Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

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.

Kitchen with Bronzed Mirror Splashbacks

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

Collis, Brighton East

The Kitchen Design Centre

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Fairway Project

Dion Group Projects

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with turquoise cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, with island, white benchtop, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

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.

Glen Road

risa boyer architecture

Photo of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a drop-in sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, exposed beam, flat-panel cabinets and brown floor.

Mona Vale Renovation

CTI Kitchens & Designer Joinery

What an amazing result. Beautiful Hampton style kitchen with a modern twist. Handle less shaker door with Smartstone Island and Neolith back counter tops.

Sunnyvale Modern Kitchen and Bathroom Transformation

TBS Construction Inc.

agajphoto
Mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Knightsbridge | A Scandinavian Inspired Design

Davonport Kitchen & Home

Mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Project Maman

GLDESIGN

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, shiplap splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Loft Carlos, Milan 2020

Project_IN

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Milan with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback, grey benchtop and light hardwood floors.

Kitchen Open Shelving And Picture-Ready Dishware Vanity Fair Magazine Featured B

By Darash - Kitchen Cabinets, Vanities & Closets

Maximize your kitchen storage and efficiency with this small-kitchen design and space-saving design hacks. Open shelves are extremely functional and make it so much easier to access dishes and glasses.

Sublime Scandinavian Style

Hille's Home Extensions

Mid-sized scandinavian galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Sheeannamore

Dreyer Architecture

This open plan kitchen / living / dining room features a large south facing window seat and cantilevered cast concrete central kitchen island.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, orange splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Custom Joinery - Whole Home

Newton Home Improvements

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Agrandissement d'une maison

Arzel Studio

Projet d'agrandissement de maison
Large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, flat-panel cabinets, white splashback, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Vermont goes Hobbit Modern

Meditch Murphey Architects

A pull-out ladder leads to an open loft for additional space. photo by Lael Taylor
Design ideas for a small country single-wall open plan kitchen in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, brown benchtop, a drop-in sink, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

1880 Farmhouse

AHG Interiors

Nick Glimenakis
Photo of a mid-sized country kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Square Racan - Appartement modulable et fonctionnel

Atelier Germain

Atelier Germain
Mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Paris with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Kitchen with a Drop-in Sink 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!