Design ideas for a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, coloured appliances, concrete floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Cherokee Blvd Project

Sticks 2 Stones Design, LLC

Inspiration for a large traditional galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Hollywood street kitchen remodel

Q Construction Solutions

Photo of a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and a peninsula.

Kitchen 13

Gaumats International

Inspiration for a mid-sized single-wall eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Kitchen

Naples Bay Builders, Inc.

Inspiration for a beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Connie

Tango Design Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional galley kitchen pantry in Toronto with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartzite benchtops, a peninsula, an undermount sink, grey splashback, ceramic splashback and slate floors.

Mid Century Modern Sea Pearl House

Aria Stone Gallery

Needless to say, this kitchen is a cook’s dream. With an oversized peninsula, there is plenty of space to create tasteful confections. They added another element of interest to their design by mitering the edges of their countertop, creating the look of a thicker slab and adding a nice focal point to the space. Pulling the whole look together, they complemented the sea pearl quartzite countertop beautifully with the use of grey subway tile.

NW DC Row House Kitchen Restoration

St. Clair Kitchens

Design ideas for a small transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and a peninsula.

Oceanside Kitchen 3

Remodel Works Bath & Kitchen

This San Diego kitchen remodel features PCS cabinets with a apple wood, white painted finish. The counter top is a Pentalquarts Calacatta countertops with a waterfall edge. The back splash is a glass backsplash and this kitchen has stainless steel appliances. This space was demoed to create a bigger area that allowed for the peninsula as well as to open up to the family room. The back wall was also demoed to ass the glass sliding doors to the back yard. www.remodelworks.com Photography by Scott Basile.

Wong Residence

Dave's Remodeling Inc.

Dave's Remodeling Inc / Media Carrot Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain floors and a peninsula.

Historic Riverside Loft

Splash Kitchens & Baths LLC

Located inside an 1860's cotton mill that produced Civil War uniforms, and fronting the Chattahoochee River in Downtown Columbus, the owners envisioned a contemporary loft with historical character. The result is this perfectly personalized, modernized space more than 150 years in the making. Photography by Tom Harper Photography

Matt Black Kitchen in London

Puccini Kitchens

This contemporary kitchen in London is a stunning display of modern design, seamlessly blending style and sustainability. The focal point of the kitchen is the impressive XMATT range in a sleek Matt Black finish crafted from recycled materials. This choice not only reflects a modern aesthetic but also emphasises the kitchen's dedication to sustainability. In contrast, the overhead cabinetry is finished in crisp white, adding a touch of brightness and balance to the overall aesthetic. The worktop is a masterpiece in itself, featuring Artscut Bianco Mysterio 20mm Quartz, providing a durable and stylish surface for meal preparation. The kitchen is equipped with a state-of-the-art Bora hob, combining functionality and design innovation. Fisher & Paykel ovens and an integrated fridge freezer further enhance the functionality of the space while maintaining a sleek and cohesive appearance. These appliances are known for their performance and energy efficiency, aligning seamlessly with the kitchen's commitment to sustainability. A built-in larder, complete with shelves and drawers, provides ample storage for a variety of food items and small appliances. This cleverly designed feature enhances organisation and efficiency in the space. Does this kitchen design inspire you? Check out more of our projects here.

Aldana Kitchen in Slate Blue and Vintage Pink by Everfine Installations

STORI

Looking to create a showstopper kitchen that is warm and comfortable, this space combines two beautiful colours; Slate Blue and Vintage Pink to create a space that ties in with the colour scheme of the open-plan living area, while remaining practical.

Flatiron New York | Luxury Minimalist Apartment Remodel

Buildplan

Design ideas for a small modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, a peninsula, an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

KITCHEN

Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC

Existing cabinetry was rearranged to fit the new design plan, making room for double ovens and display space above the microwave. Blue Labradorite countertops in shades of teal and turquoise add opalescent beauty to the kitchen; the color is echoed in the glass tile backsplash with a combination of 3" x 6" field tiles and penny rounds creating texture and add unique interest. Performance fabric on the chairs coordinates with the dining room.

Cucina

Chiara Costa + Claudia Ponti Architetti

particolare bancone cucina e vista corridoio
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Milan with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Basement Kitchenette

David Lund Design

What had been a wonderful new construction project got even better when learned that the homeowner wanted to build a contemporary bar - kind of like a kitchen, actually - with stone countertops, high-end appliances, and beautiful tile and custom cabinets in the basement. It's a unique project in that it is not fully a kitchen [there's only a beverage fridge, drawer microwave, ice maker, and dishwasher, but no oven], and it's more than a simple bar as it accommodates food preparation or a catering service. For the homeowner, who is a huge Vikings fan and entertains large groups of sports-loving fans, the perfect project was a full bar/kitchenette that would serve as the ideal place for friends to gather, eat and drink.!

Lee Kitchen

piqu

A quietly elegant and ultimately fashionable colour scheme with fresh aqua accents for this lovely modern kitchen extension in Lee. German kitchen furniture from Ballerina-Küchen coupled with Compac Moon Quartz worksurfaces and a backpainted glass splashback work well with the warm wooden floor. The addition of a peninsular kitchen island creates a sociable seating area in the space.

Kitchen Remodel

RBuilder Construction Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized beach style eat-in kitchen with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

White Kitchen & Storage

Lamar's Custom Cabinets

This is an example of a large transitional galley separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, shaker cabinets, ceramic splashback, a peninsula and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and a Peninsula 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!