Walls were removed and a pass through created transforming a cramped kitchen/dining area into a bright open space. It now has ample storage, an island with seating, a desk area and is open to the newly repurposed dining/family room.

Kitchen

Harrell Design + Build

Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite benchtops and slate splashback.

mill valley house

Yama Architecture

mill valley, bruce damonte® photography
This is an example of a large modern kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, quartz benchtops, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Beach Ave

Schulberg Demkiw Architects

Derek Swalwell
This is an example of a small modern galley kitchen in Melbourne with concrete benchtops, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and light wood cabinets.

D&MF Residence

Studio Durham Architects

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley open plan kitchen in St Louis with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

Goleta Residence

Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design

Photos by Lepere Studio
This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with stainless steel appliances, light wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Soda Spring Residence

Kat Alves Photography

Photo: Kat Alves Photography www.katalves.com // Design: Atmosphere Design Build http://www.atmospheredesignbuild.com/

Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc

Jennifer Brouwer (Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc)

This corner sink maximizes every inch of this kitchen. This project is 5+ years old. Most items shown are custom (eg. millwork, upholstered furniture, drapery). Most goods are no longer available. Benjamin Moore paint.

Modern Galley Kitchen

QUINLAN AND REED CONSTRUCTION INC

Ashlee Gadd
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Sacramento with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and light hardwood floors.

Kashiwa House

Arthouse Architects

Kashiwa Photography
Design ideas for an eclectic u-shaped separate kitchen in Christchurch with glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula.

Live Oak #2

Brodie Builders

This is an example of a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Austin with coloured appliances, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and yellow splashback.

Dutch Kitchens

LEICHT New York

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, concrete benchtops, stainless steel appliances and light wood cabinets.

Endo Renovation

Linda Brettler Architect

Brettler incorporates many built-ins, including banquette seating for the kitchen table, bookshelves integrated into the kitchen island, and a double-sided glass cabinet acting as a room divider between dining room and kitchen. Photo: Grey Crawford

Applegate Tran Interiors

The decision to remodel your kitchen isn't one to take lightly. But, if you really don't enjoy spending time there, it may be time for a change. That was the situation facing the owners of this remodeled kitchen, says interior designer Vernon Applegate. "The old kitchen was dismal," he says. "It was small, cramped and outdated, with low ceilings and a style that reminded me of the early ‘80s." It was also some way from what the owners – a young couple – wanted. They were looking for a contemporary open-plan kitchen and family room where they could entertain guests and, in the future, keep an eye on their children. Two sinks, dishwashers and refrigerators were on their wish list, along with storage space for appliances and other equipment. Applegate's first task was to open up and increase the space by demolishing some walls and raising the height of the ceiling. "The house sits on a steep ravine. The original architect's plans for the house were missing, so we needed to be sure which walls were structural and which were decorative," he says. With the walls removed and the ceiling height increased by 18 inches, the new kitchen is now three times the size of the original galley kitchen. The main work area runs along the back of the kitchen, with an island providing additional workspace and a place for guests to linger. A color palette of dark blues and reds was chosen for the walls and backsplashes. Black was used for the kitchen island top and back. "Blue provides a sense of intimacy, and creates a contrast with the bright living and dining areas, which have lots of natural light coming through their large windows," he says. "Blue also works as a restful backdrop for anyone watching the large screen television in the kitchen." A mottled red backsplash adds to the intimate tone and makes the walls seem to pop out, especially around the range hood, says Applegate. From the family room, the black of the kitchen island provides a visual break between the two spaces. "I wanted to avoid people's eyes going straight to the cabinetry, so I extended the black countertop down to the back of the island to form a negative space and divide the two areas," he says. "The kitchen is now the axis of the whole public space in the house. From there you can see the dining room, living room and family room, as well as views of the hills and the water beyond." Cabinets : Custom rift sawn white oak, cerused dyed glaze Countertops : Absolute black granite, polished Flooring : Oak/driftwood grey from Gammapar Bar stools : Techno with arms, walnut color Lighting : Policelli Backsplash : Red dragon marble Sink : Stainless undermountby Blanco Faucets : Grohe Hot water system : InSinkErator Oven : Jade Cooktop : Independent Hoods, custom Microwave : GE Monogram Refrigerator : Jade Dishwasher : Miele, Touchtronic anniversary Limited Edition

Spruce Street

Upscale Construction

Merging traditional and contemporary design effortlessly can be a daunting architectural challenge; this Presidio Heights residence became a highly successful melding of the two aesthetics.The Living Room, contemporary Kitchen and configuration of the Master Bedroom represent hallmarks of the overall design, as well as the five remodeled Bathrooms. Structural rework and seismic upgrades helped transform and supplement the bones of the house.

Lakeview House

Kurt Baum Architects

View into kitchen of Streeter home.
Transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors and with island.

kitchen

John Prindle

John Prindle © 2012 Houzz
Design ideas for a modern kitchen in Portland with stainless steel appliances, open cabinets and light wood cabinets.

Modern Renovation, Montecito

Maienza - Wilson Architecture + Interiors

Photo: Jim Bartsch Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary separate kitchen in Santa Barbara with stainless steel appliances, a drop-in sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback and black floor.

College Hill Kitchen Remodel

Pro Contracting "The Countertop Specialist"

Designed by 2fORM Architecture - Eugene, OR
This is an example of a contemporary eat-in kitchen in Other with quartz benchtops, light wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary galley separate kitchen in Vancouver with stainless steel appliances, granite benchtops, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and brown splashback.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets 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!