Matt Steeves Studio
Photo of an expansive transitional kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Kitchen

Coastal Signature Homes

Cabinets: Centerpoint Cabinets, KithKitchens (Bright White with Brushed Gray Glaze) Black splash: Savannah Surfaces (Venatto Grigio Herringbone) Perimeter: Caesarstone (Alpine Mist Honed) Island Countertop: Precision Granite & Marble- Cygnus Leather Appliances: Ferguson, Kitchenaid Sink: Ferguson, Kohler Pendants: Circa Lighting

Tustin Kitchen

Vision Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain floors, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, grey floor and white benchtop.

Reborn Cabinets Kitchen Reface - Irvine, CA

Reborn Cabinets Inc.

“We want to redo our cabinets…but my kitchen is so small!” We hear this a lot here at Reborn Cabinets. You might be surprised how many people put off refreshing their kitchen simply because homeowners can’t see beyond their own square footage. Not all of us can live in a big, sprawling ranch house, but that doesn’t mean that a small kitchen can’t be polished into a real gem! This project is a great example of how dramatic the difference can be when we rethink our space—even just a little! By removing hanging cabinets, this kitchen opened-up very nicely. The light from the preexisting French doors could flow wonderfully into the adjacent family room. The finishing touches were made by transforming a very small “breakfast nook” into a clean and useful storage space.

Katie & Drew's Kitchen

Hello Kitchen

Whit Preston
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, a peninsula, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Frost Island with Perfect Veining on Counter Top

Kitchen Intuitions

Large Frost colored island with a thick counter top gives a more contemporary look.
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Serene Family Kitchen

Potter Construction Inc

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop and medium hardwood floors.

North Of Nell

Cathers Home Furniture + Interior Design

Large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and quartz benchtops.

Our Palm Beach Color-Splosion Apartment!

Carrie Hayward Design

I wanted to paint the lower kitchen cabinets navy or teal, but I thought black would hide the dishwasher and stove better. The blue ceiling makes up for it though! We also covered the peeling particle-board countertop next to the stove with a polished marble remnant. Photo © Bethany Nauert

Green Dream Kitchen

E.L. Designs

This gem shows how stunning a custom paint color can be! With gorgeous garden views, we wanted to reflect the outdoors in the kitchen, and the homeowners loved green, so we chose Benjamin Moore Cushing Green for the perimeter cabinets, which tie in beautifully to the natural stone slab at the island, and pair perfectly with the Lunada Bay mosaic tile backsplash. Tons of natural light, vaulted ceilings with skylights, and an open layout make for a delightful place to cook!

West Chester Borough Whole House Remodel

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

John Welsh
Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Philadelphia with soapstone benchtops, black benchtop, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Sunnyvale one of a kind colorful resident

Tal Goldstein

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Contemporary Craftsman: Kitchen

Wesley-Wayne Interiors, LLC

A breakfast table attached to the kitchen island offers additional seating and tabletop space. Behind the island, a deep slate blue back wall draws attention to an intricate, multicolored mosaic tile backsplash. Built-in cabinetry and appliances keep the space open and sleek. Design: Wesley-Wayne Interiors Photo: Stephen Karlisch

Heritage Extension & Renovation: South Melbourne Project 2

First Avenue Homes

Sam Martin - 4 Walls Media
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, mosaic tile splashback and black appliances.

Custom, Traditional Style Sapele Cabinetry

Castor Inc.

David Sibbitt of Sibbitt Wernert
This is an example of a large transitional kitchen in Tampa with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands and beige floor.

Vibe

MOJO Homes

Vibe The Vibe is a home where life can be lived in full colour. A home created to be enjoyed, to be loved, to be lived in. The Vibe has mojo at its core. Every room, finish and fitting, is packed with style, luxury and charisma. Think Tropical Palm Springs styling with a mod Scandinavian edge would best describe the décor on display. What makes the Vibe different is the emerald green featured throughout in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways!

Mid-Century Modern White Galley Kitchen

Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

• Full Eichler Galley Kitchen Remodel • Updated finishes in a warm palette of white + gray • A home office was incorporated to provide additional functionality to the space. • Decorative Accessory Styling • General Contractor: CKM Construction • Custom Casework: Benicia Cabinets • Backsplash Tile: Artistic Tile • Countertop: Caesarstone • Induction Cooktop: GE Profile • Exhaust Hood: Zephyr • Wall Oven: Kitchenaid • Flush mount hardware pulls - Hafele • Leather + steel side chair - Frag • Engineered Wood Floor - Cos Nano Tech • Floor runner - Bolon • Vintage globe pendant light fixtures - provided by the owner

Fairway Home

Kala Performance Homes

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

California Kitchen

McCutcheon Construction Inc.

Large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Mountain Home, Stowe VT

Patterson and Smith Construction, Inc.

Susan Teara, photographer
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Burlington with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor, solid surface benchtops and an undermount sink.

Kitchen with Mosaic Tile 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!