Large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, quartzite benchtops, multiple islands, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Coxs Lane, Lane Cove - Kitchen

Papallo Kitchens

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Laëtitia & Christophe - A la montagne

Lily Cuisines & Cie

Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Nantes with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, a peninsula, grey floor, black benchtop, black splashback and granite splashback.

Home Remodel with Modern Artistic Flare

Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors

New to the area, this client wanted to modernize and clean up this older 1980's home on one floor covering 3500 sq ft. on the golf course. Clean lines and a neutral material palette blends the home into the landscape, while careful craftsmanship gives the home a clean and contemporary appearance. We first met the client when we were asked to re-design the client future kitchen. The layout was not making any progress with the architect, so they asked us to step and give them a hand. The outcome is wonderful, full and expanse kitchen. The kitchen lead to assisting the client throughout the entire home. We were also challenged to meet the clients desired design details but also to meet a certain budget number. Glad your enjoying the project. The light fixture over the island is Asteria LED Pendant Lightby Soren Ravn Christensen from UMAGE The windows are from Pella

Flour and sugar bins in lower cabinet drawer

APEX Design Build

Photo of a mid-sized traditional galley separate kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, multi-coloured floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen breakfast bar

User

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Canberra - Queanbeyan with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets, no island and brown floor.

Villa L & L

Stephanie Prince Interior Design

My Day With, Catherine Gailloud Suspension Gantlights
Design ideas for a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, timber splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors, black benchtop, a peninsula and beige floor.

Projekt H1 | Offenes Wohnen

SieMatic - moebelplus Deutschland GmbH & Co KG

Fotograf: René Jungnickel
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Leipzig with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, a peninsula, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Petrie

KITCHEN CREATIONS LTD

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, turquoise cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Изумрудный замок

4room

Photo of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, brown splashback, a peninsula, beige cabinets, white floor and brown benchtop.

Industrial Style dank passender Accessoires

Neue Räume - Die Küchen Schreiner

Glänzende Hängelampen, schwarze Barhocker und die Kombination von Stahl, Holz und schlichten weißen Fronten erhält diese minimalistsich designte Küche einen industriell angehauchten Style, der voll im Trend ist.

Giddy Up!

Kimball Modern Design + Interiors

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Organic Modern

Atwood: Fine Architectural Cabinetry

Organic Modern kitchen in cabinetry combination of Natural Bamboo Veneer with black glaze and Charcoal paint grade slab doors. Sleek waterfall countertop integrated with Bamboo Veneer bar seating.

Hilltop Road

Dichotomy Interiors

warm white oak and blackened oak custom crafted kitchen with zellige tile and quartz countertops.
Photo of a large midcentury open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Toorak Gardens

Space Craft Joinery

Jonathan VDK
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island and multi-coloured floor.

Bluff House Kitchen, void

Auhaus Architecture

Bluff House kitchen. Photography: Auhaus Architecture
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

Amazing Spaces

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

East Hampton 5

Kevin O'Sullivan + Associates

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured 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.

Bloomer Rustic

Lampert Lumber

This is an example of a mid-sized country open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, with island, an undermount sink, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, grey benchtop, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Kitchen with Flat-panel 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!