Photo of a large modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Buckinghamshire with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Traditional Kitchen

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in Other with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, with island and grey floor.

Dublin Townhouse

The Design Yard Dublin

Classical kitchen with Navy hand painted finish with Silestone quartz work surfaces & mirror splash back.
Large traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dublin with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

North Yorkshire Contemporary German Kitchen

DJB Photography

Damian James Bramley, DJB Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor, an undermount sink, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances and grey benchtop.

Brisbane CBD - Apartment

Kim Duffin for Sublime Luxury Kitchens & Bathrooms

This sky home with stunning views over Brisbane's CBD, the river and Kangaroo Point Cliffs captures the maturity now found in inner city living in Brisbane. Originally from Melbourne and with his experience gain from extensive business travel abroad, the owner of the apartment decided to transform his home to match the cosmopolitan lifestyle he has enjoyed whilst living in these locations. The original layout of the kitchen was typical for apartments built over 20 years ago. The space was restricted by a collection of small rooms, two dining areas plus kitchen that did not take advantage of the views or the need for a strong connection between living areas and the outdoors. The new design has managed to still give definition to activities performed in the kitchen, dining and living but through minimal detail the kitchen does not dominate the space which can often happen in an open plan. A typical galley kitchen design was selected as it best catered for how the space relates to the rest of the apartment and adjoining living space. An effortless workflow is created from the start point of the pantry, housing food stores as well as small appliances, and refrigerator. These are within easy reach of the preparation zones and cooking on the island. Then delivery to the dining area is seamless. There are a number of key features used in the design to create the feeling of spaces whilst maximising functionality. The mirrored kickboards reflect light (aided by the use of LED strip lighting to the underside of the cabinets) creating the illusion that the cabinets are floating thus reducing the footprint in the design. The simple design philosophy is continued with the use of Laminam, 3mm porcelain sheets to the vertical and horizontal surfaces. This material is then mitred on the edges of all drawers and doors extenuate the seamless, minimalist, cube look. A cantilevered bespoke silky oak timber benchtop placed on the island creates a small breakfast/coffee area whilst increasing bench space and creating the illusion of more space. The stain and other features of this unique piece of timber compliments the tones found in the porcelain skin of the kitchen. The half wall built behind the sinks hides the entry point of the services into the apartment. This has been clad in a complimentary laminate for the timber benchtop . Mirror splashbacks help reflect more light into the space. The cabinets above the cleaning zone also appear floating due to the mirrored surface behind and the placement of LED strip lighting used to highlight the perimeter. A fully imported FALMAC Stainless Rangehood and flyer over compliments the plasterboard bulkhead that houses the air conditioning whilst providing task lighting to the island. Lighting has been used throughout the space to highlight and frame the design elements whist creating illumination for all tasks completed in the kitchen. Achieving "fluid motion" has been a major influence in the choice of hardware used in the design. Blum servo drive electronic drawer opening systems have been used to counter act any issues that may be encounter by the added weight of the porcelain used on the drawer fronts. These are then married with Blum Intivo soft close drawer systems. The devil is in the detail with a design and space that is so low profile yet complicated in it's simplicity. Steve Ryan - Rix Ryan Photography

Kitchen

Fedewa Custom Works

Rustic kitchen cabinets with green Viking appliances. Cabinets were built by Fedewa Custom Works. Warm, sunset colors make this kitchen very inviting. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The cabinets are knotty alder wood, with a stain and glaze we developed here in our shop.

Greenlea

Miri Design Ltd

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Hertfordshire with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Spiegelwand statt Fliesenspiegel

Ellerbrock "Bad und Küche" GmbH

Um auch der Stilwand besondere Offenheit zu verleihen wurde unter den Oberschränken und hinter dem Spülbereich auf einen klassischen Fliesenspiegel verzichtet. Stattdessen gibt eine Spiegel-Verkleidung auch dem wandseitigen Küchenbereich eine offene und großzügige Wirkung.

Elegant Luxe - SieMatic Kitchen

Grid Thirteen Luxury Kitchens, Bedrooms & Living

Large contemporary galley kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Handmade Kitchen in Crouch End, London

WILLIAMS RIDOUT

Open-plan living made simple with a deep blue colour scheme running throughout this rear extension in Crouch End, London. Traditionally styled with contemporary features, this handmade kitchen is hand painted with our specialist finish and boasts curved ends on both sides, dovetailed oak drawers and a mirrored splashback.

Hinsdale North Adams Street

Plain & Posh

This small kitchen space needed to have every inch function well for this young family. By adding the banquette seating we were able to get the table out of the walkway and allow for easier flow between the rooms. Wall cabinets to the counter on either side of the custom plaster hood gave room for food storage as well as the microwave to get tucked away. The clean lines of the slab drawer fronts and beaded inset make the space feel visually larger.

M Residence

archer design

Photography by Luc Remond
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, marble benchtops, mirror splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets and black cabinets.

Design Sur Mesure : L'Art de Réinventer 61 m²

A.D.O Concept

Small modern single-wall eat-in kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, white cabinets, wood benchtops, black splashback, slate splashback, panelled appliances, no island, black floor, brown benchtop, flat-panel cabinets and concrete floors.

draw Architecture

MK Photography

maciek kolodziejski
Design ideas for a contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, mirror splashback, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Sea Cliff Huntington Beach

Remodel Experts, Inc.

Design ideas for a large tropical l-shaped separate kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

Mid-sized transitional kitchen in Essex with mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, beige floor, travertine floors and white cabinets.

Elegant Oak

Rencraft Ltd

Clean, simple, uncluttered. This elegant oak and hand-painted kitchen features an understated bevelled door detail which lends the room a classic, timeless style. The layout flows around the central island which houses a built-in wine cooler and has a circular prep sink at one end balanced by a larger, circular solid oak dining area at the other. These curves complement the two arched doorways at the far end of the room, filling the space with light. Plenty of storage has been provided thanks to a traditional larder with oak interiors and twin double-door butler cupboards. Finishing touches include Miele appliances, quartz worktops with a profiled edge detail, a mirrored glass splashback and polished stainless steel handles.

Moulton

Garsden and Clarke Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Brisbane with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, mirror splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, multiple islands and grey floor.

Monogram Appliances

CenWood Appliance

Photo of a mid-sized traditional single-wall open plan kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, beige floor, raised-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island and beige benchtop.

South Curl Curl - Dream Waterfront Custom Home

Chris Flemming Building Services

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Kitchen with Mirror Splashback and Slate 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!