Inspiration for a traditional u-shaped kitchen in New York with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multiple islands, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Powers Lake Retreat

Thelen Total Construction

The cabinets are maple with a pewter glaze. The expansive serving bar island is great place to start the cocktail party! The other side of it includes an ice maker, wine chiller fridge, refrigerator drawer for cold snacks and a warming drawer to keep the hot hor d' ouevres warm.

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia

Buckminster Green LLC

Courtney Apple - photo J Thom - design
This is an example of a traditional eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, an undermount sink and raised-panel cabinets.

Elegant open plan kitchen and lounge

Harbour View Photography

Phil Jackson www.harbourviewphotography.com
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Dorset with grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey splashback and multiple islands.

Sconset Ocean Side

Carolyn Thayer interiors

Inspiration for a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multiple islands and grey floor.

West Univsersity 3

BwCollier Interior Design, BwC Studio, Inc

This is an example of a large transitional kitchen in Houston with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Contemporary Craftsman on the Water

Kati Curtis Design

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Doonan Glass House

Sarah Waller Architecture

Anastasia Kariorfyllidis
Design ideas for a contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sunshine Coast with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black splashback, multiple islands, white floor and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

This is an example of a transitional galley kitchen in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers - Kitchens

NARI of Central Ohio

Kitchen Over $120,000
Traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, brick splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinets

Berkshire Hills Design

Design ideas for a beach style kitchen in Bridgeport with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and multiple islands.

South Castle Rock Kitchen

Friends In Cabinetry, LLC

Inspiration for a large u-shaped kitchen in Denver with multiple islands, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, red floor and white benchtop.

Transitional New Construction

Two Hands Interiors

Design ideas for a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and white benchtop.

Laurelhurst MidCentury

MW|Works Architecture+Design

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, black appliances and multiple islands.

Rusholme Road

Zulufish

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

Project Eclectic East

HouseMill Design

Molly Culver
This is an example of an eclectic open plan kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Contemporary Kitchen

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, multiple islands, brown floor, a single-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, white appliances and light hardwood floors.

Historic House in Pasadena

JAMES V. COANE & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS

Traditional l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and panelled appliances.

Boulder Traditional Custom Kitchen

Beautiful Habitat: Design & Decoration

Two-tone cabinets, combining a cream paint with silver glaze and walnut. Built-in refrigerator and freezer hidden behind the wall of custom walnut cabinets. Two islands Custom wood hood Island lighting

Large Addition Renovation

Bistany Design®

Beautiful kitchen with two islands for a large family to gather in. One island with lots of seating while the other is used prepare meals still leaving the cook with lots of workspace. Between the built-in refrigerator and freezer a pewter countertop was used to mirror the materials used on the hood on the opposing wall.

Two Tone Kitchen Cabinets Kitchen with multiple Islands 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!