Design ideas for a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Burlington with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, a peninsula and green floor.

Eastport Victorian Kitchen

Tina Colebrook Architect

The existing quirky floor plan of this 17 year old kitchen created 4 work areas and left no room for a proper laundry and utility room. We actually made this kitchen smaller to make it function better. We took the cramped u-shaped area that housed the stove and refrigerator and walled it off to create a new more generous laundry room with room for ironing & sewing. The now rectangular shaped kitchen was reoriented by installing new windows with higher sills we were able to line the exterior wall with cabinets and counter, giving the sink a nice view to the side yard. To create the Victorian look the owners desired in their 1920’s home, we used wall cabinets with inset doors and beaded panels, for economy the base cabinets are full overlay doors & drawers all in the same finish, Nordic White. The owner selected a gorgeous serene white river granite for the counters and we selected a taupe glass subway tile to pull the palette together. Another special feature of this kitchen is the custom pocket dog door. The owner’s had a salvaged door that we incorporated in a pocket in the peninsula to corale the dogs when the owner aren’t home. Tina Colebrook

Modern Kitchen

Molly Bachelor Architect

photography by Jeff Garland
Photo of a mid-sized modern separate kitchen in Detroit with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, a peninsula, black floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Cedar

Peak Ventures Fine Custom Homes

Our client planned to spend more time in this home and wanted to increase its livability. The project was complicated by the strata-specified deadline for exterior work, the logistics of working in an occupied strata complex, and the need to minimize the impact on surrounding neighbours. By reducing the deck space, removing the hot tub, and moving out the dining room wall, we were able to add important livable space inside. Our homeowners were thrilled to have a larger kitchen. The additional 500 square feet of living space integrated seamlessly into the existing architecture. This award-winning home features reclaimed fir flooring (from the Stanley Park storm), and wood-cased sliding doors in the dining room, that allow full access to the outdoor balcony with its exquisite views. Green building products and processes were used extensively throughout the renovation, which resulted in a modern, highly-efficient, and beautiful home.

Harris Kitchen

JOHN EADON

The Harris Kitchen uses our slatted cabinet design which draws on contemporary shaker and vernacular country but with a modern rustic feel. This design lends itself beautifully to both freestanding or fitted furniture and can be used to make a wide range of freestanding pieces such as larders, dressers and islands. This Kitchen is made from English Character Oak and custom finished with a translucent sage coloured Hard Wax Oil which we mixed in house, and has the effect of a subtle wash of colour without detracting from the character, tonal variations and warmth of the wood. This is a brilliant hardwearing, natural and breathable finish which is water and stain resistant, food safe and easy to maintain. The slatted cabinet design was originally inspired by old vernacular freestanding kitchen furniture such as larders and meat safes with their simple construction and good airflow which helped store food and provisions in a healthy and safe way, vitally important before refrigeration. These attributes are still valuable today although rarely used in modern cabinetry, and the Slat Cabinet series does this with very narrow gaps between the slats in the doors and cabinet sides. Emily & Greg commissioned this kitchen for their beautiful old thatched cottage in Warwickshire. The kitchen it was replacing was out dated, didn't use the space well and was not fitted sympathetically to the space with its old uneven walls and low beamed ceilings. A carefully considered cupboard and drawer layout ensured we maximised their storage space, increasing it from before, whilst opening out the space and making it feel less cramped. The cabinets are made from Oak veneered birch and poplar core ply with solid oak frames, panels and doors. The main cabinet drawers are dovetailed and feature Pippy/Burr Oak fronts with Sycamore drawer boxes, whilst the two Larders have slatted Oak crate drawers for storage of vegetables and dry goods, along with spice racks shelving and automatic concealed led lights. The wall cabinets and shelves also have a continuous strip of dotless led lighting concealed under the front edge, providing soft light on the worktops.

Irvine: White Kitchen with Built-in Desk

Pacific Coast Custom Design

For this kitchen remodel we used custom maple cabinets in a swiss coffee finish with a coordinating dark maple island with beautiful custom finished end panels and posts. The countertops are Cambria Summerhill quartz and the backsplash is a combination of honed and polished Carrara marble. We designed a terrific custom built-in desk with 2 work stations.

Kitchen Transformation

Charles Vincent George Architects, Inc.

Hinsdale, IL kitchen renovation by Charles Vincent George Architects
Transitional eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, multiple islands, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Cabinets

Rawls-Goodman Custom Cabinets

Design ideas for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, black cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Best Builders ltd

photographer: Ema Peter
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, matchstick tile splashback, slate floors and with island.

beautiful kitchen projects

Tri-County Design Center

Photo of a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances, with island, black floor, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, matchstick tile splashback, slate floors and grey benchtop.

Condo Renovation

GROUND UP CONSTRUCTING

Ground Up Constructing
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, a peninsula, black floor and white benchtop.

Lake Contemporary

Medinger Design Studio

This modern contemporary home resides over a serene Wisconsin lake. The interior incorporates 3 generous bedrooms, 3 full baths, large open concept kitchen, dining area, and family room. The exterior has a combination of integrated lower and upper decks to fully capture the natural beauty of the site. Co-design - Davis Design Studio, LLC

Greenwich Village townhouse

JMC Studio

Photos by Ngoc Minh Ngo
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional galley separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Tradewinds

Marc Rutenberg Homes

Marc Rutenberg Homes
This is an example of a small transitional single-wall separate kitchen in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, slate floors and no island.

Menlo Park Modern

Moderna Homes, Inc.

Mid-sized modern kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island and grey floor.

Arts & Crafts Mission Kitchen Teaneck, NJ Kitchen Maple Cabinets

SUBURBAN CABINETS

Maple kitchen cabinets
This is an example of a large arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Eastport Victorian Kitchen

Tina Colebrook Architect

South Lake WA Remodel

Soundesign Group Architects, PLLC

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts galley open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, slate splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, a peninsula, multi-coloured floor and black benchtop.

Atlantic Black Brushed Island and Blue Flowers granite countertop

Onyx Marble and Granite

David Fox
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, multiple islands, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and grey floor.

Ski Retreat

WillowRidge Construction

Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, a peninsula and black floor.

Kitchen with Grey Splashback and Slate 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!