Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Wollongong with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

City Beach

Glenda Roff

Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with an integrated sink, white cabinets, limestone benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, beige benchtop, vaulted and marble benchtops.

Hyde Park Residence

Alby Turner and Son

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Adelaide with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Grand Haven Custom Home

Chirigos Designs / Design Bar

A butler's pantry for a cook's dream. Green custom cabinetry houses paneled appliances and storage for all the additional items. White oak floating shelves are topped with brass railings. The backsplash is a Zellige handmade tile in various tones of neutral.

Modern Kitchen with Charisma - Winfield, IL

TKS Design Group

Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW Collaborations are typically so fruitful and this one was no different. The homeowners started by hiring an architect to develop a vision and plan for transforming their very traditional brick home into a contemporary family home full of modern updates. The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn was hired to provide kitchen design expertise and to bring the vision to life. The bamboo cabinetry and white Ceasarstone countertops provide contrast that pops while the white oak floors and limestone tile bring warmth to the space. A large island houses a Galley Sink which provides a multi-functional work surface fantastic for summer entertaining. And speaking of summer entertaining, a new Nana Wall system — a large glass wall system that creates a large exterior opening and can literally be opened and closed with one finger – brings the outdoor in and creates a very unique flavor to the space. Matching bamboo cabinetry and panels were also installed in the adjoining family room, along with aluminum doors with frosted glass and a repeat of the limestone at the newly designed fireplace. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Transitional Navy

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and blue benchtop.

LAMBER - Rénovation complète 150m2, Paris

Beau Intérieur

This is an example of a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Paris with flat-panel cabinets, light hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances and white benchtop.

Bayadere Newport Beach

William Guidero Planning and Design

Mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Custom White Raised panel cabinets

Otero Signature Homes

Design ideas for a large l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cleveland with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Englewood Road SW12

User

Matt Clayton Photography
Design ideas for a transitional galley eat-in kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Westover Hill Renovation

Shirley Meisels

Photograph ©Stephani Buchman
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen

THINK Architecture, Inc.

Photo by: Joshua Caldwell
Photo of an expansive traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Salt Lake City with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Seattle Contemporary Waterfront

H2 View

Open format kitchen includes gorgeous custom cabinets, a large underlit island with an induction cooktop and waterfall countertops. Full height slab backsplash and paneled appliances complete the sophisticated design.

BOERUM HILL 2 BR

Studio HB

Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, white benchtop, with island and beige floor.

Parkmeadow

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

This beautiful eclectic kitchen brings together the class and simplistic feel of mid century modern with the comfort and natural elements of the farmhouse style. The white cabinets, tile and countertops make the perfect backdrop for the pops of color from the beams, brass hardware and black metal fixtures and cabinet frames.

Charleston Harbor Front Home

Sea Island Builders LLC

Open and airy kitchen with white cabinetry and black hardware. Butler's pantry and built-in appliances encased in cabinetry lend a contemporary look to the space.

#TheRambler

Ember & Brune

What started solely as a master bath project soon spiraled into working with the homeowners to redefine and remodel most of this split level home. Opening things up in the kitchen not only helped with the flow of things, but you get a wonderful view of each room when you walk in the front door. These cabinets are made of book matched walnut, meaning the grain of the tree lines up from door to door. Photography by LOMA Studios, lomastudios.com

kitchen

Abode Carpentry Ltd

Transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, grey splashback, a peninsula, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Allentown, Pa New Build Pennsylvania Custom Farmhouse and Barn

lisa furey interiors

This is an example of a large country open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, green cabinets, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Panelled Appliances and Light Hardwood Floors 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!