Photo of a traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Indianapolis with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, white appliances, light hardwood floors, quartzite benchtops and yellow splashback.

Thedford

Valia Design

Photo of a mid-sized modern single-wall kitchen pantry in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Graphite Shaker Kitchen with Pearl Calacatta Quartz

Interiors 4 Living

This graphite shaker kitchen in the Lake District plays beautifully with dark and light. The dark, bold doors bring a more modern and bold look to the country kitchen, whilst the white painted beams allow for balance, and a light and spacious room. Avoiding dark wall units and opting instead for light open shelving, also keeps the light open feel. The use of pearl calacatta worktops compliments the room perfectly, and the matching materials in the tap, pendants and handles bring an overall warmth and glow to the kitchen. We LOVE the contrasting tiles behind the hob, which beautifully ties the kitchen together.

Carney Job: Walnut Creek, Full Custom Remodel

Pride&Joy Home Improvements

This is an example of a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Pacifica

Canterbury Design Kitchen Interiors

This Asian inspired open plan kitchen brings the outdoors in by incorporating multiple layers of colors, textures and surfaces into the design. Alison Griffin created this look with three cabinetry colors (slivered almond opaque finish, cherry dark lager finish and foundry medium greyed taupe finish), three surface textures (smooth, rough sawn and rough hewn) and three countertop materials (Peruvian Walnut end grain butcher block, Taj Mahal Quartzite, and Nacarado Quartzite). For all of the complexity of this design, its overall effect is a calm and engaging contemporary kitchen.

Caroline's Open Plan Area

Create Perfect

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan kitchen in Buckinghamshire with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

NEW CANAAN CT - Graceful Elegance

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

This renovation transformed a dark cherry kitchen into an elegant space for cooking and entertaining. The working island features a prep sink and faces a Wolf 48” range and custom stainless steel hood with nickel strapping and rivet details. The eating island is differentiated by arched brackets and polished stainless steel boots on the elevated legs. A neutral, veined Quartzite for the islands and perimeter countertops was paired with a herringbone, ceramic tile backsplash, and rift oak textured cabinetry for style. Intelligent design features walnut drawer interiors and pull-out drawers for spices and condiments, along with another for lid storage. A water dispenser was expressly designed to be accessible yet hidden from view to offset the home’s well water system and was a favorite feature of the homeowner.

White & wood effect matt kitchen with large island & breakfast bar

User

This kitchen was designed to have white matt handle-less doors alongside an oak effect door laminate. A lime green glass splash back creates a bright, light and contemporary finish to this new build. Including a breakfast bar into the design, means the space becomes social, where all the family and friends can enjoy.

Burk Kitchen

Kitchens Made Simple

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, stone tile splashback, white appliances, linoleum floors and with island.

West Hills Mid-Century Remodel

Mary Angelo

This is an example of a large midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and no island.

ORGANIC MODERN

Vision Home

This is an example of a modern single-wall eat-in kitchen in Miami with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Yellow and white kitchen

Timothy James Interiors

Bright yellow glass splashbacks with white cabinetry and quartz worktops. All appliances are Miele.
Mid-sized eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Holiday-inspired kitchen, New Malden

Thomas Davies Kitchens

Design ideas for a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Surrey with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Modern Brushed Nickel Square Bar Pulls

dRemodeling

The frame-less, flat-paneled cabinetry doors pair beautifully with the ultra-modern square bar pulls in brushed nickel from Top Knobs.
Design ideas for a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen 5

Joshua's Commission Construction LLC

Large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Agathe Street Kitchen

OakWood Designers & Builders

Kitchen renovation
Inspiration for a mid-sized l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Ottawa with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors and a peninsula.

Kitchen + Bath

Zeitgeist Sonoma

This kitchen renovation involved taking out a wall or 2 to incorporate a separate pantry space into the now generous kitchen. We worked closely with the client to integrate many specialty features like a baking station, a home office feature with pull out file drawers, and a custom 2 sided glass end cabinet for wine service.

Thedford

Valia Design

This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall kitchen pantry in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Cuisine

Hedre

Cuisine ouverte précieuse habillée de laque, de noyer et de cuivre pour la crédence.
Design ideas for a small modern single-wall eat-in kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, brown cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

W 81st St- Kitchen Remodel- Overview

Klein Kitchen and Bath

Design ideas for a mid-sized single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, yellow splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island, orange floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and Yellow 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!