Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and granite benchtops.

Woods Edge

KC Drafting & Design

This is an example of a traditional eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Allentown, Pa New Build Pennsylvania Custom Farmhouse and Barn

lisa furey interiors

This is an example of a large country open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, green cabinets, beige floor and white benchtop.

Tribeca Loft

nC2 architecture llc

Renovation and reconfiguration of a 4500 sf loft in Tribeca. The main goal of the project was to better adapt the apartment to the needs of a growing family, including adding a bedroom to the children's wing and reconfiguring the kitchen to function as the center of family life. One of the main challenges was to keep the project on a very tight budget without compromising the high-end quality of the apartment. Project team: Richard Goodstein, Emil Harasim, Angie Hunsaker, Michael Hanson Contractor: Moulin & Associates, New York Photos: Tom Sibley

Quimby

risa boyer architecture

Josh Partee
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, white cabinets and beige floor.

Sunfilled Contemporary

Wendy Glaister Interiors

This high contemporary kitchen places an emphasis on the views to the expansive garden beyond. Soft colors and textures make the space approachable.
Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop, marble benchtops and stainless steel appliances.

Traditional Bilotta Collection in Rye

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This expansive traditional kitchen by senior designer, Randy O'Kane and Architect, Clark Neuringer, features Bilotta Collection cabinet in a custom color. Randy says, the best part about working with this client was that she loves design – and not just interior but she also loves holiday decorating and she has a beautiful sense of aesthetic (and does everything to the nines). For her kitchen she wanted a barn-like feel and it absolutely had to be functional because she both bakes and cooks for her family and neighbors every day. And as the mother of four teenage girls she has a lot of people coming in and out of her home all the time. She wanted her kitchen to be comfortable – not untouchable and not too “done”. When she first met with Bilotta senior designer Randy O’Kane, her #1 comment was: “I’m experiencing white kitchen fatigue”. So right from the start finding the perfect color was the prime focus. The challenge was infusing a center hall colonial with a sense of warmth, comfort and that barn aesthetic without being too rustic which is why they went with a straight greenish grey paint vs. something distressed. The flooring, by Artisan Wood floors, looks reclaimed with its wider long planks and fumed finish. The barn door separating the laundry room and the kitchen was made from hand selected barn wood, made custom according to the client’s detailed specifications, and hung with sliding hardware. The kitchen hardware was really a window sash pull from Rocky Mountain that was repurposed as handles in a living bronze finish mounted horizontally. Glazed brick tile, by Ann Sacks, really helped to embrace the overall concept. Since a lot of parties are hosted out of that space, the kitchen, and butler’s pantry off to the side, needed a good flow as well as areas to bake and stage the creations. Double ovens were a must as well as a 48” Wolf Range and a Rangecraft hood – four ovens are going all the time. Beverage drawers were added to allow others to flow through the kitchen without disturbing the cook. Lots of storage was added for a well-stocked kitchen. A unique detail is double door wall cabinets, some with wire mesh to allow to see their dishes for easy access. In the butler’s pantry, instead of mesh they opted for antique mirror glass fronts. Countertops are a natural quartzite for care free use and a solid wood table, by Brooks Custom, extends of the island, removable for flexibility, making the kitchen and dining area very functional. One of the client’s antique pieces (a hutch) was incorporated into the kitchen to give it a more authentic look as well as another surface to decorate and provide storage. The lighting over the island and breakfast table has exposed Edison bulbs which hearkens to that “barn” lighting. For the sinks, they used a fireclay Herbeau farmhouse on the perimeter and an undermount Rohl sink on the island. Faucets are by Waterworks. Standing back and taking it all in it’s a wonderful collaboration of carefully designed working space and a warm gathering space for family and guests. Bilotta Designer: Randy O’Kane, Architect: Clark Neuringer Architects, posthumously. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Photostyling for Winslow Design & D. McQuillan Construction and Fine Homes

Beige and Bleu Design Studio

Design & Architecture: Winslow Design Build: D. McQuillan Construction Photos: Tamara Flanagan Photography Photostyling: Beige and Bleu Design Studio

Travis Heights Vacation Rental

Christen Ales Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and solid surface benchtops.

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.

Eco-Friendly in Ball Square

Design Details

Red birch cabinetry, Soapstone countertops and recycled fir flooring contribute to the natural feel of the project.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

North Fork Waterfront

Chango

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

New Home in Orefield

Laslo Custom Kitchens, Inc.

Perimeter Hardware Paint Island - Rift White Oak Wood Driftwood Dark Stain
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Architectural Designs House Plan 14637RK Client-Built in Virginia

Architectural Designs

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Other with marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and subway tile splashback.

New Construction Kitchen

User

Stefanie Rawlinson Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Fort Greene New Construction

New York Woodwork, Inc.

These modern kitchens and built in closets were built for a two family home
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and beige floor.

Greenwich Village Apartment Combination

Architecture in Formation

Photo of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Beautiful Transitional Kitchen

WINN Design+Build

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Marin Custom Home

Kelly Hohla Interiors

Photography by John Merkl
This is an example of a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, shaker cabinets, beige floor, solid surface benchtops and black benchtop.

Windsor Square Traditional

BAR Design + Construction

James Ray Spahn
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen with 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!