Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Hale Navy

Thyme & Place Design LLC

The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Bromley

Monita Cheung Design Ltd

Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan kitchen in Kent with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, metallic splashback, glass tile splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Lakeside House

Corylus

Contemporary kitchen in Gloucestershire with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Moose lakeside Kitchen

Cabinet Supreme by Adair

New Dura Supreme Gale Force Blue paint color island with matched with White Pewter accent Marley door style featuring the new Island X end panel feature. Background Built in Microwave with X Mullion glass door to match.

Kitchen Extension for Hannah Portman

Anna Stathaki | Photography

©Anna Stathaki
Transitional l-shaped kitchen in London with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Ioco Road

User

Tracey Ayton Photography
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Chic Kitchen Update

Di Biase Filkoff Architects

Transitional kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, shaker cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback and dark hardwood floors.

The Hampton Court Kitchen

Naked Kitchens

Tim Doyle
Inspiration for a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, medium hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop, blue cabinets, metallic splashback and brown floor.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Albuquerque with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and concrete floors.

Reflective Glam in Thoroughgood

B&T Kitchens and Baths

Photo of a large modern open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen with an Island - Wimbledon, London

Elan Kitchens

Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

High Park Home

Toronto Interior Design Group

Valerie Wilcox
Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances and no island.

Wheat Ridge Remodel

Beth Simmons Interior Design

Oak and painted cabinetry combination with metal backsplash. Two-level quartz countertops. Built-in refrigerator.
This is an example of an expansive modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Navy & Cream - Winkfield Collection

Maple & Gray

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in Berkshire with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor, blue cabinets, metallic splashback and white benchtop.

Mountview

Martins Camisuli Architects

What struck us strange about this property was that it was a beautiful period piece but with the darkest and smallest kitchen considering it's size and potential. We had a quite a few constrictions on the extension but in the end we managed to provide a large bright kitchen/dinning area with direct access to a beautiful garden and keeping the 'new ' in harmony with the existing building. We also expanded a small cellar into a large and functional Laundry room with a cloakroom bathroom. Jake Fitzjones Photography Ltd

Contemporary Garden Room Kitchen

Planet Furniture

This contemporary, super-smart kitchen in Old Welwyn is part of a new extension that was designed with the open space of the garden in mind. The understated, bespoke kitchen design (from our Handmade in Hitchin range) means the focus is on the outdoors when the sliding doors are open or through the expanse of glass in the colder months. Keeping it contemporary, the handleless cabinets have been hand painted in F&B’s All White and Little Greene’s Dock Blue. Providing a warm, tactile contrast is the Wide Planked Oak 60mm Breakfast Bar which extends from the kitchen island, down to the floor and provides seating on both sides. Deep drawers and large cabinets provide ample storage and easy accessibility whilst the floating, oak shelves are perfect for displaying cookery books and artefacts. Integrated Miele appliances ensure the sleek, uncluttered finish is maintained with the induction hob & downdraft extractor inset unobtrusively on the Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold Quartz worktop. And, in turn, this popular durable worktop perfectly partners the (wow factor) splashback in Hand Silvered Antiqued Mirror. A real feature of this family kitchen is the bespoke extra-large pantry which was commissioned as a drinks cabinet with integrated wine cooler. Serving both functional and visual purposes it’s designed using the same flat slab doors as the kitchen cabinets but with bi-fold opening and flush handles. However, it’s the inside where the magic lies - integrated lighting, the same Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold Quartz worktop, solid oak wine glass holders and antiqued mirror glass - It’s these details that make it a thing of beauty!

Wheat Ridge Remodel

Beth Simmons Interior Design

Oak and painted cabinetry combination with metal backsplash. Two-level quartz countertops. Built-in refrigerator.
Design ideas for an expansive modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kingswood Road

Zulufish

Kitchen, joinery and panelling by HUX LONDON https://hux-london.co.uk/ Interiors by Zulufish https://zulufishinteriors.co.uk/

Cleveland Road

Phillips Tracey Architects

Design ideas for a contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, metallic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Kitchen with Blue Cabinets and Metallic Splashback 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!