Stunning metal, marble and tile backsplash under dark Java Maple cabinets. Cambria's Summerhill quartz countertops. Stainless steel appliances including wall oven. Ivetta White porcelain tile.

Interior Remodel, South San Jose

The Proposed Plan

Photo of a transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop and quartz benchtops.

Scandinavian Kitchen

Small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Desert Eichler Project

Shields Residential Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, white floor, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback and porcelain floors.

upper west side

Christie Hausmann Design

This client wanted a fresh start, taking only minimal items from her old house when she moved. We gave the kitchen and half bath a facelift, and then decorated the rest of the house with all new furniture and decor, while incorporating her unique and funky art and family pieces. The result is a house filled with fun and unexpected surprises, one of our favorites to date!

Oakland Hills Modern

Coddington Design

The colors from the wallpaper are repeated in the green paint and blue Ann Saks tile. This boldness is balanced by the sleek white Ikea cabinets, countertops and stainless steel hardware. The large copper pendants add warmth to the space and coordinate with the dark blue and light green jewel tones. Photographer: Lauren Edith Andersen

Palo Alto Eichler

King Visual Design Inc.

This galley kitchen was remodeled using grey wood finish cabinets with gloss finish. Porcelanosa mirror and porcelain micro brick mosaic is used on the back splash areas. A new curved glass and stainless steel ventilatin hood was added, smooth top electric range and new ovens, microwave and dishwasher replaced the original equipment. A zero radius large sink with single handle faucet and pull out also helped to make the original galley kitchen more user friendly. Blizzard White Caesarstone quartz counter tops were installed to offset the grey cabinets and engineered ministrip grey wood flooring. A pair of exposed rail, rolling turquoise doors with frosted glass lites close off the kitchen area when entertaining.

COOL CONTEMPORARY

Motivo Home

NATIVE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Inspiration for a large contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Overfield Residence

BDI - Beautifully Done Interiors

BDI
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Florida Beach Condo

Mandala Interior Designs

This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Melanie Drive - 70s Ranch Modern Remodel

accents + interiors

Jake Boyd Photography
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen, Laundry & Bath Remodel

Sebring Design Build

Rachael Ormond
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nashville with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Mid-Century Kitchen and Dining

White Crane Construction

This stunning mid-century whole house remodel focuses on integrating great new fixtures, finishes and materials, while preserving the integrity of the original architectural aesthetic. This atomic age gem has many original architectural features like a custom copper fireplace hood, 12' stacking wood doors, and original woodwork that mesh seamlessly with the new design elements. Included in the project are an owners' suite with new master bath, a new kitchen, and completely remodeled main and lower levels. Photos: Jill Greer

Lakewood Kitchen

User

Contemporary kitchen in Dallas with mosaic tile splashback, a double-bowl sink, quartz benchtops, brown splashback and white cabinets.

Reborn Cabinets Kitchen Reface - Irvine, CA

Reborn Cabinets Inc.

“We want to redo our cabinets…but my kitchen is so small!” We hear this a lot here at Reborn Cabinets. You might be surprised how many people put off refreshing their kitchen simply because homeowners can’t see beyond their own square footage. Not all of us can live in a big, sprawling ranch house, but that doesn’t mean that a small kitchen can’t be polished into a real gem! This project is a great example of how dramatic the difference can be when we rethink our space—even just a little! By removing hanging cabinets, this kitchen opened-up very nicely. The light from the preexisting French doors could flow wonderfully into the adjacent family room. The finishing touches were made by transforming a very small “breakfast nook” into a clean and useful storage space.

Country Glam kitchen

LEVEL UP Design LLC

Large country single-wall eat-in kitchen in Jacksonville with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Amarra Estate

Marion Interior Design

Design ideas for an expansive transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with multiple islands, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, marble floors, white floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Built-In White Oak Cutting Boards/Serving Trays

Pike Properties

Another neat element of the custom cabinets are the fact that tucked away inside their own cubbies are two built in White Oak cutting boards and 2 built in White Oak serving trays. This is the utmost way to wow your guests, and when stowed away, the pop of wood again the gray cabinets looks amazing. When function can also be stylish it is a win win.

Practical Luxury

Sharer Design Group LLC

This transitional-style kitchen revels in sophistication and practicality. Michigan-made luxury inset cabinetry by Bakes & Kropp Fine Cabinetry in linen establish a posh look, while also offering ample storage space. The large center island and bar hutch, in a contrasting dark stained walnut, offer space for seating and entertaining, as well as adding creative and useful features, such as walnut pull-out serving trays. Light colored quartz countertops offer sophistication, as well as practical durability. The white lotus-design backsplash from Artistic Tile lends an understated drama, creating the perfect backdrop for the Bakes & Kropp custom range hood in walnut and stainless steel. Two-toned panels conceal the refrigerator to continue the room's polished look. This kitchen is perfectly practical luxury in every way!

Sunny Suburban

PB Kitchen Design

Classic White kitchen in Hinsdale, IL. A large space with tall ceilings and an open floor plan, PB designers responded with a design of appropriate scale.

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops and Mosaic Tile Splashback 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!