Midcentury kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

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.

Outer Richmond Residence

James Hill Architect, AIA

Architect: James Hill Architecture Photo credit: James Zhou
Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and glass sheet splashback.

Modern Black and White Kitchen in Fairfax, VA

USA Cabinet Store Fairfax

Design ideas for a large modern galley open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, marble floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

New Home With Great Room Kitchen and Cambria Ironsbridge Quartz Surfaces

Village Home Stores

A new home built by Hazelwood Builders on the Quad Cities in Coal Valley, IL. The kitchen features Koch Classic Cabinetry in the Bristol door painted Ivory with a Birch Java island. Stainless Steel KitchenAid appliances, Cambria Quartz Ironsbridge countertops, and seedy glass matte black pendants are also featured. Also included in this album: a home bar area, laundry room, lighting, window treatments, and a stunning primary bath.

Red Bud

Soledad Builders, LLC

Sleek MCM kitchen with walnut cabinets and gorgeous white Quartzite countertops.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Macapa Drive

LOPEZ ARCHITECTS AIA

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Danville Hilltop Hideaway

Ridgecrest Designs

Situated at the top of the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Park in Danville, this mid-century modern hilltop home had great architectural features, but needed a kitchen update that spoke to the design style of the rest of the house. We would have to say this project was one of our most challenging when it came to blending the mid-century style of the house with a more eclectic and modern look that the clients were drawn to. But who doesn't love a good challenge? We removed the builder-grade cabinetry put in by a previous owner and took down a wall to open up the kitchen to the rest of the great room. The kitchen features a custom designed hood as well as custom cabinetry with an intricate beaded details that sets it apart from all of our other cabinetry designs. The pop of blue paired with the dark walnut creates an eye catching contrast. Ridgecrest also designed and fabricated solid steel wall cabinetry to store countertop appliances and display dishes and glasses. The copper accents on the range and faucets bring the design full circle and finish this gorgeous one-of-a-kind-kitchen off nicely.

Boldly Black & White

Atwood: Fine Architectural Cabinetry

This boldly black and white kitchen boasts everything contemporary from cabinetry to countertop to fixtures to lighting and decor. No details forgotten in this simple yet highly functional layout of a kitchen that works. A part of the main living area, the kitchen design is integral to the overall space.

Chelsea New York Co-op renovation

reBuild Workshop

Open kitchen with counter and peninsula with bar.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop and coffered.

MAYAK FLAT

FLATFORFOX

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in Moscow with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, no island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Running Dog Residence

Studio Architects

Photo of a scandinavian galley kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Crystal Bay Retreat

Alexander Design Group, Inc.

Photo of a contemporary eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Contemporain Cuisine

Photo of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Marseille with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

View from Kitchen into Living Room

ODS Architecture

Looking from the kitchen to the living room, floor to ceiling windows connect the house to the surrounding landscape. The board-formed concrete wall and stained oak emphasize natural materials and the house's connection to it's site.

Calabasas Kitchen Remodel

ae design

Modern kitchen design by AE Design
Design ideas for a modern galley kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Bold and Beautiful

Kustom Home Design

Backsplash with high gloss linear tiles with a bold blue color set in a chevron pattern. Thermador gas cooktop with custom XO vented hood. MSI "Calacatta Leon" quartz countertop. Painted flat panel cabinets using Benjamin Moore "Simply White". Island countertop is Cambria "Islington" and paint color is Benjamin Moore "Deep Royal". Light fixtures are Quoizel architect pendants in western bronze.

Riverstone Studio

Pedini NW

This goal of this studio condo remodel was to make the space feel like a high-end hotel suite. This condo is the client's city place - their home away from home and they wanted it to feel like a luxury escape. The walnut and white matte lacquer cabinets provide a crisp, yet warm and cozy feel in the space. The walnut bath vanity is a perfect contrast to the clean white walls and tile.

Whispering Meadows XX

Glas Associates

A classic, bright kitchen with white cabinets and white tiled backsplash, glass pendant lighting, a curved gathering island with butcher block end, and ample mixed storage.

Eichler Feel Home

Carmit Oron Interior Design

This is an example of a midcentury galley kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, timber and vaulted.

Kitchen with Flat-panel Cabinets and White Benchtop 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!