Photo of a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

South Bend

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

These homeowners wanted an updated look for their kitchen while still having a similar style to the rest of the home. We love how it turned out!
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Raleigh with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and exposed beam.

13 Palms Project

Canopy Signature Homes

Design ideas for a beach style kitchen in Jacksonville with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

Mid-sized midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Cozy Limestone Cottage

Tailored Spaces, Natalie Spiniolas

Keeping all the warmth and tradition of this cottage in the newly renovated space.
Mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, limestone splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Rift White Oak Beaded inset

Wende Woodworking LLC

Integrated fridge/freezer Subzero units with bi-pass swinging door into walk in pantry.
Design ideas for a large traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

A l'usine

WOM DESIGN

Rénovation, agencement et décoration d’une ancienne usine transformée en un loft de 250 m2 réparti sur 3 niveaux. Les points forts : Association de design industriel avec du mobilier vintage La boîte buanderie Les courbes et lignes géométriques valorisant les espaces Crédit photo © Bertrand Fompeyrine

Mid-century Kitchen with a Modern Rustic Appeal

Amazing Spaces

The existing kitchen was separated from the family room by a 17’ long bookcase. It was the first thing you saw upon entering and it hid much of the light and views to the backyard making the space feel claustrophobic. The laundry room was part of the kitchen space without any attempt to conceal the washer and dryer. Removing the long bookcase opened the opportunity to add counter stools in the kitchen and decided to align a target wall opposite the front door to help maintain some division within the main space while creating a space for the refrigerator. This also allowed us to create an open laundry room concept that would be hidden from view from all other areas. We kept the industrial feel of the exposed building materials, which we complimented with textured melamine slab doors for the new kitchen cabinets. We maintained the galley set up but defined the kitchen from the utility area by changing both thickness and color of the countertop materials. Because the back of the house is mainly windows, there was very little wall space for upper cabinets and everyday dish storage. We designed a custom ceiling hung shelf system that floats in front of the windows, and is mostly out of view from the sitting area. Tall cabinets are installed along the only available wall to support both kitchen and laundry room functions. We used cable lighting threaded through the beams which really punctuates the industrial aesthetic.

Kitchen

Great Rooms Building Group

Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and white splashback.

Lauren Smyth Residence

User

Lauren Smyth designs over 80 spec homes a year for Alturas Homes! Last year, the time came to design a home for herself. Having trusted Kentwood for many years in Alturas Homes builder communities, Lauren knew that Brushed Oak Whisker from the Plateau Collection was the floor for her! She calls the look of her home ‘Ski Mod Minimalist’. Clean lines and a modern aesthetic characterizes Lauren's design style, while channeling the wild of the mountains and the rivers surrounding her hometown of Boise.

Dora Whitley Farmhouse

The Kingston Group - Remodeling Specialists

Design ideas for a mid-sized country u-shaped separate kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, yellow floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Projet de rénovation complète d’un appartement à Saint Jean de Luz

Joanna

This is an example of a small contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Montclair Sanctuary

Tina Montemayor Design

Design ideas for a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Bayfield Ranch

Candent Design

Custom kitchen with pass through window to outdoor covered deck.
Mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

North Oaks - Traditional Pantry Addition

Michels Homes

Builder: Michels Homes Design: Megan Dent, Studio M Kitchen & Bath
Photo of a large traditional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, beige benchtop and exposed beam.

Arrowhead Farmhouse

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

With expansive fields and beautiful farmland surrounding it, this historic farmhouse celebrates these views with floor-to-ceiling windows from the kitchen and sitting area. Originally constructed in the late 1700’s, the main house is connected to the barn by a new addition, housing a master bedroom suite and new two-car garage with carriage doors. We kept and restored all of the home’s existing historic single-pane windows, which complement its historic character. On the exterior, a combination of shingles and clapboard siding were continued from the barn and through the new addition.

Traditionl Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

Design ideas for a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Norcross Kitchen Remodel

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

Changed the appliance location and added faux wood beams
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Floor to Ceiling Maple Book Matched Cabinets in White Quartz Kitchen

MAK Design + Build Inc.

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Natural Elegance - Custom Home

Cuthbertson Homes

Country eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and exposed beam.

All Cabinet Finishes 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!