Photo of a large contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Casa Bungan

Ryan Thomas

Casa Bungan - Open plan kitchen.
This is an example of an expansive mediterranean galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, stone tile splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor, blue benchtop and exposed beam.

Lisa Valley Close

DMC Kitchens & Joinery

Photo of a mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Woollahra Project

Blue Tea Kitchens and Bathrooms

A stained timber oak veneer kitchen with beautiful details including railings, antique brass handles, double bullnose edge to the island and splash back, and curved stone island. New curved steel doors were also designed and installed.

Refined Oak and Stone

M. Swabb Interior Design

Refined Oak & Stone kitchen renovation, nestled near Rancho Santa Fe. This stunning kitchen features rift-cut white oak cabinets, sleek black accents, and timeless Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash. Perfect for those seeking a modern yet refined aesthetic, this design blends natural warmth with sophisticated elements. The spacious layout and meticulous craftsmanship make it an ideal example of luxury kitchen design in San Diego. If you’re looking for inspiration or a high-end kitchen remodel, the Refined Oak & Stone project is a showcase of excellence in materials and design. Whether you want custom cabinetry, premium stone surfaces, or a sleek, contemporary feel, this kitchen renovation highlights the best in modern kitchen design.

Sunflower House

Anthro Architecture

View from the kitchen space to the fully openable bi-folding doors and the sunny garden beyond. A perfect family space for life by the sea. The yellow steel beam supports the opening to create the new extension and allows for the formation of the large rooflight above.

Oh What A Ceiling!

Green Sheep Collective

‘Oh What A Ceiling!’ ingeniously transformed a tired mid-century brick veneer house into a suburban oasis for a multigenerational family. Our clients, Gabby and Peter, came to us with a desire to reimagine their ageing home such that it could better cater to their modern lifestyles, accommodate those of their adult children and grandchildren, and provide a more intimate and meaningful connection with their garden. The renovation would reinvigorate their home and allow them to re-engage with their passions for cooking and sewing, and explore their skills in the garden and workshop.

Lloyd Park Extension

Studio Fabbri

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, pink splashback, black appliances, with island, grey floor, an integrated sink, light wood cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, ceramic splashback, linoleum floors, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Full House Renovation - Mermaid Waters

Verto Kitchens

Contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam, timber and vaulted.

Weerona House

Demardi.

This Kitchen was relocated from the middle of the home to the north end. Four steel trusses were installed as load-bearing walls and beams had to be removed to accommodate for the floorplan changes. There is now an open Kitchen/Butlers/Dining/Living upstairs that is drenched in natural light with the most undisturbed view this location has to offer. A warm and inviting space with oversized windows, gorgeous joinery, a curved micro cement island benchtop with timber cladding, gold tapwear and layered lighting throughout to really enhance this beautiful space.

Wine Country Luxury

Sarahliz Lawson Design

This is an example of a transitional galley kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Sparrowwood

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

For this space we used light gray base cabinets (Gray Owl) and white (Steam) uppers/fridge wall cabinetry. The Crate and Barrel Nolan pendants draw your eyes up to the ceiling where we installed hand hewn wood beams with a custom stain applied. For the flooring, we used Mixwax Rustic Beige.

Classic Traditional

Distinctive Drywall & Painting

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and exposed beam.

R+S

Taylor + Taylor

Midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, blue splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation

Herron Horton Architects, Inc.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.
This is an example of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Little Rock with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, white benchtop, exposed beam, vaulted, flat-panel cabinets and brown floor.

Cabinet Organization & Storage - Bread Drawer

Urbana Design Studio

Cabinet Organization & Storage - Bread Drawer
Mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Moody Kitchen and Mudroom design: Cabinets, Countertops, Hardware, Flooring

The Lifestyle Lab

Moody Elegance: A Warm and Inviting Forest Green Kitchen & Mudroom Step into a home that perfectly blends elegance and functionality with a sophisticated palette. Forest green cabinetry sets the stage for a space that feels both moody and welcoming, while thoughtfully placed accents infuse it with a touch of transitional charm. Key Features: Forest Green Cabinetry: Deep, rich forest green cabinets create an eye-catching focal point that exudes elegance and depth. This timeless color adds a sense of sophistication while being versatile enough to suit a transitional style. Warm and Inviting Details: Natural wood accents, like a wood butcher block in the kitchen, built-in bench or floating shelves, balance the deep green and bring warmth to the space. This combination creates an inviting atmosphere perfect for busy comings and goings. Pops of Color: Accents like decorative pillows, a vase of fresh flowers, or colorful storage baskets add subtle splashes of color to contrast with the cabinetry and liven up the space. These touches make the mudroom feel more personalized and engaging. Elegant Hardware: Brass or matte gold hardware lends an upscale touch, elevating the design and enhancing the warmth of the forest green cabinetry. Functional and Stylish Flooring: Rich walnut wood floor in to add visual interest and a sense of luxury, without overpowering the cabinetry. Lighting That Glows: Layered lighting, such as a statement pendant light or recessed LED strips, casts a warm glow throughout the space, enhancing its welcoming feel while maintaining a moody, elegant ambiance. This moody yet warm design is perfectly balanced sophistication with practicality. With its elegant forest green cabinetry, pops of color, and transitional elements, it becomes more than just a functional space—it becomes an extension of your home’s refined style.

Transitional Kitchen Renovation in Washington, DC

BOWA

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and recessed-panel cabinets.

Sparrowwood

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Pocket doors on cabinets are a great way to have your high use areas readily accessible while still having the option to close them off for a decluttered look.

Terrell Hills Mid Century Modern Project

Haven Design and Construction

In the kitchen, which was recently remodeled by the previous owners, we wanted to keep as many of the newer elements (that were just purchased) as possible. However, we did also want to incorporate some new MCM wood accents back into the space to tie it to the living room, dining room and breakfast areas. We added all new walnut cabinets on the refrigerator wall, which balances the new geometric wood accent wall in the breakfast area. We also incorporated new quartz countertops, new streamlined plumbing fixtures and new lighting fixtures to add modern MCM appeal. In addition, we added a geometric marble backsplash and diamond shaped cabinet hardware at the bar and on some of the kitchen drawers.

Kitchen with Exposed Beam 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!