Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Kitchen - Oakton, VA

Berriz Design Build Group

Photo of a small transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in DC Metro with open cabinets, white cabinets, ceramic floors and no island.

Salt Lake Projects

The Closet Butler

Pantry
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional kitchen pantry in Salt Lake City with open cabinets, white cabinets and no island.

Farrier Home

Alpenglow Custom Builders

Mid-sized arts and crafts kitchen pantry in Other with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Pantry

A Closet Case

This is an example of a small traditional kitchen pantry in Charleston with open cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Victorian Family Home in Great Barrington

Jess Cooney Interiors

This is an example of a transitional eat-in kitchen in Other with open cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback and with island.

Wharf House

Wright-Ryan Homes

Rob Karosis
This is an example of a beach style kitchen in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback and panelled appliances.

25th Street

Designer Floors Inc.

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with open cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, marble benchtops and stone slab splashback.

Colorado Mountain Contemporary

TKP Architects

David Patterson
Photo of a mid-sized country galley separate kitchen in Denver with open cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Modern Rock Star Retreat

John McClain Design

The epitome of modern and warm, this kitchen and dining room combination blend grays, whites, blacks, and metallics into a sleek and contemporary space that is ready for sophisticated entertaining. Stephen Allen Photography

Kitchen Organization

Neat Method San Diego

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional kitchen pantry in San Diego with open cabinets and white cabinets.

Waxman Kitchen & Bath Remodel

George Ramos Woodworking Inc

anna m campbell
Contemporary kitchen in Portland with open cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wood benchtops, white cabinets, brown splashback and subway tile splashback.

PARK AVENUE DUPLEX

de-spec

Photographer: Frank Oudeman
Modern galley kitchen in New York with wood benchtops, open cabinets and white cabinets.

University Park Timeless Transitional

Nicole Arnold Interiors

As this family was moving to Dallas, they needed the guidance of a designer to provide finishing touches to the building process as well as someone to fully furnish their new home. Their desire was to have a new start in an updated transitional and slightly modern style, quite different from their previous home’s modern farmhouse décor. We brought in clean lines, warm textures and an abundance of neutrals to keep a light and airy feel throughout most of the home, reserving some moody tones for the study and a little drama in the guest bath. This home’s new, elevated aesthetic is a perfect balance of beauty, function, light and elegance. It just flows with feelings of comfort and ease!

Charming Cottage

City Homes, LLC

Troy Theis Photography
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Pantry Storage

Tailored Living of the Main Line

Mid-sized contemporary kitchen pantry in Philadelphia with open cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Karen Way Residence

mark architecture

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Greenwich Village

Pamela Dailey Design

This 400 s.f. studio apartment in NYC’s Greenwich Village serves as a pied-a-terre for clients whose primary residence is on the West Coast. Although the clients do not reside here full-time, this tiny space accommodates all the creature comforts of home. The kitchenette combines custom cool grey lacquered cabinets with brass fittings, white beveled subway tile, and a warm brushed brass backsplash; an antique Boucherouite runner and textural woven stools that pull up to the kitchen’s coffee counter punctuate the clean palette with warmth and the human scale. The under-counter freezer and refrigerator, along with the 18” dishwasher, are all panelled to match the cabinets, and open shelving to the ceiling maximizes the feeling of the space’s volume. The entry closet doubles as home for a combination washer/dryer unit. The custom bathroom vanity, with open brass legs sitting against floor-to-ceiling marble subway tile, boasts a honed gray marble countertop, with an undermount sink offset to maximize precious counter space and highlight a pendant light. A tall narrow cabinet combines closed and open storage, and a recessed mirrored medicine cabinet conceals additional necessaries. The stand-up shower is kept minimal, with simple white beveled subway tile and frameless glass doors, and is large enough to host a teak and stainless bench for comfort; black sink and bath fittings ground the otherwise light palette. What had been a generic studio apartment became a rich landscape for living.

West One House, Fitzrovia, London

Francesco Pierazzi Architects

The proposal for the renovation of a small apartment on the third floor of a 1990s block in the hearth of Fitzrovia sets out to wipe out the original layout and update its configuration to suit the requirements of the new owner. The challenge was to incorporate an ambitious brief within the limited space of 48 sqm. A narrow entrance corridor is sandwiched between integrated storage and a pod that houses Utility functions on one side and the Kitchen on the side opposite and leads to a large open space Living Area that can be separated by means of full height pivoting doors. This is the starting point of an imaginary interior circulation route that guides one to the terrace via the sleeping quarter and which is distributed with singularities that enrich the quality of the journey through the small apartment. Alternating the qualities of each space further augments the degree of variation within such a limited space. The materials have been selected to complement each other and to create a homogenous living environment where grey concrete tiles are juxtaposed to spray lacquered vertical surfaces and the walnut kitchen counter adds and earthy touch and is contrasted with a painted splashback. In addition, the services of the apartment have been upgraded and the space has been fully insulated to improve its thermal and sound performance. Photography by Gianluca Maver

Broadway Kitchen

Emergent Construction

Alex & Sonya Overhiser
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen in Indianapolis with open cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, subway tile splashback and white cabinets.

Kitchen with Open Cabinets and White Cabinets 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!