Adding lighting above the sink is always a must but finding a unique and stylish way to do it can be a challenge. These 3 wall sconces fill the space with the perfect amount of light and balance the windows well. Mixing metal finishes was something this client was on board with and they all work together here.

Contemporary Victorian home overhaul

Mel Massey Studio

Designed by Mel Massey Photography by David Giles Kitchen by Ashley Smith Furniture
This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Colorful Ranch Retreat

JJ Interiors

A winning combination in this gorgeous kitchen...mixing rich, warm woods, a chiseled edge countertop and painted cabinets, capped with a custom copper hood. The textured tile splash is the perfect backdrop while the sleek pendant light hovers above.

Modern Evanston Farmhouse

Kitchen Design Partners, Inc.

Photo Credit: Jill Buckner Photography
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, recessed-panel cabinets and ceramic splashback.

Dallas | Hillside | Kitchen

Kitchen Design Concepts

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

This 1957 mid-century modern home in North Oaks, MN is beaming with character, charm and happens to be the designer, Megan Dent’s, favorite style. The rambler was purchased in February 2018 and the new design began immediately. Being a 60-year-old home, the whole home remodel made it an exciting, modern and fresh transformation! The galley kitchen features Décor Cabinets, Cambria and Corian Quartz surfaces, original parquet flooring with a beautiful statement pendant. The master bathroom highlights Corian Quartz with a miter fold and a stunning Jeffery Court backsplash. The other rooms and entire home ties together beautifully with cohesive accessories and professional design expertise leading the way. Scott Amundson Photography, LLC

Tolita Project

Bungalow 56

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Desert House - Modernism Week Featured Home

Turkel Design

Axiom Desert House by Turkel Design in Palm Springs, California ; Photo by Chase Daniel ; custom cabinets by Turkel Design ; surfaces, backsplash, and storage accessories from Corian, counter stools by Fyrn, appliances by Dacor ;paint from Dunn-Edwards ; doors and windows from Marvin

Contemporary Oceanscape

Nicholson Companies

This warm contemporary residence embodies the comfort and allure of the coastal lifestyle.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, marble floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Mt. Tabor East

Raphael Design, Inc

Kitchen space with solid open shelving, custom cabinetry and custom bar stools
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Snoqualmie home

Jordan Valente Construction LLC

Inspiration for an expansive transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with quartzite benchtops, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Caputuring Craftsman

Creative Design Construction, Inc.

Embracing an authentic Craftsman-styled kitchen was one of the primary objectives for these New Jersey clients. They envisioned bending traditional hand-craftsmanship and modern amenities into a chef inspired kitchen. The woodwork in adjacent rooms help to facilitate a vision for this space to create a free-flowing open concept for family and friends to enjoy. This kitchen takes inspiration from nature and its color palette is dominated by neutral and earth tones. Traditionally characterized with strong deep colors, the simplistic cherry cabinetry allows for straight, clean lines throughout the space. A green subway tile backsplash and granite countertops help to tie in additional earth tones and allow for the natural wood to be prominently displayed. The rugged character of the perimeter is seamlessly tied into the center island. Featuring chef inspired appliances, the island incorporates a cherry butchers block to provide additional prep space and seating for family and friends. The free-standing stainless-steel hood helps to transform this Craftsman-style kitchen into a 21st century treasure.

Cedarburg Custom First Floor Renovation

Froze Design Build, Inc.

James Meyer Photography
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Oakleigh Drive Colleyville

Atwood Custom Homes

Large modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Westlake Contemporary New Construction

Laura Burton Interiors

An Indoor Lady
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Daniel Island Creekside

DLB Custom Home Design

Patrick Brickman
This is an example of a contemporary eat-in kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Knotty Alder Kitchen & Bath

Riddle Construction & Design

Blending knotty alder cabinets with classic quartz countertops, subway tile and rich oak flooring makes this open plan kitchen a warm retreat. Wrapped posts now replace previous structural walls and flank the extra-large island. Pro appliances, an apron sink and heavy hardware completes the rustic look. The adjacent bathroom features the same materials along with trendy encaustic floor tile for fun.

South Salem Kitchen Remodel

C&R Remodeling

Homeowner needed more light, more room, more style. We knocked out the wall between kitchen and dining room and replaced old window with a larger one. New stained cabinets, Soapstone countertops, and full-height tile backsplash turned this once inconvenient,d ark kitchen into an inviting and beautiful space. We relocated the refrigerator and applied cabinet panels. The new duel-fuel range provides the utmost in cooking options. A farm sink brings another appealing design element into the clean-up area. New lighting plan includes undercabinet lighting, recessed lighting in the dining room, and pendant light fixtures over the island. New wood flooring was woven in with existing to create a seamless expanse of beautiful hardwood. New wood beams were stained to match the floor bringing even more warmth and charm to this kitchen.

Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Remodel

SKP Design

This family fell in love with a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home that needed a few updates to fit their lifestyle. They needed more functional kitchen space for caterers and also for their own love of cooking. The kitchen island was redesigned to improve function and add extra oven space, a wine fridge and a prep sink. Block Builders replicated the original cabinetry style for the island and added Frank Lloyd Wright design elements to all of the cabinets. Custom Motawi tile and a stainless exhaust hood are featured above the Wolf range. Window banquette seating designed for the dinette makes the space more welcoming and comfortable. Hubbardton Forge lighting fixtures complete the new look. Photographer: Casey Spring

Cosy & Contemporary Basement Apartment in Belsize Park

Casey & Fox

Simon Maxwell
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic galley open plan kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with Medium Wood Cabinets and with Island 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!