Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Chestnut Ave, Clarendon Hills

Plain & Posh

This young family wanted to update their kitchen and loved getting away to the coast. We tried to bring a little of the coast to their suburban Chicago home. The statement pantry doors with antique mirror add a wonderful element to the space. The large island gives the family a wonderful space to hang out, The custom "hutch' area is actual full of hidden outlets to allow for all of the electronics a place to charge. Warm brass details and the stunning tile complete the area.

Weston Manor

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Speciality Pantry Opened

Pike Properties

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped kitchen pantry in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Concordia Midcentury Modern

risa boyer architecture

Reagen Taylor
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Cardinal Rd.

Holmes + Salter Interiors

Abby Caroline Photography
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Avenues Family House: Kitchen

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography
This is an example of a large eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Coastal Kitchen Blue Backsplash

Fireclay Tile

Design: JL Interior Design; Photos: Thomas Kuoh
Small beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen cabinets with a classic bent

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry

White Cabinetry - Lakeview door style with Dove White finish on Maple. Gray Cabinetry - Transition 3˝ door style with Carbon finish on Maple.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Easy-Reach Corner Wall Cabinet

Center Point Cabinets

Eudora Cabinetry Colony Maple Door Bright White Finish Hardware by Jeffrey Alexander Remodel by Advantage Builders
Photo of a large beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Chevron Park- Kitchen Island

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Photographer: Greg Premru Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, vaulted, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, brown floor and white benchtop.

Atlanta BLUE kitchen

Rosa Moreno Kitchens

Inspiration for a small eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and blue benchtop.

Rays of Light

Aspen Leaf Interiors

For this ski-in, ski-out mountainside property, the intent was to create an architectural masterpiece that was simple, sophisticated, timeless and unique all at the same time. The clients wanted to express their love for Japanese-American craftsmanship, so we incorporated some hints of that motif into the designs. This kitchen design was all about function. The warmth of the walnut cabinetry and flooring and the simplicity of the contemporary cabinet style and open shelving leave room for the gorgeous blue polished quartzite slab focal point used for the oversized island and backsplash. The perimeter countertops are contrasting black textured granite. The high cedar wood ceiling and exposed curved steel beams are dramatic and reveal a roofline nodding to a traditional pagoda design. Striking bronze hanging lights span the space. Vertically grain-matched large drawers provide plenty of storage and the compact pantry’s strategic design fits a coffee maker and Mila appliances.

Beach Cottage Transformation - Custom Cabinetry Creates Light and Airy Kitchen.

Urbana Design Studio

Custom Cabinetry Creates Light and Airy Kitchen. A combination of white painted cabinetry and rustic hickory cabinets create an earthy and bright kitchen. A new larger window floods the kitchen in natural light.

Walk-in Pantry Closed

Pike Properties

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Updated Classic Home

Neff Designs

Photo of a small transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, red floor and white benchtop.

Chamblee Mid Century Modern

Susie Mae Design

Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, blue splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and white benchtop.

Goldsmith

Duet Design Group

French Country Farmhouse Kitchen, Photography by Susie Brenner
This is an example of a large country galley eat-in kitchen in Denver with a double-bowl sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Kitchen Remodels Post Hurricane Harvey

Sophia Designs

Design ideas for a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Milton Lake House

LuxeMark Company

Photos By Tad Davis
This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Blue Splashback and Medium 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!