Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Wollongong with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Pi_Pad

Mcmahon and Nerlich

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.

H St

Design Shop Interiors

Photo of a transitional separate kitchen in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Modern Kitchen Luxury Renovation

Dixon Projects

This modern kitchen features a large center island and an open concept design. The wall cabinets have slab doors with integrated pulls and the island cabinets have white oak veneer with a horizontal grain, stained to match the white oak hardwood floors. The counter is Caesarstone quartz and the back splash is a milk porcelain tile. You'll also find an undermount sink, high arc faucet, Bertazzoni cooktop and hood, a Bosch dishwasher, a Summit wine cooler, an integrated refrigerator, and Bertazzoni double wall ovens. Loft grande black pendant lights and a NanaWall glass door system complete this space.

Hudson Heights Residence

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Alyssa Kirsten
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and light hardwood floors.

Hurlingham Road

Delve Architects

Whole house refurbishment, completed as part of De Rosee Sa Architects
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Point Hayden Renovation

XACT Interiors

Painted "Modern Gray" cabinets, Quartz stone, custom steel pot rack. Hubbarton Forge Lights, Thermador appliances.
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and coffered.

Best in American Living Winner: Caruthers

Frankel Design Build

Inspiration for an expansive transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

The Kelso

JayMarc Homes

The Kelso's Kitchen boasts a beautiful combination of modern and rustic elements. The black cabinet and drawer hardware, along with the brass and gold kitchen faucets, add a touch of sophistication and elegance. The French oak hardwood floors lend a warm and inviting atmosphere to the space, complemented by the sleek gray cabinets and the stunning gray quartz countertop. The matte black pendant lighting fixtures create a bold statement, while the metal counter stools add a contemporary flair. The mosaic backsplash and white subway tile provide a timeless and classic backdrop to the kitchen's design. With white walls and a wood shroud, the overall aesthetic is balanced and harmonious, creating a space that is both functional and visually appealing.

Triple external steel doors with triangular fix

Perla Windows Ltd

A quite magnificent use of slimline steel profiles was used to design this stunning kitchen extension. 3 large format double doors and a fix triangular window fitted with solar glass.

Home in Hampton Lake

Coastal Signature Homes

This open kitchen, making the best use of space, features a wet bar combo coffee nook with a wine cooler and a Miele Built In Coffee machine. Nice!
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

This is an example of a transitional kitchen in Houston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Modern Montecito, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Deer Hollow Drive Napa CA

Jane Ellison

“With the open-concept floor plan, this kitchen needed to have a galley layout,” Ellison says. A large island helps delineate the kitchen from the other rooms around it. These include a dining area directly behind the kitchen and a living room to the right of the dining room. This main floor also includes a small TV lounge, a powder room and a mudroom. The house sits on a slope, so this main level enjoys treehouse-like canopy views out the back. The bedrooms are on the walk-out lower level.“These homeowners liked grays and neutrals, and their style leaned contemporary,” Ellison says. “They also had a very nice art collection.” The artwork is bright and colorful, and a neutral scheme provided the perfect backdrop for it. They also liked the idea of using durable laminate finishes on the cabinetry. The laminates have the look of white oak with vertical graining. The galley cabinets are lighter and warmer, while the island has the look of white oak with a gray wash for contrast. The countertops and backsplash are polished quartzite. The quartzite adds beautiful natural veining patterns and warm tones to the room.

Columbia, TN Custom Home

Noble Johnson Architects

Architecture: Noble Johnson Architects Interior Design: Rachel Hughes - Ye Peddler Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Design ideas for a large transitional galley kitchen pantry in Nashville with an undermount sink, metallic splashback, stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Newport

Elton R Construction

The open-concept of space keeps the house feeling free and bright! Dark cabinets with a built-in fridge are offset by a bright quartz island with double waterfall edges.

Prairie Provincial Remodel

Vivid Interior Design - Danielle Loven

Photography: Alyssa Lee Photography
Photo of a large transitional kitchen in Minneapolis with quartz benchtops, with island, white benchtop, marble splashback, an integrated sink, glass-front cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, light hardwood floors and grey cabinets.

Sherwood Mid Century Ranch

Northland Design & Build

Design ideas for a country l-shaped kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Modern Craftsman

Sogno Design Group

Michele Lee Wilson
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Park Slope Townhouse Renovation

Studio Geiger Architecture

Allyson Lubow
Inspiration for a large transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Kitchen with Grey Cabinets and Light Hardwood Floors 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!