A generous kitchen island is the work horse of the kitchen providing storage, prep space and socializing space. Alder Shaker style cabinets are paired with beautiful granite countertops. Double wall oven, gas cooktop , exhaust hood and dishwasher by Bosch. Founder depth Trio refrigerator by Kitchen Aid. Microwave drawer by Sharp.

Barrington Waterfront Home

Tuck and Tuck Architects

Shingle style waterfront cottage
Photo of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Providence with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and green benchtop.

Country style kitchen with Verde Khater Granite Splash back and benches

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Expansive country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and green benchtop.

Auburn, Cherry Inset Kitchen

The Muir Showrooms

Dividers in the drawers and pull-outs beneath make a place for everything and everything fits in its place. There used to be a wall and a tiny kitchen table here; the peninsula drastically increases the kitchen's storage capacity and provides generous elbow room for two diners.

Contemporary - kitchen design

Karo and Co Interiors Ltd

Contemporary kitchen design for Studio -office in Central London. The compact space maximised with storage up to ceiling level, beautiful natural stone worktop and splash back, seamless look, with a cut in sink and bespoke natural wood stained wall panelling in ribbon effect. Kitchen lighting incorporated into the units and ceiling beautifully highlighting natural look of kitchen cabinets. Unique and hand picked floor design and tree-branch door handle in aged brass finish perfectly complementing the contemporary look of this kitchen design.

THE SUMMIT

Design Solutions, Richard Banks

Photo of a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige floor and green benchtop.

Craftsman Residence

Inchoate

Photo of a large arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, red floor and green benchtop.

Rancho Cucamonga Home Updated

Joshua J. Phillips Construction

This is an example of a large mediterranean u-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, green benchtop and vaulted.

THE SUMMIT

Design Solutions, Richard Banks

Design ideas for a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, granite splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige floor and green benchtop.

Auburn, Cherry Inset Kitchen

The Muir Showrooms

The microwave is vented to the exterior to serve the new induction range.
Mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and green benchtop.

Mouzaïa

Agence Eléonore Mourier

Photo of a small eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, beige floor and green benchtop.

Ergonomic Chef's Kitchen

McCabe By Design LLC

Failing appliances, poor quality cabinetry, poor lighting and less than ergonomic storage is what precipitated the remodel of this kitchen for a petite chef. The appliances were selected based on the features that would provide maximum accessibility, safety and ergonomics, with a focus on health and wellness. This includes an induction cooktop, electric grill/griddle, side hinged wall oven, side hinged steam oven, warming drawer and counter depth refrigeration. The cabinetry layout with internal convenience hardware (mixer lift, pull-out knife block, pull-out cutting board storage, tray dividers, roll-outs, tandem trash and recycling, and pull-out base pantry) along with a dropped counter on the end of the island with an electrical power strip ensures that the chef can cook and bake with ease with a minimum of bending or need of a step stool, especially when the kids and grandchildren are helping in the kitchen. The new coffee station, tall pantries and relocated island sink allow non-cooks to be in the kitchen without being underfoot. Extending the open shelf soffits provides additional illuminated space to showcase the chef’s extensive collection of M.A. Hadley pottery as well as much needed targeted down lighting over the perimeter countertops. Under cabinet lights provide much needed task lighting. The remodeled kitchen checks a lot of boxes for the chef. There is no doubt who will be hosting family holiday gatherings!

Contemporary - kitchen design

Karo and Co Interiors Ltd

NW Craftsman New Construction

McCabe By Design LLC

Inspiration for a large arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, green splashback, granite splashback, bamboo floors, beige floor, green benchtop and vaulted.

NW Craftsman New Construction

McCabe By Design LLC

Wine and book storage are tucked into the end of the island.
Photo of a large arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, granite splashback, beige floor, green benchtop and vaulted.

NW Craftsman New Construction

McCabe By Design LLC

Ample room for seating provides space for a quick meal or a place to chat with the cook. A Kitchen That Works LLC
Large arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, granite splashback, beige floor, green benchtop and vaulted.

Contemporary - kitchen design

Karo and Co Interiors Ltd

Ergonomic Chef's Kitchen

McCabe By Design LLC

Auburn, Cherry Inset Kitchen

The Muir Showrooms

A custom end panel that matches the doors (Fieldstone Montgomery) provides an elegant finish for the end of the peninsula. The overhang is supported by "stealth" steel braces on top of the cabinets so there is no need for clunky external supports or corbels.

Auburn, Cherry Inset Kitchen

The Muir Showrooms

Custom wainscot panels that match the cabinet doors (Fieldstone Montgomery) show off the beautiful grain of the unstained cherry. The color will darken with time. A light chocolate glaze emphasizes the lines of the raised panels.

Kitchen with Granite Splashback and Green 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!