Rockwood & Seymours Horsell
Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Hampshire with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Grand Victorian Bedazzles

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Design by #PaulBentham4JenniferGilmer in Baltimore, Maryland. Photography by Bob Narod. http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/

Transitional Remodel

JEB Design/Build

Here's another shot that really showcases the very distinctive copper vent hood that our homeowners chose. It really makes the glass-top range the focal point of the kitchen. Pictures by Neil Johnson Photography

Splendid Kitchen Magesty

Lustig Custom Cabinets

Pull-out spice rack flanks the cooktop. Mandi B Photography
Expansive transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Cygnus Granite Bar

Unique Stone Concepts

Gegg Design and Cabinetry
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional galley kitchen pantry in St Louis with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors and no island.

The critical work zone

JWH Design and Cabinetry LLC

Furniture-grade walnut on the Island with the GE microwave tucked away for easy access by the kids. Custom inset cabinetry with polished nickel hardware. Wolf 48" range and hood,

The Willow House

Humphrey Munson

We work on projects all shapes and sizes at H|M and all ages too: from Tudor manor houses to new build properties, every property comes with a unique set of attributes and challenges along the way. One of the most important things to us and our clients with the design of the kitchen, utility and boot room at the Willow House project was to ensure a good flow between the different zones and that the overall space suited the scale and proportion of the building. It’s hard enough for clients to visualise how a kitchen will look in an existing home, let alone in a building that doesn’t exist yet. Scale and proportion are so key to a successful kitchen design and the false chimney we designed and built in the kitchen not only houses the Lacanche range cooker but also provides a focal point that helps to ground the overall design. The antique effect mirror splashback helps to bounce the light back across the room and either side of the false chimney are wall cabinets providing additional storage space with useable countertop space below. Photo Credit - Paul Craig

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

Contemporary Grey Kitchen

Tom Howley

The Hartford collection is an inspired modern update on the classic Shaker style kitchen. Designed with simplicity in mind, the kitchens in this range have a universal appeal that never fails to delight. Each kitchen is beautifully proportioned, with an unerring focus on scale that ensures the final result is flawless. The impressive island adds much needed extra storage and work surface space, perfect for busy family living. Placed in the centre of the kitchen, it creates a hub for friends and family to gather. A large Kohler sink, with Perrin & Rowe taps creates a practical prep area and because it’s positioned between the Aga and fridge it creates an ideal work triangle.

Bright Functionality

User

Kitchens Unlimited
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

The Willows, Summerlin

Design by Sasha

Huge island with large seating area, and a waterfall on both sides
Inspiration for a large transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Las Vegas with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

REINVENT Riverock

Rock Kauffman Design

Dave Kingma
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in Grand Rapids with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Grand Victorian Bedazzles

Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath

Design by #PaulBentham4JenniferGilmer in Baltimore, Maryland. Photography by Bob Narod. http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/

Allambie House

theorganicmamas

Industrial kitchen Stainless steel pre-fab commercial pieces integrated with Ilve free standing 120cm oven. Stainless steel bench top with large storage drawers underneath. Mirrored splashback. Photography by Richard Whitbread

Turramurra - Contemporary Kitchen

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

The homeowners of this beautiful Turramurra kitchen design wanted a statement kitchen with a bold, contemporary design featuring marble and dark cabinetry.

The Block - Dean & Shay's kitchen

THE GOOD GUYS

Photo of a large contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, metallic splashback, with island, light wood cabinets, mirror splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Modern White Kitchen with Stainless steel and Marble Countertop

Semerjian Interiors

Black and White Modern Kitchen in Philadelphia's Main Line Suburbs. Photo credit: Rebecca Mc Alpin
This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, marble benchtops, grey splashback and mirror splashback.

Kitchen - Conproj Dark Grey 60x60

European Heritage

EMR Home Design David Butler Photography his stunning project situated in the heart of Fulham by EMR Home design featured a few of our tiles throughout the property. The bathroom is a particularly interesting combination with the wonderful use of a herringbone laying pattern on the walls & a large format cement effect tile on the floor throughout the walk-in shower. The splashback in the kitchen is a perfect accent to the uniformity of the floor tiles & kitchen units.

Lagoon House

Robin Payne - Building Design

Phill Jackson Photography
Inspiration for an expansive tropical galley kitchen pantry in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback and mirror splashback.

Kitchen Renovation - Wheelers Hill

Damco Kitchens

Aaron Widyanto
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen pantry in Melbourne with open cabinets, white cabinets and mirror splashback.

Kitchen with Mirror 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!