The homeowner felt closed-in with a small entry to the kitchen which blocked off all visual and audio connections to the rest of the first floor. The small and unimportant entry to the kitchen created a bottleneck of circulation between rooms. Our goal was to create an open connection between 1st floor rooms, make the kitchen a focal point and improve general circulation. We removed the major wall between the kitchen & dining room to open up the site lines and expose the full extent of the first floor. We created a new cased opening that framed the kitchen and made the rear Palladian style windows a focal point. White cabinetry was used to keep the kitchen bright and a sharp contrast against the wood floors and exposed brick. We painted the exposed wood beams white to highlight the hand-hewn character. The open kitchen has created a social connection throughout the entire first floor. The communal effect brings this family of four closer together for all occasions. The island table has become the hearth where the family begins and ends there day. It's the perfect room for breaking bread in the most casual and communal way.

Warm Mid Century Ranch Kitchen

Fireclay Tile

Design + Photos: Leslie Murchie Cascino
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Detroit with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, orange floor and beige benchtop.

Bright House

Hamilton Snowber Architects

Large country l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Kitchen in shades of gray

Terri Sears, Kitchen and Bath Designer

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, orange floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Beach Style Kitchen

Beach style open plan kitchen in Boston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, orange floor and black benchtop.

Warm Mid Century Ranch Kitchen

Fireclay Tile

Design + Photos: Leslie Murchie Cascino
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Detroit with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, orange floor and beige benchtop.

Los Altos Sophisticated Chic

Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.

Large traditional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Pennsylvania

Poggenpohl

Photographer: Wendy Concannon
This is an example of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands and orange floor.

кухня ЖК Утёсов

J-UNO

Photo of a large industrial u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Moscow with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, orange cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, orange floor and black benchtop.

Vintage country charm on Richmond Street

MAC Renovations LTD.

Inspiration for a large country galley kitchen pantry in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

The Chapel

Luca Leonard

Jon Furley Kitchen at The Chapel Available to rent for holiday let
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, solid surface benchtops, medium hardwood floors, with island, blue cabinets, ceramic splashback, glass-front cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances and orange floor.

Eclectic Townhouse

gramercydesign

photography by Matthew Placek
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional single-wall eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Fowler House

Studio Boise, LLC

Design ideas for a small traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, orange floor and white benchtop.

Groupe Cartier

This is an example of a small scandinavian l-shaped separate kitchen in Montreal with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Maine Kitchen

trentbellphotography

Trent Bell Photography: www.trentbell.com Architect: Theodore + Theodore Architects
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Portland Maine with with island, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white appliances, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

Colorful Kitchen Update

Amber Golob Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, orange floor and white benchtop.

Muskoka Cottage & Boathouse

Attainable Solutions Inc.

This is an example of a small beach style u-shaped separate kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, orange floor, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback and no island.

Custom Cabinet Freshen Up

Woodham's Cabinet Shop, Inc.

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, orange floor and white benchtop.

Private Residence

somerton park interiors

Design ideas for a traditional kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Lake Cherokee Custom Home

Alair Homes Clemson

Classic meets modern in this custom lake home. High vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows give the main living space a bright and open atmosphere. Rustic finishes and wood contrasts well with the more modern, neutral color palette.

Kitchen with Medium Hardwood Floors and Orange Floor 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!