Large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Bighorn Palm Desert modern home luxury outdoor terrace kitchen bar

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert modern home luxury outdoor terrace kitchen bar. Photo by William MacCollum.
Photo of an expansive modern galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Modern Spanish

Cdot Design Studio

Photo of an open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Pi_Pad

Mcmahon and Nerlich

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Green with Envy

Yancy Interior Design

This is an example of a large traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Green BoHo Kitchen

Kimberly Barr Interior Design

Large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Woodland Heights Houston

Haven Design and Construction

This crisp white kitchen is both charming and inviting. The natural light in this home floods each room with warmth. Casual white dishes are visible through glass cabinetry and woven barstools add a relaxed feel.

Appliance Garage with Pocket Doors

Urbana Design Studio

This appliance garage hides the small appliances behind pocket doors.
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen remodel Windsor Park

Green Bay Remodeling

Farm house sink, Wooden cabinets and hardwood flooring. Mixing Contemporary design with rustic finishes, this galley kitchen gives off a modern feel while still maintaining a Western décor.

Palka Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | Lebanon, Ohio

Flooret

Warm, light, and inviting with characteristic knot vinyl floors that bring a touch of wabi-sabi to every room. This rustic maple style is ideal for Japanese and Scandinavian-inspired spaces.

Aliso Viejo- Hollyleaf

Streamline Construction

This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Boise Passive House

User

To ensure peak performance, the Boise Passive House utilized triple-pane glazing with the A5 aluminum window, Air-Lux Sliding door, and A7 swing door. Each product brings dynamic efficiency, further affirming an air-tight building envelope. The increased air-seals, larger thermal breaks, argon-filled glazing, and low-E glass, may be standard features for the Glo Series but they provide exceptional performance just the same. Furthermore, the low iron glass and slim frame profiles provide clarity and increased views prioritizing overall aesthetics despite their notable efficiency values.

Cliffside Farmhouse

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Kitchen - Elizabeth

Tailored Designs

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Charlotte with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Kitchen Design - Piedmont, CA

Story & Space Interior Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

MAC House - Kitchen

Davide Gratteri Architetto

La Cucina: qui i protagonisti sono materiali e colori, dal top in gres effetto marmo di piano e penisola, al legno massello del tavolo, alle due tonalità di grigio della cucina su misura, in un deciso contrasto cromatico con il pavimento in gres effetto legno, connubio perfetto di tradizione e modernità.

Columbus Town Home

Schrock's Woodworking

Farrow & Ball "Hay" Carrara Marble counters, backsplash, and shelf
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Columbus with shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Columbus Town Home

Schrock's Woodworking

Farrow & Ball "Hay" Carrara Marble counters, backsplash, and shelf
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Columbus with shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

THE PICTURE HOUSE, BALHAM

NOTO Architects

Featuring a handmade, hand-painted kitchen, with marble surfaces and warm metal tones throughout.
Design ideas for a large transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in London with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Arcadia Lights

AFT Construction

Inspiration for a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Kitchen with Glass Sheet Splashback and Marble 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!