A panel ready door is integrated into the cabinet system to conceal a door that hides the laundry room and storage.
Design ideas for a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Chic

KW Designs

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Oak Hills Mid Century Modern

Mosaik Design & Remodeling

This outdated kitchen came with flowered wallpaper, narrow connections to Entry and Dining Room, outdated cabinetry and poor workflow. By opening up the ceiling to expose existing beams, widening both entrys and adding taller, angled windows, light now steams into this bright and cheery Mid Century Modern kitchen. The custom Pratt & Larson turquoise tiles add so much interest and tie into the new custom painted blue door. The walnut wood base cabinets add a warm, natural element. A cozy seating area for TV watching, reading and coffee looks out to the new clear cedar fence and landscape.

Obsessed with Southwest Kitchen

InteriorEcho, LLC

Design ideas for a galley kitchen in San Diego with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Deco House

Mihaly Slocombe

Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, terrazzo floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen with Yellow & Green

Model Remodel

© Cindy Apple Photography
Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped separate kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

Walnut and Black Modern Kitchen Remodel

USA Cabinet Store Fairfax

Photo of a large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and black benchtop.

Coastal Home - Gualala, CA

Studio Bergtraun AIA

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and wood.

Pocket Door Pantry With A Little Extra

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Coldsprings Ski Condo

Susan Witman Interior Design

Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Enchantment Custom

Curtis Homes

Expansive contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands, white benchtop, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Statford Kitchen

H. Miller Bros

STRATFORD KITCHEN A mid-century inspired kitchen, designed for a mid-century house. We love mid-century style, and so when we were approached to design this kitchen for a beautifully revived mid-century villa in Warwickshire, it was a dream commission. Simple, clean cabinetry was brought to life with the gorgeous iroko timber, and the cabinetry sat on a matt black plinth – a classic mid-century detail. A walk-in pantry, lined in single-depth shelving, was framed behind sliding doors glazed with traditional reeded glass. Refrigeration and storage was contained in a long run of tall cabinets, that finished in a mirror-backed bar with integral ice bucket But the show-stealer was a set of bespoke, handmade shelves that screened the kitchen from the hallway in this open plan home. Subtly detailed, like only real furniture-makers can, with traditional jointing and mid-century radiused edges.

Lincoln Park, Chicago

Mobili Mobel

Valcucine kitchen cabinetry in Elm Pieve melamine with gloss lacquer uppers. The bar area in the kitchen features wall paneling to the ceiling with think aluminum shelves. The floors are Arrigoni engineered oak with oiled finish.

Condo at the Market

Board & Vellum

Photography by Tina Witherspoon.
Design ideas for a small modern galley separate kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, a peninsula, grey benchtop, black appliances, flat-panel cabinets and white splashback.

Venice Beach

Kim Layne Design Associates

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, with island, an undermount sink, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Japanese Inspired Remodel in Noe Valley

Mark Brand Architecture

The design of this remodel of a small two-level residence in Noe Valley reflects the owner's passion for Japanese architecture. Having decided to completely gut the interior partitions, we devised a better-arranged floor plan with traditional Japanese features, including a sunken floor pit for dining and a vocabulary of natural wood trim and casework. Vertical grain Douglas Fir takes the place of Hinoki wood traditionally used in Japan. Natural wood flooring, soft green granite and green glass backsplashes in the kitchen further develop the desired Zen aesthetic. A wall to wall window above the sunken bath/shower creates a connection to the outdoors. Privacy is provided through the use of switchable glass, which goes from opaque to clear with a flick of a switch. We used in-floor heating to eliminate the noise associated with forced-air systems.

McConnell

Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe

This true mid-century modern home was ready to be revived. The home was built in 1959 and lost its character throughout the various remodels over the years. Our clients came to us trusting that with our help, they could love their home again. This design is full of clean lines, yet remains playful and organic. The first steps in the kitchen were removing the soffit above the previous cabinets and reworking the cabinet layout. They didn't have an island before and the hood was in the middle of the room. They gained so much storage in the same square footage of kitchen. We started by incorporating custom flat slab walnut cabinetry throughout the home. We lightened up the rooms with bright white countertops and gave the kitchen a 3-dimensional emerald green backsplash tile. In the hall bathroom, we chose a penny round floor tile, a terrazzo tile installed in a grid pattern from floor-to-ceiling behind the floating vanity. The hexagon mirror and asymmetrical pendant light are unforgettable. We finished it with a frameless glass panel in the shower and crisp, white tile. In the master bath, we chose a wall-mounted faucet, a full wall of glass tile which runs directly into the shower niche and a geometric floor tile. Our clients can't believe this is the same home and they feel so lucky to be able to enjoy it every day.

Coffee Station with Cat Feeding Area

Deborah Hook

Heritage Cherry Coffee/Cat Station. We took advantage of an offset wall to create a functional coffee nook. An open bottom base cabinet with arched valance provide the perfect area to feed Kitty Cat

Leiblein Kitchen

Dutch Made Custom Cabinetry

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Beverly Drive

Bella Casa Luxury Home Staging

The right amount of accessories keeps this kitchen open and ready to host.
Design ideas for an expansive transitional u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

All Cabinet Styles Kitchen with Medium Wood 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!