Photo of a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, beige benchtop and exposed beam.

1840's Sweet Shoppe

Hi Tech Projects

Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Scarborough Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Renovation

The Good Home - Interiors & Design

Darren Setlow Photography
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured benchtop, beige floor and exposed beam.

Durango

Jessica Koltun Home

Classic, timeless and ideally positioned on a sprawling corner lot set high above the street, discover this designer dream home by Jessica Koltun. The blend of traditional architecture and contemporary finishes evokes feelings of warmth while understated elegance remains constant throughout this Midway Hollow masterpiece unlike no other. This extraordinary home is at the pinnacle of prestige and lifestyle with a convenient address to all that Dallas has to offer.

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.

Provo Charm

Hebdon Studios

Traditional meets modern in this charming two story tudor home. A spacious floor plan with an emphasis on natural light allows for incredible views from inside the home.

San Carlos Treetop

Cathie Hong Interiors

What started as a kitchen and two-bathroom remodel evolved into a full home renovation plus conversion of the downstairs unfinished basement into a permitted first story addition, complete with family room, guest suite, mudroom, and a new front entrance. We married the midcentury modern architecture with vintage, eclectic details and thoughtful materials.

Grossman Home

megro123

Granite countertops, wood floor, flat front cabinets (SW Iron Ore), marble and brass hexagonal tile backsplash. Galley butler's pantry includes a wet bar.

Rustic Cabin Kitchen Interior Design Shoot

Envision Home Photos

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Seattle with panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, exposed beam, vaulted, wood, a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, green splashback and with island.

Fernie Modern Timberframe

Knight Custom Homes

This beautiful home is used regularly by our Calgary clients during the weekends in the resort town of Fernie, B.C. While the floor plan offered ample space to entertain and relax, the finishes needed updating desperately. The original kitchen felt too small for the space which features stunning vaults and timber frame beams. With a complete overhaul, the newly redesigned space now gives justice to the impressive architecture. A combination of rustic and industrial selections have given this home a brand new vibe, and now this modern cabin is a showstopper once again! Design: Susan DeRidder of Live Well Interiors Inc. Photography: Rebecca Frick Photography

NOB HILL | Remodel + Styling

Designology Studio LLC

Photo of a transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Augusta Walk I

Ryan Miller Builders

Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and exposed beam.

The 5th Paradise Model ATU- Built By: Paradise Tiny Homes

Paradise Tiny Homes LLC

This Paradise Model ATU is extra tall and grand! As you would in you have a couch for lounging, a 6 drawer dresser for clothing, and a seating area and closet that mirrors the kitchen. Quartz countertops waterfall over the side of the cabinets encasing them in stone. The custom kitchen cabinetry is sealed in a clear coat keeping the wood tone light. Black hardware accents with contrast to the light wood. A main-floor bedroom- no crawling in and out of bed. The wallpaper was an owner request; what do you think of their choice? The bathroom has natural edge Hawaiian mango wood slabs spanning the length of the bump-out: the vanity countertop and the shelf beneath. The entire bump-out-side wall is tiled floor to ceiling with a diamond print pattern. The shower follows the high contrast trend with one white wall and one black wall in matching square pearl finish. The warmth of the terra cotta floor adds earthy warmth that gives life to the wood. 3 wall lights hang down illuminating the vanity, though durning the day, you likely wont need it with the natural light shining in from two perfect angled long windows. This Paradise model was way customized. The biggest alterations were to remove the loft altogether and have one consistent roofline throughout. We were able to make the kitchen windows a bit taller because there was no loft we had to stay below over the kitchen. This ATU was perfect for an extra tall person. After editing out a loft, we had these big interior walls to work with and although we always have the high-up octagon windows on the interior walls to keep thing light and the flow coming through, we took it a step (or should I say foot) further and made the french pocket doors extra tall. This also made the shower wall tile and shower head extra tall. We added another ceiling fan above the kitchen and when all of those awning windows are opened up, all the hot air goes right up and out.

Rupen

Etch Design Group

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Freeman - Classic Modern Kitchen

In the Deets

Classic Modern new construction home featuring custom finishes throughout. A warm, earthy palette, brass fixtures, tone-on-tone accents make this home a one-of-a-kind.

Cuisine Clairefontaine

Clémence Weil, décoration d'Intérieurs

Création d'une cuisine moderne dans une longère pleine de charme.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Paris with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and exposed beam.

Modern City Escape - Edina

Hoxie Homes & Remodeling

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, multi-coloured benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Modern Farmhouse - Renton

ID by Gwen

Large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Provo Charm

Hebdon Studios

Traditional meets modern in this charming two story tudor home. A spacious floor plan with an emphasis on natural light allows for incredible views from inside the home.

Heritage

WEST BAY HOMES real estate development

Design ideas for a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, white benchtop, exposed beam and brown floor.

Kitchen with Light Hardwood Floors and Exposed Beam 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!