Light-filled kitchen and dining.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey splashback, beige floor, grey benchtop and wood.

Black Ribbon House

Studio 15b - Architecture + Interior Design

This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Bay Street II Project

LivingLot

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Cremorne House

Slater Architects

You enter the property from the high side through a contemporary iron gate to access a large double garage with internal access. A natural stone blade leads to our signature, individually designed timber entry door. The top-floor entry flows into a spacious open-plan living, dining, kitchen area drenched in natural light and ample glazing captures the breathtaking views over middle harbour. The open-plan living area features a high curved ceiling which exaggerates the space and creates a unique and striking frame to the vista. With stone that cascades to the floor, the island bench is a dramatic focal point of the kitchen. Designed for entertaining and positioned to capture the vista. Custom designed dark timber joinery brings out the warmth in the stone bench. Also on this level, a dramatic powder room with a teal and navy blue colour palette, a butler’s pantry, a modernized formal dining space, a large outdoor balcony, a cozy sitting nook with custom joinery specifically designed to house the client’s vinyl record player. This split-level home cascades down the site following the contours of the land. As we step down from the living area, the internal staircase with double heigh ceilings, pendant lighting and timber slats which create an impressive backdrop for the dining area. On the next level, we come to a home office/entertainment room. Double height ceilings and exotic wallpaper make this space intensely more interesting than your average home office! Floor-to-ceiling glazing captures an outdoor tropical oasis, adding to the wow factor. The following floor includes guest bedrooms with ensuites, a laundry and the master bedroom with a generous balcony and an ensuite that presents a large bath beside a picture window allowing you to capture the westerly sunset views from the tub. The ground floor to this split-level home features a rumpus room which flows out onto the rear garden.

Balmer Circle Kitchen Project

Neil Kelly Company

This home was worn out from family life and lacked the natural lighting the homeowners had desired for years. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room let the light pour in, and transformed the kitchen into an entertaining delight with seating/dining spaces at both ends. The breeze colored island stone backsplash tile (Pental Surfaces) is low maintenance and long-wearing, and pairs perfectly against the stained cherry contemporary cabinetry (Decor Cabinets). Quartz countertops were installed on the surround (Caesarstone) and island (a charcoal color with a suede finish was selected for the island to cut down on glare - Siletsone by Cosentino). Chilewich woven fabric applied to the back of the island adds durability and interest to a high-traffic area. The elevated, locally sourced Madrone bar (Sustainable NW Woods) at the end of the island—under a stunning "ribbon" pendant (Elan Lighting)—is a perfect spot to sip Sauvignon.

Town Mountain Modern

Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc

Custom kitchen design featuring a mix of flat panel cabinetry in a dark stained oak and SW Origami white paint. The countertops are a honed quartz meant to resemble concrete, while the backsplash is a slab of natural quartzite with a polished finish. A locally crafted custom dining table is made from oak and stained a bit lighter than the cabinetry, but darker than the plain sawn oak floors. The artwork was sourced locally through Haen Gallery in Asheville. A pendant from Hubbardton Forge hangs over the dining table.

Cherry & Blue

Becker Building & Remodeling Inc.

Mark Ehlen Photography A 90's Golden Oak kitchen (common in MN) needed a refresh, but keeping in tune with the original style of the home was an important piece. So cherry cabinets and a beautiful blue double island transformed this kitchen and dinette into a single space. Now when the kids come home from college there's plenty of room for everyone!

Upper West Side Combo

StudioLAB

The owners of this prewar apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan wanted to combine two dark and tightly configured units into a single unified space. StudioLAB was challenged with the task of converting the existing arrangement into a large open three bedroom residence. The previous configuration of bedrooms along the Southern window wall resulted in very little sunlight reaching the public spaces. Breaking the norm of the traditional building layout, the bedrooms were moved to the West wall of the combined unit, while the existing internally held Living Room and Kitchen were moved towards the large South facing windows, resulting in a flood of natural sunlight. Wide-plank grey-washed walnut flooring was applied throughout the apartment to maximize light infiltration. A concrete office cube was designed with the supplementary space which features walnut flooring wrapping up the walls and ceiling. Two large sliding Starphire acid-etched glass doors close the space off to create privacy when screening a movie. High gloss white lacquer millwork built throughout the apartment allows for ample storage. LED Cove lighting was utilized throughout the main living areas to provide a bright wash of indirect illumination and to separate programmatic spaces visually without the use of physical light consuming partitions. Custom floor to ceiling Ash wood veneered doors accentuate the height of doorways and blur room thresholds. The master suite features a walk-in-closet, a large bathroom with radiant heated floors and a custom steam shower. An integrated Vantage Smart Home System was installed to control the AV, HVAC, lighting and solar shades using iPads.

