This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Traditional with a modern twist

Collaroy Kitchen Centre

Inspiration for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Oh What A Ceiling!

Green Sheep Collective

‘Oh What A Ceiling!’ ingeniously transformed a tired mid-century brick veneer house into a suburban oasis for a multigenerational family. Our clients, Gabby and Peter, came to us with a desire to reimagine their ageing home such that it could better cater to their modern lifestyles, accommodate those of their adult children and grandchildren, and provide a more intimate and meaningful connection with their garden. The renovation would reinvigorate their home and allow them to re-engage with their passions for cooking and sewing, and explore their skills in the garden and workshop.

Brighton

Sketch Building Design

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Rose Bay Penthouse

D'Cruz Design Group

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

1300 Rodeo Rd., Arcadia, CA

Mur-Sol Builders Inc

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

Project Design by Kirby Foster Hurd

Kirby Home Designs

Robert Elkins
Transitional l-shaped kitchen in Oklahoma City with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Heatherbrae Residence

Rafterhouse

Urban Farmhouse Kitchen by Rafterhouse
Country l-shaped kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

White Kitchen with Herringbone subway tile

7 Sisters Interiors

Even though many homeowners know there are maintenance issues with marble, they can't resist its beauty. 5. White subway tile. It really doesn't matter what size, though the classic is 3x6. It can be glossy, crackle, beveled or square edged, handmade or machine made, or even in white marble. If you're looking for a twist on the classic, try a 2x6 or 2x8 or 2x4 — the proportions can really change the look of your kitchen, as can the grout color. 6. An Inspiration for an elegant kitchen in San Diego with inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances. — Houzz Sand Kasl Imaging

Terrell Hills White Kitchen

BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

Beautiful white kitchen with vaulted ceiling and two of the best gold gilded lanterns above the large island. Love the Calacatta marble featured on the countertops and backsplash which keep this kitchen fresh, clean, and updated. Plenty of room to seat three or four at the island. Modern with traditional lines for a transitional look. Additional friends and family can sit at the banquette in the bay window.

Soothing White and Gray Kitchen Remodel

Normandy Remodeling

Open shelving at the end of this large island helps lighten the visual weight of the piece, as well as providing easy access to cookbooks and other commonly used kitchen pieces. Learn more about the Normandy Remodeling Designer, Stephanie Bryant, who created this kitchen: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/stephaniebryant/

Biddle Ranch

Studio 2G Architects

Vaulted ceilings are supported by angled windows which open up the home to light. In order to cut down on the number of installed "can" lights, pendant lights were strung across the kitchen from wall to wall to provide ambient lighting.

Transitional Historic Refresh Brookline

Corinne Acampora Interiors & Art

Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and an undermount sink.

Easton Traditional Farmhouse

Segerson Builders

Farmhouse kitchen area featuring antique beams and floors and a blue kitchen island with a butcher block top.
Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, recessed-panel cabinets, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

French Country in Town & Country

Detailed Designs By Denise

Mid-sized kitchen in St Louis with recessed-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, porcelain splashback, with island, multi-coloured benchtop, beige cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Awendaw Retreat

Sea Island Builders LLC

Beautiful kitchen with two hanging pendant lights above the island and tile backsplash with hood with custom wood paneling.
This is an example of a beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Charleston with recessed-panel cabinets, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Graceful Gray Kitchen Remodel - Glen Ellyn, IL

TKS Design Group

Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Transitional Farmhouse

Schwarz Lewis Design Group, Inc.

Inspiration for a transitional eat-in kitchen in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

ISLES KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

The focal point in the kitchen is the deep navy, French range positioned in an alcove trimmed in distressed natural wood and finished with handmade tile. The arched marble backsplash of the bar creates a dramatic focal point visible from the dining room.

Southampton Beach House

Amy Hill Designs

Photography by Liz Glasgow
Mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, with island, solid surface benchtops, stone tile splashback and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Recessed-panel Cabinets 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!