Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island and brown floor.

Fresh Maple Kitchen Remodel

Powell Construction

Details: Dishes, once stored in upper cabinets, are now located in base cabinet drawers — a request by the client for aging in place. Heavy duty drawer hardware makes for easy operation. While it looks a bit tight, the adjacency to the dishwasher functions very well, our client reports. The flooring is sheet Marmoleum, and serves to nicely set apart the kitchen from adjacent spaces.

Open Shelving Kitchen

Kraft Custom Construction

For this kitchen and bathroom remodel, our goal was to maintain the historic integrity of the home by providing a traditional design, while also fulfilling the homeowner’s need for a more open and spacious environment. We gutted the entire kitchen and bathroom and removed an interior wall that bisected the kitchen. This provided more flow and connection between the living spaces. The open design and layout of the kitchen cabinets provided a more expansive feel in the kitchen where the whole family could gather without overcrowding. In addition to the kitchen remodel, we replaced the electrical service, redid most of the plumbing and rerouted the furnace ducts for better efficiency. In the bathroom, we installed a historically accurate sink, vanity, and tile. We refinished the hardwood floors throughout the home as well as rebuilt the front porch staircase, and updated the backdoor and window configuration to reflect the era of the home.

Residential Construction

Janine Lamontagne Photography LLC

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Bridgeport with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, brown floor, light wood cabinets and grey splashback.

Elliot Ave. Kitchen addition

Ohana Home & Design

This house had a tiny little galley kitchen. We added an addition off the back of the home which gave the family a nice sized kitchen and a family room.

Altis

WL Harder Inc.

This is an example of a large modern u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Mike + Samantha's Kitchen and Bathroom

Encircle Design and Build

Michelle Ruber
This is an example of a small modern u-shaped separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and no island.

Open Kitchen

Black Fox Interiors

photo credits - BMLMedia.ie
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dublin with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and no island.

Coastal Florida Homes

Wilson Lighting

Inspiration for a large transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Miami with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Sunny Kitchen Remodel

Bryhn Design/Build

Here you can see the full kitchen space. The black & blue island is a nice accent to break up the natural brown hues of the flooring, cabinets, and granite counter top. High set pendant lights add function and beauty without being obstructive when working on the island.

St. Paul French Countryopen shelving

Forest Products Supply

Nancy
Photo of a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Columbus , IN

Stolls Woodworking LLC

Roman Stoll / Barb Reuter Design / Stoll's Woodworking
Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Columbus with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Clearwater Moroccan Fish Scales Kitchen

Mercury Mosaics and Tile

This very modern kitchen features our Large Moroccan Fish Scales in one of our most popular color blends. Set against white countertops and very light cabinets, the tile definitely takes center stage with its oceanic hues. Large Moroccan Fish Scales - 1015E Caribbean Blue, 12W Blue Bell, 216 Sea Glass, 1017E Sea Mist, 11 Deco White

Modern Farmhouse kitchen

Tali Hardonag Architect

Antique and modern combine in a unique kitchen. A mix of salvaged furniture and contemporary Italian flat-panel cabinetry, reclaimed barn floors as the island countertop and a deep color on the ceiling to pick up the backsplash color. Interiors by Karen Salveson, Miss Conception Design

Ridgeview House

Studio Boise, LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boise with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, black benchtop and vaulted.

Japandi-Inspired Kitchen

Fox Interiors

Inspired by their years in Japan and California and their Scandinavian heritage, we updated this 1938 home with a earthy palette and clean lines. Rift-cut white oak cabinetry, white quartz counters and a soft green tile backsplash are balanced with details that reference the home's history. Classic light fixtures soften the modern elements. We created a new arched opening to the living room and removed the trim around other doorways to enlarge them and mimic original arched openings. Removing an entry closet and breakfast nook opened up the overall footprint and allowed for a functional work zone that includes great counter space on either side of the range, when they had none before. The new pantry wall incorporates storage for the microwave, coat storage, and a bench for shoe removal.

Coastal Farmhouse Kitchen

Callen Construction, Inc.

While keeping the same footprint, this kitchen received a completed transformation. The homeowners wished for a space designated to make their coffee. Now, they have a place for their coffee appliances to stay permanently.

Fitchburg, WI Condo - Kitchen Remodel

DC Interiors & Renovations

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Lake of the Isles Kitchen

M. Victoria Johnson Interiors

Beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Cook Park Kitchen Remodel

Northland Design & Build

Country open plan kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and green benchtop.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets and Ceramic Splashback 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!