Photos by Whitney Kamman
This is an example of a large country galley eat-in kitchen in Other with light wood cabinets, with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, beige floor, quartzite benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Stonebridge Stunner

Design Studio West

Step into a kitchen that exudes both modern sophistication and inviting warmth. The space is anchored by a stunning natural quartzite countertop, its veined patterns reminiscent of a sun-drenched landscape. The countertop stretches across the kitchen, gracing both the perimeter cabinetry and the curved island, its gentle curves adding a touch of dynamism to the layout. White oak cabinetry provides a grounding contrast to the cool quartzite. The rich, natural grain of the wood, paired with a crisp white paint, create a sense of airiness and visual lightness. This interplay of textures and tones adds depth and dimension to the space. Breaking away from the traditional rectilinear lines, the island features curved panels that echo the countertop's gentle sweep. This unexpected detail adds a touch of whimsy and softens the overall aesthetic. The warm vinyl flooring complements the wood cabinetry, creating a sense of continuity underfoot.

Docking Drawer in Studio Dearborn kitchen

Studio Dearborn

A 1920s colonial in a shorefront community in Westchester County had an expansive renovation with new kitchen by Studio Dearborn. Countertops White Macauba; interior design Lorraine Levinson. Photography, Timothy Lenz.

Moore II Residence

Hsu McCullough

Tiled kitchen with birch cabinetry opens to outdoor dining beyond windows. Entry with stair to second floor and dining room.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Farmhouse on the Hills

Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen on the Hills of San Marcos
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Saint Andrews Rambler

Swanson Homes

We love this warm and inviting kitchen setting with custom white oak cabinetry paired with Calico White Q-Quartz countertops. A few other stand-out details include; separate Thermador Upright refrigerator & freezer, beautiful stonework above the Thermador Dual Fuel Range stove, gorgeous white and gold Liam Conical pendant lights above the center island from Visual Comfort, the elegantly gold Brizo Litze bridge faucet, and sleek gold tab edge cabinet hardware from Top Knobs.

Hickory & Blue Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with Baking Station Cabinet Storage

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

This modern farmhouse kitchen features a beautiful combination of Navy Blue painted and gray stained Hickory cabinets that’s sure to be an eye-catcher. The elegant “Morel” stain blends and harmonizes the natural Hickory wood grain while emphasizing the grain with a subtle gray tone that beautifully coordinated with the cool, deep blue paint. The “Gale Force” SW 7605 blue paint from Sherwin-Williams is a stunning deep blue paint color that is sophisticated, fun, and creative. It’s a stunning statement-making color that’s sure to be a classic for years to come and represents the latest in color trends. It’s no surprise this beautiful navy blue has been a part of Dura Supreme’s Curated Color Collection for several years, making the top 6 colors for 2017 through 2020. Beyond the beautiful exterior, there is so much well-thought-out storage and function behind each and every cabinet door. The two beautiful blue countertop towers that frame the modern wood hood and cooktop are two intricately designed larder cabinets built to meet the homeowner’s exact needs. The larder cabinet on the left is designed as a beverage center with apothecary drawers designed for housing beverage stir sticks, sugar packets, creamers, and other misc. coffee and home bar supplies. A wine glass rack and shelves provides optimal storage for a full collection of glassware while a power supply in the back helps power coffee & espresso (machines, blenders, grinders and other small appliances that could be used for daily beverage creations. The roll-out shelf makes it easier to fill clean and operate each appliance while also making it easy to put away. Pocket doors tuck out of the way and into the cabinet so you can easily leave open for your household or guests to access, but easily shut the cabinet doors and conceal when you’re ready to tidy up. Beneath the beverage center larder is a drawer designed with 2 layers of multi-tasking storage for utensils and additional beverage supplies storage with space for tea packets, and a full drawer of K-Cup storage. The cabinet below uses powered roll-out shelves to create the perfect breakfast center with power for a toaster and divided storage to organize all the daily fixings and pantry items the household needs for their morning routine. On the right, the second larder is the ultimate hub and center for the homeowner’s baking tasks. A wide roll-out shelf helps store heavy small appliances like a KitchenAid Mixer while making them easy to use, clean, and put away. Shelves and a set of apothecary drawers help house an assortment of baking tools, ingredients, mixing bowls and cookbooks. Beneath the counter a drawer and a set of roll-out shelves in various heights provides more easy access storage for pantry items, misc. baking accessories, rolling pins, mixing bowls, and more. The kitchen island provides a large worktop, seating for 3-4 guests, and even more storage! The back of the island includes an appliance lift cabinet used for a sewing machine for the homeowner’s beloved hobby, a deep drawer built for organizing a full collection of dishware, a waste recycling bin, and more! All and all this kitchen is as functional as it is beautiful! Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure

Contemporary Kitchen with Black Hexagon Backsplash

KraftMaster Renovations

This kitchen is very unique with the bold black backsplash that contrasts really well with the wooden cabinetry and white counter tops. The island is large enough to prep meals and also sit down to enjoy. Photos by VLG Photography

San Carlos Ave | Sausalito

PHASE2 BUILDERS INC.

Christopher Stark
Photo of a large contemporary galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Luxury Collection Custom Design Kitchens by VelArt

Velart Custom Kitchens & Closets

Photo of a large modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, with island, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Maple Kitchen Remodel

JDI Construction NW

Gorgeous kitchen renovation featuring elegant maple shaker cabinets. Abundant unique features, such as concealed refrigerator and dishwasher panels, a convenient pull-out pantry, and discreetly integrated kitchen appliances. The spacious layout boasts a massive picture window with a view of the backyard.

Flatiron New York | Luxury Minimalist Apartment Remodel

Buildplan

Design ideas for a small modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, white benchtop and a peninsula.

Harbor Lakes Contemporary

Bohannon Design Team

Detail view showing more of the beautiful white oak flat panel cabinets, as well as the open island end with space for cookbook storage.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Shooting Star 72, Teton Village, Wyoming

KAM Designs

Mountain Modern Kitchen with natural sophisticated accents.
This is an example of a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen with an integrated sink, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige benchtop.

Saint Andrews Rambler

Swanson Homes

Hickory & Blue Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with Baking Station Cabinet Storage

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

Chicago Tower

Cannarsa Structure and Design

Photo of a mid-sized modern galley separate kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, black splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Plano | Normandy Estates | Kitchen & Butler Cabinets (Partner)

Kitchen Design Concepts

The builder we partnered with for this beauty original wanted to use his cabinet person (who builds and finishes on site) but the clients advocated for manufactured cabinets - and we agree with them! These homeowners were just wonderful to work with and wanted materials that were a little more "out of the box" than the standard "white kitchen" you see popping up everywhere today - and their dog, who came along to every meeting, agreed to something with longevity, and a good warranty! The cabinets are from WW Woods, their Eclipse (Frameless, Full Access) line in the Aspen door style - a shaker with a little detail. The perimeter kitchen and scullery cabinets are a Poplar wood with their Seagull stain finish, and the kitchen island is a Maple wood with their Soft White paint finish. The space itself was a little small, and they loved the cabinetry material, so we even paneled their built in refrigeration units to make the kitchen feel a little bigger. And the open shelving in the scullery acts as the perfect go-to pantry, without having to go through a ton of doors - it's just behind the hood wall!

Graham Road - Hackney Central

Roushka Boyd

Photographer - Ben Park
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, with island, white floor, white benchtop and panelled appliances.

Modern Spanish Revival

SDG Architects

Photo by John Merkl
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets and Quartzite Benchtops 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!