Photo of a mid-sized beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor, blue benchtop and timber.

"Privacy House" - Currently Under Construction

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The kitchen serves the gourmet needs of the owners, who are wonderful cooks. The white quartz countertops keep the kitchen clean, and the small AGA stove is all they need for their elaborate meals. To the right of the island is a little coffee bar. The opening behind shows a glimpse of a brightly day lit pantry or larder. Photo by Keith Isaacs.

Chestnut Hill

Diane Murphy Interiors, LLC.

Traditional kitchen Chestnut Hill, MA
Photo of a large transitional eat-in kitchen in Boston with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Classic With a New Angle

Studio Dearborn

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

South Loop: Federal St

Lugbill Designs

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with white cabinets, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops and white benchtop.

Western Springs Transitional

Plain & Posh

This large space did not function well for this family of 6. The cabinetry they had did not go to the ceiling and offered very poor storage options. The island that existed was tiny in comparrison to the space. By taking the cabinets to the ceiling, enlarging the island and adding large pantry's we were able to achieve the storage needed. Then the fun began, all of the decorative details that make this space so stunning. Beautiful tile for the backsplash and a custom metal hood. Lighting and hardware to complement the hood. Then, the vintage runner and natural wood elements to make the space feel more homey.

Margate Beach Home

Ellen Farber Strategic Design

This large open kitchen was completely updated to include a custom cabinetry, a large center island, banquette seating and an extra large table to accommodate family and friends in the busy summer season. With plenty of lighting, extra large appliances and preparation space, everyone can get in on the cooking fun.

Kitchen and Family Room Remodel in Carlsbad

Mc Construction Design Build

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen Design Ideas

Everingham Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Columbus with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

McAdams - Encino - Black & Brass Kitchen Remodeling

Pearl Remodeling

Open space floor plan kitchen overseeing the living space. Vaulted ceiling. A large amount of natural light flowing in the room. Amazing black and brass combo with chandelier type pendant lighting above the gorgeous kitchen island. Herringbone Tile pattern making the area appear more spacious.

De Beauvoir, Hackney - Full house renovation

Emilie Fournet Interiors

The kitchen was transformed by removing the entire back wall, building a staircase leading to the basement below and creating a glass box over it opening it up to the back garden.The deVol kitchen has Studio Green shaker cabinets and reeded glass. The splash back is aged brass and the worktops are quartz marble and reclaimed school laboratory iroko worktop for the island. The kitchen has reclaimed pine pocket doors leading onto the breakfast room.

Vinita's Kitchen

Amandine Tosello

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nice with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Tiffany Drive Remodel

Jarrett Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, marble splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Millcreek Kitchen & Bath Remodel

Jessica Sluder Interior Design

Lucy Call
Small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Cambridge Renovation

studiohw | Heather Weiss

photos by Eric Roth
Photo of a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, grey floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Black / Brass Kitchen

PentaVia Custom Homes

A contemporary kitchen with touches of modern. The contrast of the stained dark wood beams with the light engineered wood on the ceiling is a stunning feature. The hardware is large and strong- black in the main area and brass in the secondary kitchen. The butler's kitchen has black cabinets with brass hardware for contrast. Black venti hood with gold brass accents. Island Pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel

Kraft Custom Construction

For this project, the homeowner wanted the main living spaces to be open and flow easily from one room to another. We expanded the kitchen to include more cabinetry and larger work spaces with greater accessibility to both. By removing an odd half-wall between the kitchen and living room, converting an out-of-place wet bar in the entry into a closet, installing new windows for better natural light, and reconstructing the main entry archway, we helped turn this otherwise dark and closed-off space into an expansive, light-filled place of ease.

Rancho Cucamonga Kitchen

Norm Tessier Cabinets, Inc.

DYS Photo
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

25th Avenue Multi-Space Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

French Country Kitchen in Howell, MI

Dream Kitchens

Photo of a large mediterranean u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Marble 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!