Large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, beige splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

White/Gray Kitchen

NA Design Builders

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and multi-coloured floor.

Greenwich Street

Liza Kuhn Interiors

Small traditional separate kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Marble counter tops with brick wall

Jan Neiges, CMKBD with NKBA

The kitchen was designed around our 68" pot rack and our collection of copper pots. I have always LOVED the unfitted kitchen look, and was willing to do away with the average American kitchen design of a horizontal line of wall cabinets above base cabinets. I don't need a large pantry full of food to last me six months, we shop 2-3 times a week. Two wall cabinets was enough, and I converted a linen closet into my pantry and store the rest of my once a year items in the basement. I wanted an urban loft feel for my kitchen, to achieve that I installed brick veneer and used a textured black/gray laminate called Lava for the base cabinets. I wanted to mix up the colors, and loved the Bracing Blue paint by Sherwin-Williams and used that for the wall cabinets and the adjacent wall where the fridge and ovens are positioned. I also used the blue for the toe kick and the frame of the cabinet. I selected white mortar for the bricks to lighten up the brick wall and to compliment the white marble counter tops. I used real marble because I want, over time, the marble to reflect the wear and tear of my life as I make memories in my kitchen.

LTM Byggeri 3

LTM Arkitekt- og Byggefirma

Photo of a scandinavian kitchen in Aarhus with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

New Orleans Style Transitional Home

Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

Inspiration for a large transitional galley kitchen in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Modern traditional open plan kitchen with exposed brick

My Bespoke Room

This kitchen's white-washed walls and smooth polished concrete floor make this a truly contemporary space. The challenge was to ensure that it also then felt homely and comfortable so we added brick slips as a feature wall on the kitchen side which adds a lovely warmth and texture to the room. The dark blue kitchen units also ground the kitchen in the space and are a striking contrast against the concrete floor. The glazing stretches the entire width of the property to maximise the views of the garden.

Topiary - Pantry cupboard details.

Thomas Ford & Sons

Photo of a large traditional galley open plan kitchen in Surrey with beaded inset cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Blue, White, Orange Kitchen

Tracey Stephens Interior Design Inc

Wing Wong/Memories TTL
Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, a peninsula and grey floor.

Warren Street, Cobble Hill

Ingui Architecture

Large traditional single-wall eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brick splashback.

Memorial English Tudor

Windham Builders

Kitchen with antique limestone floor, antique pine trusses, and carved limestone range surround.
Large traditional kitchen in Houston with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Detail

Seaside Builders Of Delray Beach, Florida

Kitchen Detail
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, marble benchtops, light hardwood floors, beige floor and shaker cabinets.

Mountain Park

Studio Design Elements

Take it Digital
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Calacatta Gold Marble & White Cabinets

Versatile Renovations

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback and with island.

FABULOUS FARM HOUSE RENOVATION

Falls Lumber Company, Inc.

Custom cabinet by Crystal Cabinetry.
Small transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a farmhouse sink, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Lupton (Preston Hollow)

Nixon Custom Homes

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Back Bay

Blackband Design

Kitchen
Large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Pennant Hills Kitchen

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

This spectacular two-tone West Pennant Hills kitchen cleverly incorporates all the practical needs of a family space without compromising visual appeal and charm. The heart of a bustling family home, the elongated space required extensive yet discreet pantry storage and a large work surface. Inspired, but not restricted, by the Hamptons style, we carefully selected each element to create a visual feast. The black island stretches impressively along the length of the kitchen, its striking Calacatta marble Benchtop presenting a substantial work surface. The dark cabinetry expresses a sense of depth, contrasted against the backdrop of tall white cabinetry. Disappearing into the clean white surroundings, the Ceasarstone bench in Pure White complements the tiled splashback, allowing the Calacatta island to be the hero. Extensive pantry storage and space for appliances are subtly integrated behind large bi-fold cupboards, while two refrigerators, flush-mount sinks and under-cabinet lighting focus on attention to detail and articulate design. The result is a charismatic family focus on attention to detail and articulate design. The result is a charismatic family kitchen awarding every opportunity to cook, entertain and delight.

Custom Home 2

Classic Town & Country Builders

This is an example of a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in New Orleans with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, brown splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Morningside Custom Home

JackBilt Homes

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, blue cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Kitchen with Marble Benchtops and Brick 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!