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.

Hill House

Kaiko Design Interiors

Kitchen design - Navy base cabinets with timber cabinets above. Black met arch with polished Venetian plaster finish. Handmade tiles to splash back . Curved island bench with wicker counter stools. Hardwood floor.

Northcote House

Into interior design

Large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in London with an integrated sink, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Open concept kitchen

Vicki Simon Interior Design

Open concept kitchen created, eliminating upper cabinets, honoring rounded front entry to house. Rounded forms on shelf ends and vintage 70s Pierre Cardin brass stools. Butcher block island top is heavily used for prep surface.

North Tustin - Addition and Remodel

Pacific Coast Builders, Inc.

Modern Farmhouse kitchen with shaker style cabinet doors and black drawer pull hardware. White Oak floating shelves with LED underlighting over beautiful, Cambria Quartz countertops. The subway tiles were custom made and have what appears to be a texture from a distance, but is actually a herringbone pattern in-lay in the glaze. Wolf brand gas range and oven, and a Wolf steam oven on the left. Rustic black wall scones and large pendant lights over the kitchen island. Brizo satin brass faucet with Kohler undermount rinse sink. Photo by Molly Rose Photography

Numéro 20 - Rue GC

Otcho Studio

Design ideas for a contemporary galley separate kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, green splashback, brick floors, with island, red floor and white benchtop.

Sussex Street Apartment

GRO Architects

Ryan Dausch
This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, a peninsula, an undermount sink, green splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, grey floor, soapstone benchtops and porcelain floors.

Beverly Hills Cottage

Alison Kandler Interior Design

Bret Gum for Cottages and Bungalows
This is an example of a large transitional kitchen in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, white appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Hale and Hearty Kitchen

Spaces Into Places LLC

This builder-basic space was crying out for an update. Keeping the terracotta floors, we added Hale Navy base cabinets and basil handmade tile to create a crisp, happy hub for this home.

2017 Trending Colors

Finstad's Carpet One

This contemporary kitchen balances muted grey''s with pops of dark red and white for a sleek and versatile kitchen. Complete with grey hex back-splash tile and gorgeous, dark grey floor tiles, this style creates a contemporary masterpiece! Hex back-splash and large tile flooring available at Finstad's Carpet One in Helena, MT. *All colors and styles may not always be available.

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Coastal Luxe style kitchen in our Cremorne project features cabinetry in Dulux Blue Rapsody and Snowy Mountains Quarter, and timber veneer in Planked Oak.

Fire Island Colorful Eclectic Kitchen

HT Home Design

The wall was removed to open the kitchen into the main living area.
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sacramento with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Waterfront Cottage

b Architecture Studio

Photo of a beach style l-shaped kitchen pantry in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

North Tustin - Addition and Remodel

Pacific Coast Builders, Inc.

Surrey Family Home

Katy M Interiors

This fun and bright family kitchen looks great in this recently extended property. The splashback really adds an element of fun to this kitchen space and the brass handles and tap look great against the blue units.

Guilford Kitchen, 2020

ADR Builders, Ltd.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Legno e colore per la nuova casa - progetto in corso

Liadesign

Liadesign
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Milan with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Unionville Addition and Rejuvenation

Master Edge Homes

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Tortuga Beach House

KBG Design

By What Shanni Saw
Photo of a large beach style single-wall open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, green splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Holistic Home Renovation

K Squared Builders - Dale Kramer

Holistic Home Renovation -Series 5: "The Kitchen" (See 2-24 Post for full description) Hard to believe when looking at this inviting yet spacious kitchen, that it's predecessor was small, dark and awkward. We ripped out walls, bumped-out 4', added windows and totally reconfigured the layout. Two sinks, 2 dishwashers, chef-ready Wolf range, one-of-a-kind Vent-a-hood custom hood with brass accents, Subzero fridge, elegant furniture-grade cabinetry, Statuary Classique Quartz countertops, Grothouse wood bar and island tops, Dynasty Omega custom cabinetry with soothing Blue Lagoon accent paint are just some of the great features.

Kitchen with Blue Cabinets and Green 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!