Light filled kitchen and dining space, with bespoke dining table and featuring Australian artists.
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Rose Bay House

D'Cruz Design Group

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, with island, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Wanneroo Project

Western Cabinets

Custom designed and lacquered slatted curved ends to the overheads add texture and interest to the chalky matte cabinetry The use of existing timber that had been used in other areas of the home, not wanting to waste the beautiful pieces, I incorporated these into the design The kitchen needed a modern transformation, selection of chalky black slabbed doors are carefully considered whilst detailed curved slatted ends bounce natural light, concrete grey matte benches, reflective glass custom coloured back splash and solid timber details creates a beautifully modern industrial elegant interior.

Glebe Kitchen - Front

Matter Design & Make Pty Ltd

Our client approached Matter in late 2019 for a new kitchen. While the existing kitchen had a reasonable layout and some great features, the cupboards weren’t optimising the space to its full potential, particularly for storage. Noting that the old kitchen aged very quickly, our client wanted the new kitchen to be constructed entirely from plywood—liking the appearance and strength of the material. They also loved vibrant use of colour and suggested we look at the kitchens featured in films by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar for inspiration. The result was a playful mix of hand painted navy, light blue and retro orange in combination with a ‘raw’ effect from the birch plywood. To save on cost and waste, we decided to keep certain components of the kitchen that have remained in very good condition. Some of these included the stainless steel bench tops and oven/range hood stack, as well as a polished concrete island bench top. We replaced most of the cupboards with drawer units specifically tailored to fit our client's extensive collection of cookware and appliances with adjustable partitions. An integrated Hideaway rubbish bin free’s up circulation space and a Kesseböhmer pull-out pantry will ensure no bottle of spice is ever lost to the back of a cupboard again.

Bonaventure

Lindon Homes Pty Ltd

Modern Galley Kitchen.
Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Carnegie Residence

Construct Melbourne

Morphing a dreamy combination of raw oak flooring making its way throughout the entirety of the ground floor before meeting the delicate full-height sheer curtains throughout the kitchen, dining and living area in what is the fusion of minimalist sophistication and the ever-changing shadow play of dappled light. Grey veins of solid Dolomite marble meet the otherwise entirely white kitchen to provide a canvas for everyday rituals. Build Construct Melbourne Photography by Simon Shiff Architect Instyle Design

TOWNHOUSE LUXURY IN DULWICH/RESIDANCE 2

Claridge Construction

Design ideas for a large modern galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, red splashback, brick splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation - Abbotsford

Damco Kitchens

Using all available space for storage is key, allowing the design not only to look stunning, but also functional.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, orange splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances and black benchtop.

Completed Projects

All American Renovations

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

New Home in Orefield

Laslo Custom Kitchens, Inc.

Perimeter Hardware Paint Island - Rift White Oak Wood Driftwood Dark Stain
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen and Bathroom renovation, Albemarle County, VA

Weston Construction Company, LLC

Mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, an undermount sink and white benchtop.

Mercer Island Modern

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

Photography by Benjamin Benschneider
Inspiration for a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Rustic Flooring

Duncan Flooring Specialist

Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with white cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets and brown floor.

Daniel Island Drive

Delpino Custom Homes

Photography by Patrick Brickman
This is an example of an expansive country open plan kitchen in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Colonial Road

Thyme & Place Design LLC

This small kitchen packs a powerful punch. By replacing an oversized sliding glass door with a 24" cantilever which created additional floor space. We tucked a large Reid Shaw farm sink with a wall mounted faucet into this recess. A 7' peninsula was added for storage, work counter and informal dining. A large oversized window floods the kitchen with light. The color of the Eucalyptus painted and glazed cabinets is reflected in both the Najerine stone counter tops and the glass mosaic backsplash tile from Oceanside Glass Tile, "Devotion" series. All dishware is stored in drawers and the large to the counter cabinet houses glassware, mugs and serving platters. Tray storage is located above the refrigerator. Bottles and large spices are located to the left of the range in a pull out cabinet. Pots and pans are located in large drawers to the left of the dishwasher. Pantry storage was created in a large closet to the left of the peninsula for oversized items as well as the microwave. Additional pantry storage for food is located to the right of the refrigerator in an alcove. Cooking ventilation is provided by a pull out hood so as not to distract from the lines of the kitchen.

Industrial Kitchen Design Ideas

Everingham Design

Mid-sized industrial galley eat-in kitchen in Columbus with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, brick splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, grey floor and brown benchtop.

Casa "FG" bianco scolpito

MAMESTUDIO | Maria Elena Amori + Matteo Bernardi

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Rome with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, glass sheet splashback, a peninsula and white benchtop.

New Build Family Home - Larder

Ashworth Parkes Architects

Photo Credit: Matthew Smith, http://www.msap.co.uk
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern l-shaped kitchen pantry in Cambridgeshire with open cabinets, brick splashback, ceramic floors and with island.

Jonestown Ranch Farmhouse

Geschke Group Architecture

Tre Dunham
Photo of a large country l-shaped separate kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, brick floors, with island and brick splashback.

GRIFFIN ENRIGHT ARCHITECTS: Santa Monica Canyon Residence

Griffin Enright Architects

A view of floating shelves for pottery collection.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen with Glass Sheet Splashback and Brick Splashback 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!