughout - vaulted the ceilings over the great room to create an amazing entrance and feeling of inspired openness - redesigned entry and driveway to be more inviting and welcoming as well as to experientially set the mid-century modern stage - the removal of a visually disruptive load bearing central wall and chimney system that formerly partitioned the homes’ entry, dining, kitchen and living rooms from each other - added clerestory windows above the new kitchen to accentuate the new vaulted ceiling line and create a greater visual continuation of indoor to outdoor space - drastically increased the access to natural light by increasing window sizes and opening up the floor plan - placed natural wood elements throughout to provide a calming palette and cohesive Pacific Northwest feel - incorporated Universal Design principles to make the home Aging In Place ready with wide hallways and accessible spaces, including single-floor living if needed - moved and completely redesigned the stairway to work for the home’s occupants and be a part of the cohesive design aesthetic - mixed custom tile layouts with more traditional tiling to create fun and playful visual experiences - custom designed and sourced MCM specific elements such as the entry screen, cabinetry and lighting - development of the downstairs for potential future use by an assisted living caretaker - energy efficiency upgrades seamlessly woven in with much improved insulation, ductless mini splits and solar gain

Burlingame Restoration and Kitchen Remodel

User

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Brighton - Rustic Modern Custom Home

Emery Design | Build

Phoenix Photographic
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, concrete benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets and medium hardwood floors.

Contemporary Edina Kitchen and Powder Room Remodel

Titus Contracting

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, with island, white benchtop, dark wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Ranch Hacienda

LaBlonde Development

Kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, dark wood cabinets, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Denver Colorado Residence Loft Style KITCHEN

Robeson Design

Interior Designer Rebecca Robeson created a Kitchen her client would want to come home to. With a nod to the Industrial, Rebecca's goal was to turn the outdated, oak cabinet kitchen, into a hip, modern space reflecting the homeowners LOVE FOR THE LOFT! Paul Anderson from Exquisite Kitchen Design worked closely with the team at Robeson Design on Rebecca’s vision to insure every detail was built to perfection. Custom cabinets of ...... include luxury features such as live edge curly maple shelves above the sink, hand forged steel kick-plates to the floor, touch latch drawers and easy close hinges... just to name a few. To highlight it all, individually lit drawers and cabinets activate upon opening. The marble countertops rest below the used brick veneer as both wrap around to the Home Bar. Earthwood Custom Remodeling, Inc. Exquisite Kitchen Design Rocky Mountain Hardware Tech Lighting - Black Whale Lighting Photos by Ryan Garvin Photography

Rolling Hills

Ottolia & Barnes Architecture

Photo of a large country galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, cement tile splashback, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

The Parker Family Tahoe Lakefront Compound

SANDBOX

Interior custom Kitchen with arched trusses, stone wall, Walnut custom cabinetry and flooring, custom lighting and a lakefront Breakfast Nook (c) SANDBOX & Vance Fox

Singhko Kitchen Renovations

Singhko Inc.

After: Kitchen
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Ottawa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Walnut Cove Residence

Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc

Interior Designer: Allard & Roberts Interior Design, Inc. Builder: Glennwood Custom Builders Architect: Con Dameron Photographer: Kevin Meechan Doors: Sun Mountain Cabinetry: Advance Custom Cabinetry Countertops & Fireplaces: Mountain Marble & Granite Window Treatments: Blinds & Designs, Fletcher NC

Sagle Mountain Hideaway

Selle Valley Construction, Inc.

View of the kitchen from the living room. You can also see the front entrance to the right, along with the Master Suite on the left. Kitchen cabinets are wood in a shaker style, stained dark brown. Backsplash is a honed natural stone mosaic, kitchen counters are 3cm of Crema Bordeaux granite. Photography by Marie-Dominique Verdier.

Williamsburg Penthouse

Hannah Blumenthal Design

Photo of a scandinavian l-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Home Interiors

McIntyre Capron & Associates

McIntyre Capron & Associates
Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, beige splashback, stone tile splashback and brown floor.

Kitchen with Dark Wood Cabinets and Medium 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!