What a fun yet challenging project. After numerous space plan options, we've finally decided on removing a wall and switching it out with cabinetry that is functional for a kitchen and the dining area. We've added a peninsula at a 120 degree corner to expand the working surface, add bar seating and still keep the space open and inviting from adjoining spaces. Blueberry oak cabinets with satin brass hardware are balanced out with white quartz countertop and gray uppers. Wide plank vinyl helped keep this space masculine and formal while the stairs add a softer touch that's being complimented by warm tone furniture. To tie in warmth and masculinity, we've opted for custom miter-cut shelves in the corner. Windows give us great light and a corner cabinet can block a lot of it out, so floating shelves seemed most appropriate (no visible hardware). With a lot of material and colors, space still seems cohesive and inviting. Very formal, yet ready to be used for entertaining and day to day living. Hale Production Studios

Sligo Bayou House Kitchen Remodel

Ashleys Building and Construction, LLC.

Design ideas for a small country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

North York Kitchen and Dining Area Remodel

Sosna Inc

Inspiration for a large modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Avon Interior Project

Adeas Interior Design LLC

Expansive transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cleveland with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, a farmhouse sink, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, metal splashback, vinyl floors and white benchtop.

A Very Pretty Kitchen Remodel

Bella Vista Developments

Photos: D & M Images
This is an example of a small contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island and grey floor.

Kitchen Seating- ROUND STOOLS

Seating Innovations

Beautiful clean, simple, white kitchen cabinets. Love the accent of the black pendant lights, and swing out barstools that are always in place!
Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, brick splashback, black appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and coffered.

Clubhouse

Seacliff Construction & Design

This was a top-to-bottom remodel. By opening up the kitchen walls, expanding the great room, and adding patio doors to the master bedroom, we did more than update this beach home for modern living. We also highlighted the home's best feature — breathtaking views of the ocean. "One of the things we that really liked about working with Len and the team is that they would always listen to what we were asking to have done and help us understand how it could be done. But they would also share with us great ideas about other things that we could do. And oftentimes we definitely went the direction that they suggested." — Al & Eileen, homeowners

ULTIMO - Rockaway in White and Graphite on Maple

Tuscan Hills Cabinetry

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in New York with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, brown floor, a drop-in sink, marble benchtops, vinyl floors, with island, white benchtop and timber.

Kambah Dual Occupancy - House 1

Studio Black Interiors

Kambah Dual Occupancy - House 1, Kitchen. Pale grey joinery paired with a white stone benchtops, grey mosaic kit kat tiles and black fixtures. Interior design and styling by Studio Black Interiors Build by REP Building

Smooth Moves

CARNEMARK design + build

Tired of their dated kitchen, the owners of this suburban colonial were eager for a contemporary update with more pantry space, better organization, and performance appliances. Monochromatic cabinetry in matte white lacquer set the sleek new vibe. Not even handles interrupt the flow, as cabinet channels and push-to-open hardware uphold the minimalist look. Soft gray sintered stone (named “Zaha” after architect Zaha Hadid) cover the island’s slim counter and sink wall backsplash. Photo credit: Anice Hoachlander

Chef's Kitchen

Function and Form Interiors

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, multiple islands, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Recessed corner sink cabinet, with a low-divide sink set in Montgomery counter

Bay Area Kitchens

http://www.bayareakitchens.com This special recessed corner cabinet provides more comfortable use of the corner sink. The innovative low-divide sink provides two bowls while also offering the ability to soak large pans and even grill grates!

Silver Ridge

Artisan Kitchens & Renovations Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Calgary with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors and with island.

Timeless White Kitchen | Bloomington, MN

White Birch Design, LLC

Timeless White Kitchen perfectly describes this beautiful remodel we completed over the winter. The original kitchen had 1970's dark oak cabinets with laminate countertops and backsplash. The shape of the kitchen was a U-Shape with upper cabinets over the peninsula, which made the kitchen feel dark and cut off from the rest of the home. For this remodel, took out the U-shape and gave them an L-shaped kitchen instead, giving them extra countertop to the right of the sink. To make up for the storage lost in the upper cabinets and peninsula, we designed a movable island, which could be added on as peninsula piece, an island in the center of the kitchen, or off to the side to allow for extra walking space. We love the functionality of just this piece! The cabinets are flat panel doors and drawers and painted antique white - so beautiful! The countertops on the perimeter are Cambria and the island is butcherblock walnut. The walnut top has 2 drop down leaves, so when needed the homeowner can extend them and create a 6 foot island! The backsplash is a crackled hand-made ceramic tile in a very pretty grey color. The design is in the details for this one for sure! The corner cabinet features a lazy susan, but with and extra 6 inches to incorporate tray storage. In the tall pantry cabinet, there is a lift up door to hide the microwave. One other feature is the hood! This thin hood pulls out when in use and then can be pushed back in when not, leaving a lot of space above the stove. We just love it! The homeowners had just replaced the floor, so we were able to keep that as well. We just love how this kitchen turned out. We wanted to make the kitchen light and bright, but still make sure it fit in with the rest of the home. This kitchen is sure to stand the test of time, from every day living to baking cookies at the holidays!

Mequone river home

Cabinet Supreme by Adair

Gray Kitchen Island with white perimeter cabinets Black accents in hardware and lighting shades on island lighting gives it a more formal feeling. Black accents enhance this kitchen, with combination tile added

East Bay Ranch Makeover

Kaplan Architects, AIA

The existing kitchen was relocated into an enlarged reconfigured great room type space. The ceiling was raised in the new larger space.
This is an example of a large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Vacation Home

Creative Kitchen Designs, Inc.

Dave M. Davis Photography
This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, coloured appliances, vinyl floors and a peninsula.

West Floral Park Kitchen Remodel

Mark Calvillo

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

4 Bedroom / 3.5 Bathroom, Two Story Home

BAM Builders & Remodeling

This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

linear lines modern city apartment peninsular layout kitchen

Newcastle Kitchen & Bedroom Co

Clean lines and simplicity in furniture design can help create an illusion of greater space in a modest sized room, as demonstrated in this modern city apartment. The peninsular layout provides a continuous preparation surface and forms a separation between cooking and living areas whilst at the same time retaining an open-plan feel.

Kitchen with Grey Splashback and Vinyl 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!