Photo of a traditional galley kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and beige splashback.

Traditional Kitchen

Traditional kitchen in Chicago with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets and green splashback.

University City Renovation

Studio Durham Architects

Renovated kitchen, enlarged by combining former breakfast room with original kitchen. Alis O'Brien Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in St Louis with stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, light hardwood floors, with island, white splashback and stone slab splashback.

Bayou Kitchen

In Detail Interiors

This new home is a study in eclectic contrasts. The client loves modern design yet still wanted to blend a bit of her southern traditional heritage into the overall feel of her new home. The goal and challenge was to combine functionality in a large space with unique details that spoke to the client’s love of artisitic creativity and rich materials. With 14 foot ceilings the challenge was to not let the kitchen space “underwhelm” the rest of the open floor plan as the kitchen, dining and great room all are part of the larger footprint. To this end, we designed a modern enclosure that allowed additional height and heft to help balance the “weight” of the kitchen with the other areas. The long island designed for entertaining features a custom designed iron “table” housing the microwave drawer and topped with a checkboard endgrain cherry and walnut wood top. This second “island” is part of the rich details that define the kitchen. The upper cabinets have unusual triple ring iron inserts, again, designed for the unexpected use of material richness..along with the antique mirror rather than glass as the background. The platter rack on the end of the left side elevation also replicates the iron using it for the dowels. The panels on the Subzero refrigerator are crafted from burled walnut veneer chosen to echo the browns and blacks throughout much of the furnishings. The client did not want or need a large range as we planned a second ancillary oven for the pantry/laundry space around the corner. When I pointed out the capacity of the Wolf 36 inch range was actually larger than a 30 inch oven, it sealed the deal for only one oven in the main cooking center. We did not want the cooking area to be dwarfed however, so used a custom black cold rolled steel hood that is 60 inches long. The panels on the Sub Zero refrigerator are another blend of eclectic materials. Along the left side cabinetry where the cabinets die into the wall, we chose to run the calcutta gold marble 4x16 stone up the wall and utilize thick glass shelves for some visual interest in this corner. Also, this corner would be tough to access with doors. I liked the prep sink area to feel open and airy as well. This beautiful kitchen is quite unique that combines functionality in a large space with one of a kind details!

Friedman

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Photos Courtesy of Sharon Risedorph
Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and blue splashback.

Kitchen

RICHLAND

Amazing kitchen built with entertaining in mind
Photo of a traditional kitchen in Dallas with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stone tile splashback, a single-bowl sink, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Dave Giulietti

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

Kitchen/Dining/Sitting Room of this Mid 60's ranch remodel shows the new quater sawn oak cabinets and the walnut slab table. Cabinets were constructed by Cascade Contracting and the table was fabricated by Altura Furniture. Photos By: Josh Parteee

South of France - Cap d' Antibes - Domain Villa

Marilyn Johnson

Ed Holt
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and no island.

Cool Dude - Kitchen

The Sky is the Limit Design

Jo Ann Richards, Works Photography Textured Faux Wood laminates combined with stainless steel accents create a sleek, easy maintenance look
Design ideas for a modern kitchen in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and multi-coloured splashback.

Breakfast Nook

User

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Philadelphia with an integrated sink, red splashback, matchstick tile splashback and dark wood cabinets.

New Construction

Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.

Designer: Kristin Petro; Photographer: Jad Ryherd
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Chicago with stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback and mosaic tile splashback.

Woodcutters - Kitchen Remodel

Texas Construction Company

Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Austin with stainless steel appliances and dark wood cabinets.

Casa Lluvia Blanca

House + House Architects

Nestled into the quiet middle of a block in the historic center of the beautiful colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, this 4,500 square foot courtyard home is accessed through lush gardens with trickling fountains and a luminous lap-pool. The living, dining, kitchen, library and master suite on the ground floor open onto a series of plant filled patios that flood each space with light that changes throughout the day. Elliptical domes and hewn wooden beams sculpt the ceilings, reflecting soft colors onto curving walls. A long, narrow stairway wrapped with windows and skylights is a serene connection to the second floor ''Moroccan' inspired suite with domed fireplace and hand-sculpted tub, and "French Country" inspired suite with a sunny balcony and oval shower. A curving bridge flies through the high living room with sparkling glass railings and overlooks onto sensuously shaped built in sofas. At the third floor windows wrap every space with balconies, light and views, linking indoors to the distant mountains, the morning sun and the bubbling jacuzzi. At the rooftop terrace domes and chimneys join the cozy seating for intimate gatherings.

Kitchen

Shirley Meisels

Inspiration for a modern kitchen in Toronto with stainless steel appliances, open cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Amis Kitchen

Lloyd Architects

Contemporary kitchen in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and panelled appliances.

Morcos

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Photos Courtesy of Sharon Risedorph
This is an example of a modern eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback and stone slab splashback.

Sherwood Custom Homes

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Beach Condo Renovation

Joel Kelly Design

This is an example of a tropical kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets and beige splashback.

Quail Lake

This is an example of a mediterranean u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with raised-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Kitchen 5

Lauren Ostrow Interior Design, Inc

Kitchens
Traditional kitchen in New York with raised-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Kitchen with Dark Wood Cabinets 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!