Photo of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Calgary with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, brick splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam and stainless steel appliances.

Modern Kitchen

Tall Pines Construction

The dark wood of this kitchen is a timeless addition to the space, offering a classic style to the mountain modern home.
Inspiration for a contemporary open plan kitchen in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

The Bold but Cosy Bachelor Pad

Kathy Kunz Interiors

Detail: the ceramic countertop in concrete-effect features a lovely (and highly durable!) satin finish.
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Berlin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops, red splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Somerset Home Project

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Stunning midcentury modern kitchen with tons of special features and design elements.
Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Raleigh with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Arlington Home Remodel

Alison Giese Interiors

Custom island and plaster hood take center stage in this kitchen remodel. Full-wall wine, coffee and smoothie station on the right perimeter. Cabinets are white oak. Design by: Alison Giese Interiors

Traditional meets functional

Soll.Solutions

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Montreal with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Creating a space to entertain was the top priority in this Mukwonago kitchen remodel. The homeowners wanted seating and counter space for hosting parties and watching sports. By opening the dining room wall, we extended the kitchen area. We added an island and custom designed furniture-style bar cabinet with retractable pocket doors. A new awning window overlooks the backyard and brings in natural light. Many in-cabinet storage features keep this kitchen neat and organized. Bar Cabinet The furniture-style bar cabinet has retractable pocket doors and a drop-in quartz counter. The homeowners can entertain in style, leaving the doors open during parties. Guests can grab a glass of wine or make a cocktail right in the cabinet. Outlet Strips Outlet strips on the island and peninsula keeps the end panels of the island and peninsula clean. The outlet strips also gives them options for plugging in appliances during parties. Modern Farmhouse Design The design of this kitchen is modern farmhouse. The materials, patterns, color and texture define this space. We used shades of golds and grays in the cabinetry, backsplash and hardware. The chevron backsplash and shiplap island adds visual interest. Custom Cabinetry This kitchen features frameless custom cabinets with light rail molding. It’s designed to hide the under cabinet lighting and angled plug molding. Putting the outlets under the cabinets keeps the backsplash uninterrupted. Storage Features Efficient storage and organization was important to these homeowners. We opted for deep drawers to allow for easy access to stacks of dishes and bowls. Under the cooktop, we used custom drawer heights to meet the homeowners’ storage needs. A third drawer was added next to the spice drawer rollout. Narrow pullout cabinets on either side of the cooktop for spices and oils. The pantry rollout by the double oven rotates 90 degrees. Other Updates Staircase – We updated the staircase with a barn wood newel post and matte black balusters Fireplace – We whitewashed the fireplace and added a barn wood mantel and pilasters.

Four-Square Craftsman Classic

Sheila Mayden Interiors

Neatly outfitted pantry concealed behind furniture-style doors, resembling a built-in armoire.
Photo of a large arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

1940s House Renovation

You-Neek Designs

This is an example of a small eclectic l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Goldenrod

Shear Construction

Quartzite island with waterfall sink and chevron pattern white oak floors.
Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an integrated sink, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam and flat-panel cabinets.

Deer Park Kitchen and Family Room

Bailey Remodeling and Construction LLC

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

Martis Camp Mountain Modern

Advance Design and Construction

Photo of a country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam, vaulted and wood.

Brookland Transformation

Morgan Howarth Photography

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop, an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Cherokee Triangle Kitchen

Centered Interiors

Photo of a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Louisville with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Custom Utensil Holder Pull-Out

KraftMaster Renovations

Took down a wall in this kitchen where there used to be a pass through - now it is fully open to the family room with a large island and seating for the whole family. Photo by Chris Veith

Mercer Island Retreat

Claire Guest Studio

Custom kitchen with white cabinetry on the perimeter and Navy island. Dolomite Marble slab countertops - Luca de Luna, these were originally listed as a Quartzite and then changed to a Marble. Luckily, after much testing with red wine, lemon juice and vinegar on the slab sample, the client still loved it and decided to use it. Ann Sacks Herringbone mosaic accent at range with Cadenza Clay tile backsplash.

Georgetown DC Kitchen

InSite Builders & Remodeling

3x9 Star Milky Way Stellar-Gloss Square Edge Field Tile
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Beach House V

J G Popper Custom Builder LLC

Unique kitchen
Inspiration for an expansive beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Van Drunen Project 2019

Freestyle Interiors

Inspiration for a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Minimalist kitchen

ARCO Designs

A sleek modern kitchen using a mix of materials to make it interesting. A butlers pantry hidden to the left behind the cement rendered wall.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sunshine Coast with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and medium hardwood floors.

Kitchen with Medium Hardwood Floors and Grey Benchtop 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!