Small appliance storage idea.
Photo of a large scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen Addition

Zieba Builders, Inc.

DeWils Custom Cabinetry - Perimeter: Metro Horizontal in Oregon Pine, Island: Painted - Slate Grey.
Inspiration for a small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

Myers Park Kitchen

Tailored Designs

Large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Punta Gorda, FL-Modern Farmhouse

Wright Jenkins Home Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, grey floor and white benchtop.

Sonoran Scandi

K2 Signature Homes

Open concept kitchen with prep kitchen/butler's pantry. Integrated appliances.
Inspiration for a scandinavian open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Abundant Amalgam

Ashley Campbell Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped kitchen pantry in Denver with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Minimalist White Queenslander Renovation

Ethos Interiors

Lovingly called the ‘white house’, this stunning Queenslander was given a contemporary makeover with oak floors, custom joinery and modern furniture and artwork. Creative detailing and unique finish selections reference the period details of a traditional home, while bringing it into modern times.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Photo of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

A Kitchen Color Story

Stalburg Design

This modern and fresh kitchen was created with our client's growing family in mind. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, we were able to create a large gathering island to be used for entertaining and daily family use. Its custom green cabinetry provides a casual yet sophisticated vibe to the room, while the large wall of gray cabinetry provides ample space for refrigeration, wine storage and pantry use. We love the play of closed space against open shelving display! Lastly, the kitchen sink is set into a large bay window that overlooks the family yard and outdoor pool.

Lakeside Retreat | Lake Marion

Homes by Tradition

Transitional kitchen in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Warwick Road Residence

Anna Gartland Interiors

We reconfigured the kitchen to maximize the light and the view. The sink and window were previously facing the next door neighbor's garage, so that became the range wall and the window was relocated to face the beautiful trees and rock formations in the back yard. A full light exterior entry door was added in place of the former door to let natural light flood the space. Layered recess lighting and a glass pendant over the sink further increase brightness in what was previously a very dark space. Custom moody gray-blue inset shaker cabinetry is paired with elongated handmade matte white tile backsplash, alongside white quartz, pale blue walls and off-white trim. Quartersawn white oak floors replace the old linoleum and blend beautifully with the original pine floors on the rest of the first floor. Warm brass hardware and fixtures are a lovely contrast against the dark cabinetry. A fluted white fireclay farm sink is a functional statement piece in a small space. An Acacia wood island with stainless steel top adds practical warmth. Period-appropriate trim was brought back into the modern kitchen to maintain the historic integrity of the home.

Rosedale Ave Whole House Remodel

Jordan Design-Build Group

Our renovation of a 1930's bungalow focused on opening up the kitchen/dining/living areas to improve flow and connectivity between the spaces. The rustic reclaimed beams help delineate the spaces visually and add texture and warmth. The original white oak floors were refinished with a custom stain to evoke the wood’s natural raw state. We brought color into the space with the ‘blue spruce’ base cabinets and a custom reclaimed island top. The Calacatta gold quartz countertops, hexagon backsplash, and white upper cabinets keep the space feeling light and bright.

Glen Road

risa boyer architecture

Photo of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a drop-in sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Mid Century/Transitional

Rebecca Ryan Design

Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop and vaulted.

1840's Sweet Shoppe

Hi Tech Projects

Photo of a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Parker House

Monika Ross

Inspiration for an expansive scandinavian l-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Sand & Stone

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

This project is the third collaboration between the client and DEANE. They wanted their kitchen renovation to feel updated, fresh and modern, while also customized to their tastes. Frameless white cabinetry with modern, narrow-framed doors and satin nickel hardware contrasts cleanly against the opposing rift-oak wood cabinetry. The counters are a combination of polished white glass with Caesarstone countertops in Airy Concrete quartz providing durable, functional workspaces. The single-slab, White Calacatta Sapien Stone porcelain backsplash provides a dramatic backdrop for the floating shelves with integrated lighting. The owners selected a dual-fuel, 6 burner Wolf 48" range with griddle, and decided to panel the SubZero refrigerator and freezer columns that flank the message center/charging station. The custom, boxed hood adds bold lines, while the full Waterstone faucet suite is a memorable feature. It was important to create areas for entertaining, so the pantry features functional, dark navy lower cabinetry for storage with a counter for secondary appliances. The dining area was elevated by the custom furniture piece with sliding doors and wood-framed glass shelves, allowing the display of decorative pieces, as well as buffet serving. The humidity and temperature-controlled custom wine unit holds enough bottles to host the ultimate dinner party

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Lighting Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

This black, gray and gold urban farmhouse kitchen is the hub of the home for this busy family. Our team changed out the existing plain kitchen hood for this showstopper custom stainless hood with gold strapping and rivets. This provided a much needed focal point for this lovely kitchen. In addition, we changed out the 36" refrigerator to a roomier 42" refrigerator and built-in a matching paneled refrigerator cabinet. We also added the antique gold linear hardware and black and gold lighting to give it a streamlined look. Touches of black tie the kitchen design into the rest of the home's mostly black and white color scheme. The woven counter stools give the space a touch of casual elegance. A new champagne gold kitchen faucet and potfiller add additional style, while greenery and wood accessories add a touch of warmth.

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.

California Casual White Oaks Kitchen

Studio Haven Interiors

This kitchen was updated to reflect a light and airy mixed wood and paint, family eat-in style island. Inset cabinets paired with quart countertops and herringbone natural stone backsplash.

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops 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!