Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped separate kitchen in Moscow with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, cork floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

1890'S Farmhouse Revival

Yancy Interior Design

Inspiration for a small country u-shaped separate kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, cork floors, no island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Resort Home: The Snead 43, The Greenbrier Sporting Club, West Virginia

AM Architecture

AM Architecture
Inspiration for a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, cork floors and with island.

Bamboo kitchen

Susan Brook Interiors

Huge re-model including taking ceiling from a flat ceiling to a complete transformation. Bamboo custom cabinetry was given a grey stain, mixed with walnut strip on the bar and the island given a different stain. Huge amounts of storage from deep pan corner drawers, roll out trash, coffee station, built in refrigerator, wine and alcohol storage, appliance garage, pantry and appliance storage, the amounts go on and on. Floating shelves with a back that just grabs the eye takes this kitchen to another level. The clients are thrilled with this huge difference from their original space.

Renovation of a historic residence in North Bennington, VT

Centerline Architects

The old galley kitchen was combined with a small family room to create a large, L-shaped kitchen ideal for both family cooking and catered parties. This portion of the kitchen shows the main "working triangle" with refrigerator, prep sink, and stove.

King's Heath Kitchen

Honest Kitchens

A kitchen to show the clients love of colour in three show-stopping shades; Paint and Papers 'Plumb brandy' and 'temple', plus Farrow And Ball's 'Charlotte's Locks'. Painted flat panel with handle-less design and open shelving.

Appliance storage on pull out shelf

Marlene Hudson Design

Photo credit - Deanna Onan Slide out shelf for heavy kitchen appliances
Inspiration for a country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Hamilton with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, a peninsula, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Mindy's Kitchen

HDR Remodeling Inc.

HDR Remodeling Inc. specializes in classic East Bay homes. Whole-house remodels, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, garage and basement conversions are our specialties. Our start-to-finish process -- from design concept to permit-ready plans to production -- will guide you along the way to make sure your project is completed on time and on budget and take the uncertainty and stress out of remodeling your home. Our philosophy -- and passion -- is to help our clients make their remodeling dreams come true.

Midcentury Renovation

SR Design Group, Inc.

Angela Schlentz
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, with island and brown floor.

King's Heath Kitchen

Honest Kitchens

Andalusia Custom Home

Wakefield Homes, LC

Photo of an arts and crafts kitchen in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback and cork floors.

NW Spanish-Whole Home Remodel

Adapt Interior Design

Cabinets: Stained oak Countertop: Pental Statuario Backsplash: Marble systems Antigua flooring: Duro-Design Cork Cleopatra Range: Blue Star Wall Oven: Blue Star Faucet: California Faucets Sink: Franke

Contemporary Whole House Remodel

McCabe By Design LLC

Proximity is the name of the game when it comes to storage. Note the angled power strip above the butcher block counter. ©William Thompson
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, with island, ceramic splashback, brown floor, vaulted and beige benchtop.

Квартира в цвете

Kutenkovs project

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Novosibirsk with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, cork floors and black benchtop.

Maplewood House Renovation

Idea Space Architecture + Design

All images by Bob Wallace Photo Group
This is an example of a modern kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors and no island.

1970's Kitchen

Cummings Studio Architects

Contemporary reinterpretation of a 1970's kitchen for a re-fit of our own 1970's house.
Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, no island, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Walnut Midcentury KItchen with Orange Accents

emma delon

Marilyn Peryer Style House Photography
Inspiration for a large midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Raleigh with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, orange splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, a peninsula, beige floor, white benchtop and a double-bowl sink.

Soft Contemporary - Gray

San Luis Kitchen Co.

Slab style doors in shades of gray lend drama to this landscape architecture professor/artist’s kitchen. Special heights and depths culminate in a top alignment that defines a visual upper plane extending from the kitchen to the great room (at the tops of the windows and doors) creating a unified interior horizon. On a more prosaic front, the upper cabinets were held somewhat low to be easier to reach for a shortish cook. Differing cabinet depths allow for a structural post to be integrated through the island cabinetry; the oven cabinet is held forward to align with a full depth refrigerator; and depth was added at the washer/dryer surround for needed ventilation. Also, the base cabinets were pulled forward for deeper counters to accommodate several small appliances and still allow for work area. In addition, the client wanted a built-in shelf unit to blend with existing rough hewn paneling in which to display objets d’art. An organically shaped island breaks with tradition and softens the otherwise linear nature of the room. A unique sweeping curve expands and defines the bar seating -- the wall beneath is lined with an accent stripe of cork (same materials as in the flooring) to act as a shoe-scuff deterrent for the wall. A small but significant detail - the upper doors and side of the tall microwave cabinet had to be finished Silvermist (light) while the interior, edge banding and bottom drawerhead needed to be finished in the darker Slate to continue the color theme of the kitchen. Integrated lighting was also a mandatory component of this kitchen - indirect top, bottom, picture and toe lights can all be adjusted myriad ways; and we can’t forget the very unique undulating pendant lighting at the island.

Dallas | Lakewood | Kitchen (Revive)

Kitchen Design Concepts

Yes, you read the title right. Small updates DO make a BIG difference. Whether it’s updating a color, finish, or even the smallest: changing out the hardware, these minor updates together can all make a big difference in the space. For our Flashback Friday Feature, we have a perfect example of how you can make some small updates to revamp the entire space! The best of all, we replaced the door and drawer fronts, and added a small cabinet (removing the soffit, making the cabinets go to the ceiling) making this space seem like it’s been outfitted with a brand new kitchen! If you ask us, that’s a great way of value engineering and getting the best value out of your dollars! To learn more about this project, continue reading below! Cabinets As mentioned above, we removed the existing cabinet door and drawer fronts and replaced them with a more updated shaker style door/drawer fronts supplied by Woodmont. We removed the soffits and added an extra cabinet on the cooktop wall, taking the cabinets to the ceiling. This small update provides additional storage, and gives the space a new look! Countertops Bye-bye laminate, and hello quartz! As our clients were starting to notice the wear-and-tear of their original laminate tops, they knew they wanted something durable and that could last. Well, what better to install than quartz? Providing our clients with something that’s not only easy to maintain, but also modern was exactly what they wanted in their updated kitchen! Backsplash The original backsplash was a plain white 4×4″ tile and left much to be desired. Having lived with this backsplash for years, our clients wanted something more exciting and eye-catching. I can safely say that this small update delivered! We installed an eye-popping glass tile in blues, browns, and whites from Hirsch Glass tile in the Gemstone Collection. Hardware You’d think hardware doesn’t make a huge difference in a space, but it does! It adds not only the feel of good quality but also adds some character to the space. Here we have installed Amerock Blackrock knobs and pulls in Satin Nickel. Other Fixtures To top off the functionality and usability of the space, we installed a new sink and faucet. The sink and faucet is something used every day, so having something of great quality is much appreciated especially when so frequently used. From Kohler, we have an under-mount castiron sink in Palermo Blue. From Blanco, we have a single-hole, and pull-out spray faucet. Flooring Last but not least, we installed cork flooring. The cork provides and soft and cushiony feel and is great on your feet!

Inverness Kitchen

User

Curved Island with lower bake area & pull out cart.
Mid-sized country open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, cork floors and with island.

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops and Cork 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!