Our clients are seasoned home renovators. Their Malibu oceanside property was the second project JRP had undertaken for them. After years of renting and the age of the home, it was becoming prevalent the waterfront beach house, needed a facelift. Our clients expressed their desire for a clean and contemporary aesthetic with the need for more functionality. After a thorough design process, a new spatial plan was essential to meet the couple’s request. This included developing a larger master suite, a grander kitchen with seating at an island, natural light, and a warm, comfortable feel to blend with the coastal setting. Demolition revealed an unfortunate surprise on the second level of the home: Settlement and subpar construction had allowed the hillside to slide and cover structural framing members causing dangerous living conditions. Our design team was now faced with the challenge of creating a fix for the sagging hillside. After thorough evaluation of site conditions and careful planning, a new 10’ high retaining wall was contrived to be strategically placed into the hillside to prevent any future movements. With the wall design and build completed — additional square footage allowed for a new laundry room, a walk-in closet at the master suite. Once small and tucked away, the kitchen now boasts a golden warmth of natural maple cabinetry complimented by a striking center island complete with white quartz countertops and stunning waterfall edge details. The open floor plan encourages entertaining with an organic flow between the kitchen, dining, and living rooms. New skylights flood the space with natural light, creating a tranquil seaside ambiance. New custom maple flooring and ceiling paneling finish out the first floor. Downstairs, the ocean facing Master Suite is luminous with breathtaking views and an enviable bathroom oasis. The master bath is modern and serene, woodgrain tile flooring and stunning onyx mosaic tile channel the golden sandy Malibu beaches. The minimalist bathroom includes a generous walk-in closet, his & her sinks, a spacious steam shower, and a luxurious soaking tub. Defined by an airy and spacious floor plan, clean lines, natural light, and endless ocean views, this home is the perfect rendition of a contemporary coastal sanctuary. PROJECT DETAILS: • Style: Contemporary • Colors: White, Beige, Yellow Hues • Countertops: White Ceasarstone Quartz • Cabinets: Bellmont Natural finish maple; Shaker style • Hardware/Plumbing Fixture Finish: Polished Chrome • Lighting Fixtures: Pendent lighting in Master bedroom, all else recessed • Flooring: Hardwood - Natural Maple Tile – Ann Sacks, Porcelain in Yellow Birch • Tile/Backsplash: Glass mosaic in kitchen • Other Details: Bellevue Stand Alone Tub Photographer: Andrew, Open House VC

HGTV Big City Digs

Mary Rossi Designs

Large Kitchen Island Has Open and Concealed Storage. The large island in this loft kitchen isn't only a place to eat, it offers valuable storage space. By removing doors and adding millwork, the island now has a mix of open and concealed storage. The island's black and white color scheme is nicely contrasted by the copper pendant lights above and the teal front door.

Custom Home

Gaetano Hardwood Floors, Inc.

Hardwood Flooring by: Gaetano Hardwood Floors, Inc. Solid 3/4" x 2 1/4" White Oak with a custom stain and finish. Photography by: The Bowman Group.
Design ideas for a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

St. Pauls Kitchen

Powell Picano bespoke furniture and kitchens

This fully bespoke kitchen in oak veneered birch plywood with corian worksurfaces and solid oak detailing was custom made for a beautiful but unusual and interesting space in a converted print factory. Our brief was to maximise storage space and working area. To achieve this, we built a small auxiliary worksurface on top of the parapet wall defining the raised kitchen area and extra deep storage drawers beneath.

Oakhill Residence

MILLWORX

This is an example of a large scandinavian single-wall eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

The House of Sunken Furniture

Philip Raymond Photography

Philip Raymond
This is an example of a small contemporary open plan kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Appleton Way

Peters Architecture

Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

York Home

Mari Woods Kitchen Bath Home, LLC

Photo by Brittany Fecteau
Large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Mid-Century Renewal

Detail 9 Architects Pty Ltd

The focal point of this renovation is the bespoke, midcentury modern styled kitchen. Features include an island bench standing on midcentury style legs, handmade drawer/cabinet pulls, and a tiled splashback which adds texture to the room. Photographer: Matthew Forbes

Farmhouse Kitchen

Photo of a large country single-wall eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor and light wood cabinets.

Bainbridge Island Retreat

Ben Trogdon Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized asian l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and window splashback.

Ridgemont Residence

Hsu McCullough

Kitchen from Living Room. Photo by Clark Dugger
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and metallic splashback.

Aura Display Home

Vantage Building Group

A standout feature of this design is the kitchen layout, an entertainer’s delight for a family home. The central island bench provides a seamless flow from kitchen to dining, encouraging family and friends to come together and mingle with the chef. Situated right in the heart of the home and offers a window splash back to let the outdoors in, a lot of bench space and a generous walk in pantry.

Gold Coast Mid Century Modern

Marc-Michaels Interior Design

Edward C. Butera
This is an example of an expansive contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen Remodels

Golden Gates Kitchen & Cabinets

Inspiration for a small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with quartz benchtops, matchstick tile splashback, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Atherton Avenue

Arcanum Architecture

Bernard Andre
Modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Rustic Wood Kitchen

Miller Woodworks

This is an example of a mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cincinnati with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Edelson Kitchen

Innovative Kitchens and Baths LLC

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and light hardwood floors.

Kitchen Extension Wandsworth

dRAW Architecture

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in London with marble benchtops, light hardwood floors, a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and solid surface benchtops.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets 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!