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.

Midcentury Home Addition and renovation

Donald Lococo Architects

The kitchen was designed two years ago and was then erased and redesigned when the world became a different place a year later. As everyone attempted to flatten the curve, our goal in this regard was to create a kitchen that looked forward to a sharp curve down and of a happier time To that promise for happier times, the redesign, a goal was to make the kitchen brighter and more optimistic. This was done by using simple, primary shapes and circular pendants and emphasizing them in contrast, adding a playful countenance. The selection of a dynamic grain of figured walnut also contributes as this once-living material and its sinuous grain adds motion, rhythm, and scale. Proud of their 1970s home, one challenge of the design was to balance a 1970's feel and stay current. However, many ‘70s references looked and felt outdated. The first step was a changed mindset. Just like the return of the ‘40s bath and the retro movement a few years ago, every era returns in some way. Chronologically, the '70s will soon be here. Our design looked to era-specific furniture and materials of the decade. Figured walnut was so pervasive in the era: this motif was used on car exteriors such as the 1970 Town and Country Station Wagon, which debuted the same year the existing home was built. We also looked at furniture specific to the decade. The console stereo is referenced not only by high legs on the island but also by the knurled metal cabinet knobs reminiscent of often-used stereo dials. Knurled metalwork is also used on the kitchen faucet. The design references the second piece of '70s furniture in our modern TV tray, which is angled to face the television in the family room. Its round pencil and mug holder cutouts follow the design of walnut consoles and dashboard of the station wagon and other elements of the time.

Kansa Ave Residence

AAHA Studio

Custom Kitchen in great room that connects to outdoor living with 22' pocketing door
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Remodel (Bryant)

Mariano & Co., LLC

We removed the old cabinetry and backsplash and replaced with Cabinetry and countertops. The new cabinets are OakCraft Knotty Alder in a Truffle Stain. The countertops are Brittanica Cambria quartz.

Montmartre - Tholozé

Supercraft Studio | Architecte d'intérieur

Cuisine ouverte sur la pièce de vie avec coin repas.
This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and white benchtop.

Turtle Lake Estate

Exclusively Cabinets by Cabinetek

The true testament to a modern kitchen is its minimalistic approach. This beautiful walnut kitchen is accented by the white high gloss cabinetry portrayed in both the main kitchen and prep kitchen. We also included a walnut dry bar to make sure dinner parties had two separate areas for food presentation and drinks.

Custom Range Hood Cabinet & Cambria Backsplash

Urbana Design Studio

This Cambria Britannica countertop and backsplash connect the darker and lighter elements in the kitchen. Wouldn’t you want to cook here…Wolf Range and Vent a Hood range hood liner.

Montgomeryville First Floor and Master Bath

Harth Builders

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and white benchtop.

Middletown Kitchen

Blandford & Co.

Mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Louisville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

MAUBEUGE

atelier daaa

Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian single-wall eat-in kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and coffered.

The Dream Home- Custom Blue Heron in Seven Hills

Natasha Sanchez/ Featured Interiors

An absolute residential fantasy. This custom modern Blue Heron home with a diligent vision- completely curated FF&E inspired by water, organic materials, plenty of textures, and nods to Chanel couture tweeds and craftsmanship. Custom lighting, furniture, mural wallcovering, and more. This is just a sneak peek, with more to come. This most humbling accomplishment is due to partnerships with THE MOST FANTASTIC CLIENTS, perseverance of some of the best industry professionals pushing through in the midst of a pandemic.

Prairie Village Home Renovation

Faust Construction

Inspiration for a large modern u-shaped kitchen pantry in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

Ravenna Art Deco Dwelling

Workshop Estates

Photo of a large midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

ARANELLI - Bluna Legno Speciale

Aranelli Design

A project reinterpreting the values of the tarditional kitchen in a contemporary key, improving functionality and comfort. Natural stones, lacquered and heattreated woods give solidity and durability. Bluna allows one to rediscover the pleasure of living a rich, warm kitchen environment. The material feel of natural wood gives a pleasant aesthetic and tactile sensation. The thermal treating of the wood, a highly technological procedure, improves characteristics and durability.

Spectacular Beachfront Renovation

Douglas & Company, Inc.

Large contemporary open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Dark Painted Built In Subzero and Pantry Ground the Kitchen Design

Urbana Design Studio

These dark cabinets ground the entire kitchen-dining room design adding a unique focal point that reflects a little an elegant yet edgy style.
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Mizels Residence

Rossi Interiors, Inc.

This kitchen was reconfigured and enlarged by omitting an existing hall way and adding it to the square footage.
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Hawthorn Apartment

Camilla Molders Design

Residential Kitchen design by Camilla Molders Design
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Remodeling

Mr. & Mrs. Construction & Remodeling

Inspiration for a large midcentury u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Riverside Drive Apartment

Studio ST Architects, P.C.

The kitchen has a mix of painted white wood and walnut cabinetry. The wood panels conceal kitchen appliances such as the fridge and dishwasher.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern l-shaped separate kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Dark Wood Cabinets and Engineered Quartz Splashback 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!