Stainless Steel Range

Andre Rothblatt Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stone tile splashback and quartz benchtops.

Dexter Colonial (Midcentury Modern Remodel)

exactly.

Inspiration for a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Ridge Home

Lyn's Design Style

Inspiration for a country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boise with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, ceramic splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Modern French Provincial

Kristin Hoaglund Design

This beautiful French Provincial home is set on 10 acres, nestled perfectly in the oak trees. The original home was built in 1974 and had two large additions added; a great room in 1990 and a main floor master suite in 2001. This was my dream project: a full gut renovation of the entire 4,300 square foot home! I contracted the project myself, and we finished the interior remodel in just six months. The exterior received complete attention as well. The 1970s mottled brown brick went white to completely transform the look from dated to classic French. Inside, walls were removed and doorways widened to create an open floor plan that functions so well for everyday living as well as entertaining. The white walls and white trim make everything new, fresh and bright. It is so rewarding to see something old transformed into something new, more beautiful and more functional.

Promontory- Midcentury Mountain

Hudson + Bloum Design

Large country open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

La Verne, CA Open and Airy Modern Kitchen Remodel

Classic Kitchens, Etc.

The before and after of this space is so satisfying. When you walked through the front door, the kitchen was closed off behind a wall that spanned the entire area. We removed that wall, and opened up the space to have a more inviting feel. Removing that wall meant we lessened the pantry and cupboard space, so we corrected that with an oversized island including seating, a peninsula with a beverage station, and a display cabinet utilized for stemware, to make up for that. Slab doors made with white oak and stained in a graphite color are the centerpiece of the area. Utilizing various colors of gold, including brushed gold, honey bronze, and champaign bronze we were able to compliment both the cabinets, and the stainless steel appliances A few great cabinet extras include an oversized spice roll out, a pantry roll out, a cookie sheet cabinet, and a functional blind corner pull out in the corner cabinet. Topping the cabinets is a beautiful quartz countertop that has the look and feel of marble. The appliances are all modern and sizable, with a 36” range and hood, a new convection speed oven, and a dual side by side 24” fridge, with a 18” freezer. The sink, made by Kohler, is an apron front single bowl style, with 2 faucets, a soap dispenser, and a push button garbage disposal switch built in. Outside of this amazing new kitchen, we also updated the entertainment center in the family room, with cabinetry to match the kitchen, and a Bardiglio marble surrounding, and we added a 72” aesthetic fireplace accent. The flooring throughout the space was updated using a “greige” commercially rated 16”x32” porcelain tile, then finished with an acrylic grout.

Scottsdale Estate

ArchitecTor, PC

Casual Eclectic Elegance defines this 4900 SF Scottsdale home that is centered around a pyramid shaped Great Room ceiling. The clean contemporary lines are complimented by natural wood ceilings and subtle hidden soffit lighting throughout. This one-acre estate has something for everyone including a lap pool, game room and an exercise room.

Modern Slab door cabinets with oil rubbed bronze finger pulls

Marvista Design + Build

Minimalist cabinet hardware.
Design ideas for a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, marble floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Irvine Kitchen II

White Diamond Cabinets & Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Sunset Blvd

Alpine Lumber

Builder | Thin Air Construction | Photography | Jon Kohlwey Designer | Tara Bender Starmark Cabinetry
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, quartz benchtops, beige floor, beige splashback and subway tile splashback.

Los Altos Residence

TBS Construction Inc.

Working on this beautiful Los Altos residence has been a wonderful opportunity for our team. Located in an upscale neighborhood young owner’s of this house wanted to upgrade the whole house design which included major kitchen and master bathroom remodel. The combination of a simple white cabinetry with the clean lined wood, contemporary countertops and glass tile create a perfect modern style which is what customers were looking for.

Transitional Kitchen with Medallion Cherry Cabinets and Quartz Countertop

Cabinet-S-Top

Our customer desired to upgrade their builder grade cabinetry with beautiful cherry cabinets and they wanted a portable island that could easily be moved to create more space. The cabinetry installed is Medallion Cherry Mission Door, Pecan/Flat Panel in Cherry with Amaretto Stain and Ebony Glaze/Highlight. The countertop is Wilsonart Quartz in Santiago color. The backsplash is Basket Weave Bianco Wood with Atena Dot tile. Armstrong 3” Rustic Restoration in Essential Brown flooring.

Kitchen with Dark Wood Cabinets and Quartz Benchtops 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!