Amy Pearman, Boyd Pearman Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Contemporary - Ocean Blvd

D for Design

Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and panelled appliances.

История о нем

Maria Mikena

фотограф Евгений Кулибаба
Photo of a large modern eat-in kitchen in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, medium wood cabinets, brown floor, an undermount sink and panelled appliances.

kitchen 126

Savvy Kitchens

Photo of a large midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, glass tile splashback and cement tiles.

Isabelle's Kitchen

catherine catherine

Raphaël Thibodeau
Mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Montreal with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, tile benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, ceramic floors, with island and grey floor.

Maple Glen Bathroom

J Wiley Designs

This is an example of a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island and white floor.

Home Organization Solutions

ORG Home

Photo of a large transitional kitchen pantry in Grand Rapids with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and beige floor.

Pantry

The Organized Home

This is an example of a mid-sized country kitchen pantry in Chicago with medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, porcelain floors, no island and grey floor.

Mid-century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Core Home Solutions, Inc.

Mid-century modern kitchen design featuring: - Kraftmaid Vantage cabinets (Barnet Golden Lager) with quartersawn maple slab fronts and tab cabinet pulls - Island Stone Wave glass backsplash tile - White quartz countertops - Thermador range and dishwasher - Cedar & Moss mid-century brass light fixtures - Concealed undercabinet plug mold receptacles - Undercabinet LED lighting - Faux-wood porcelain tile for island paneling

Contemporary Barn

Appalachian Antique Hardwoods

This contemporary barn is the perfect mix of clean lines and colors with a touch of reclaimed materials in each room. The Mixed Species Barn Wood siding adds a rustic appeal to the exterior of this fresh living space. With interior white walls the Barn Wood ceiling makes a statement. Accent pieces are around each corner. Taking our Timbers Veneers to a whole new level, the builder used them as shelving in the kitchen and stair treads leading to the top floor. Tying the mix of brown and gray color tones to each room, this showstopper dinning table is a place for the whole family to gather.

Chautauqua Kitchen

Boulder Builders

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Denver with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Dunn Residence - Park City

Jorgenson Builders

Photo of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

The Hideaway

Veritas Fine Homes Inc

Photos credited to Imagesmith- Scott Smith Entertain with an open and functional kitchen/ dining room. The structural Douglas Fir post and ceiling beams set the tone along with the stain matched 2x6 pine tongue and groove ceiling –this also serves as the finished floor surface at the loft above. Dreaming a cozy feel at the kitchen/dining area a darker stain was used to visual provide a shorter ceiling height to a 9’ plate line. The knotty Alder floating shelves and wall cabinetry share their own natural finish with a chocolate glazing. The island cabinet was of painted maple with a chocolate glaze as well, this unit wanted to look like a piece of furniture that was brought into the ‘cabin’ rather than built-in, again with a value minded approach. The flooring is a pre-finished engineered ½” Oak flooring, and again with the darker shade we wanted to emotionally deliver the cozier feel for the space. Additionally, lighting is essential to a cook’s –and kitchen’s- performance. We needed there to be ample lighting but only wanted to draw attention to the pendants above the island and the dining chandelier. We opted to wash the back splash and the counter tops with hidden LED strips. We then elected to use track lighting over the cooking area with as small of heads as possible and in black to make them ‘go away’ or get lost in the sauce.

Roll-Out Shelves

Shelf Confident

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances and ceramic floors.

Korokoro House

Tse:Wallace Architects Ltd

A classic and contemporary kitchen & dining area looking out onto Korokoro Gorge. Photo by Paul McCredie
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Wellington with medium wood cabinets, a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and medium hardwood floors.

Mountain Ski Lodge

Faure Halvorsen Architects

Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Lake Austin Contemporary

Paula Ables Interiors

An open floor plan with high ceilings and large windows adds to the contemporary style of this home. The view to the outdoors creates a direct connection to the homes outdoor living spaces and the lake beyond. Photo by Jacob Bodkin. Architecture by James LaRue Architects.

Coastal Ranch

Anne Sneed Architectural Interiors

Jim Brady Architectural Photography
Inspiration for a country galley eat-in kitchen in San Diego with medium wood cabinets, a farmhouse sink, dark hardwood floors and shaker cabinets.

Refined Cherry Design

Renovisions

These South Shore homeowners desired a fresh look for their kitchen that was efficient and functional with a design worthy of showing off to family and friends. They also wished for more natural light, increased floor area and better countertop work space allowing for ease of preparation and cooking. The Renovisions team began the remodel by installing a larger (5’) window over the sink area which overlooks the beautiful backyard. Additional countertop workspace was achieved by utilizing the corner and installing a GE induction cooktop and stainless steel hood. This solution was spot on spectacular! Renovisions discussed the importance of adding lighting fixtures and the homeowners agreed. Under cabinet lighting was installed under wall cabinets with switch as well as two pendants over the peninsula and one pendant over the sink. It also made good design sense to add additional recessed ceiling fixtures with LED lights and trims that blend well with the ceiling. The project came together beautifully and boasts gorgeous shaker styled cherry cabinetry with glass mullian doors. The separate desk area serves as a much needed office/organizational area for keys, mail and electronic charging. A lovely backsplash of Tuscan-clay-look porcelain tile in 4”x8” brick pattern and diagonal tile with decorative metal-look accent tiles serves an eye-catching design detail. We created interest without being overdone. A large rectangular under-mounted ‘chef’ sink in stainless steel finish was the way to go here to accommodate larger pots and pans and platters. The creamy color marble like durable yet beautiful quartz countertops created a soft tone for the kitchens overall aesthetic look. Simple, pretty details give the cherry cabinets understated elegance and the mix of textures makes the room feel welcoming. Our client can’t wait to start preparing her favorite recipes for her family.

Highland's home in Bend, OR

Norman Building & Design

Kitchen with custom claro walnut cabinets, contemporary feel yet inviting for familiy and friends to enjoy. www.ButterflyMultimedia.com
This is an example of a large arts and crafts u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with slate floors, grey floor, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Kitchen with Medium Wood Cabinets and Purple Cabinets 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!