This is an example of a small transitional galley separate kitchen in Toronto with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island and grey floor.

Contemporary kitchen with walnut breakfast bar

User

This modern kitchen is truly very special and a reflection of the client's personality. By choosing handled, matte doors with stone surfaces, not only has enhanced the sleek contemporary look but made the kitchen a space that is practical.

Contemporary Chicago Kitchen

Woodways

This Kitchen features a vibrant red glass tile back splash and acrylic lower cabinets. The upper cabinets are at a unique height per client request. They are 27inches above the counter. This height is both visually pleasing and still functional due to the upper lift cabinet style.

It's all about the Red!

Idesign Interiors (SW) Ltd

Complete refurbishment and extension to provide this busy family with a space more suited to their needs. included within the scheme was a handy tea station whereby adults and children alike can help themselves whilst allowing plenty of movement withing the kitchen area for food preparation. A large breakfast bar and lowered bench seating further enhance the space ensuring family and friends can eat and socialise together.

Colosseo Oro

Marazzi Design

This is an example of an expansive eclectic kitchen in London with an integrated sink, red cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and beige benchtop.

modern shaker kitchen in pale grey

Eclectic Interiors

If your house already has an extension it is often impractical and not at all cost effective to take it down and start again. Consider upgrading by giving the space a modern face lift by installing new doors to the garden and changing the window. Then your new kitchen will give you with the new experience you are looking for without rebuilding the house This is exactly what happened in our clients’ classic Victorian house where the existing extension was built some years ago. We redesigned the lay-out by moving the kitchen to the opposite wall and freeing up lots of room for new folding back doors, a dining table and new entertaining space and extended access to the garden. The sink has been placed under a new modern widow with the hob further down on the main run, leaving the island clear for preparation and additional storage. The worktop overhang at the end provides plenty of space for a couple of bar stools for family or children having breakfast - Main kitchen run in Shaker style Pale Grey - Island in Dark Grey - 30mm quartz worktop in White Carrara - Red glass splashback to complement the grey kitchen scheme

Contemporary Ranch

Julie Deuble

Steven Paul Whitsitt
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional separate kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances and porcelain floors.

South Sherman, Connecticut

Leicht Westchester-Greenwich

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, red splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, a double-bowl sink and porcelain floors.

Modern kitchen, family room and wine room

Gloria Carlson - Harrell Design + Build

Teppanyaki grill for cooking at end of island with flush hood above Bernard Andre Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island and an undermount sink.

Berkman New to Old Kitchen

Blue Lotus Designs

Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Staged Cozy 1940's St. Pete Bungalow

Cardinal Designs Home Staging

David Sibbitt
Design ideas for a large transitional galley kitchen pantry in Tampa with beaded inset cabinets, no island, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, a double-bowl sink and porcelain floors.

Квартира на Таганской

ГАлина Крылова & ТАтьяна Серова

Кухня, являющаяся частью гостиной, с красным фартуком из стекла и кварцевой черной столешницей с мерцающими вкраплениями. Пол из черного керамоганита. Фасады кухни - белое стекло.

Clymer Street, Brooklyn

Tri State Kitchens

Custom white kitchen with contrast island to warm up the space so it flows with the style of the rest of this traditional home. Insides are complete with systems to create maximum storage for this always hosting grandma. The mixer lift up and built in step ladder, will continue to provide ease to host in the years to come

Transitional Style

Fawdry Homes Ltd

This is an example of an expansive country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula and beige floor.

Cozinhas / Kitchens

Bruno Sgrillo Arquitetura

Photo of a small single-wall separate kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, red splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and no island.

Lisandrillo Residence

Marble and Granite Connection Inc

Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, red splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Classic Kitchen Expansion

User

Our approach to the dining room wall was a key decision for the entire project. The wall was load bearing and the homeowners considered only removing half of it. In the end, keeping the overall open concept design was important to the homeowners, therefore we installed a load bearing beam in the ceiling. The beam was finished with drywall to be cohesive so it looked like it was a part of the original design. Now that the kitchen and dining room were open, paint colors were used to designate the spaces and create visual boundaries. This made each area feel like it’s its own space without using any structures. The original L-shaped kitchen was cut short because of bay windows that overlooked the backyard patio. These windows were lost in the space and not functional; they were replaced with double French doors leading onto the patio. A brick layer was brought in to patch up the window swap and now it looks like the French doors always existed. New crown molding was installed throughout and painted to match the kitchen cabinets. This window/door replacement allowed for a large pantry cabinet to be installed next to the refrigerator which was not in the old cabinet configuration. The replaced perimeter cabinets host custom storage solutions, like a mixer stand, spice organization, recycling center and functional corner cabinet with pull out shelving. The perimeter kitchen cabinets are painted with a glaze and the island is a cherry stain with glaze to amplify the raised panel door style. We tripled the size of the kitchen island to expand countertop space. It seats five people and hosts charging stations for the family’s busy lifestyle. It was important that the cooktop in the island had a built in downdraft system because the homeowners did not want a ventilation hood in the center of the kitchen because it would obscure the open concept design. The countertops are quartz and feature an under mount granite composite kitchen sink with a low divide center. The kitchen faucet, which features hands free and touch technology, and an instant hot water dispenser were added for convenience because of the homeowners’ busy lifestyle. The backsplash is a favorite, with a teal and red glass mosaic basket weave design. It stands out and holds its own among the expansive kitchen cabinets. All recessed, under cabinet and decorative lights were installed on dimmer switches to allow the homeowners to adjust the lighting in each space of the project. All exterior and interior door hardware, hinges and knobs were replaced in oil rubbed bronze to match the dark stain throughout the space. The entire first floor remodel project uses 12x24 ceramic tile laid in a herringbone pattern. Since tile is typically cold, the flooring was also heated from below. This will also help with the homeowners’ original heating issues. When accessorizing the kitchen, we used functional, everyday items the homeowners use like cutting boards, canisters for dry goods and place settings on the island. Ultimately, this project transformed their small, outdated kitchen into an expansive and functional workspace.

Ellendale Housing Complex

Natalie Myers

Amy Bartlam
This is an example of a small modern galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances and porcelain floors.

Wellington Court

Coco Design & Build Co.

Adam Milton
Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Handled contemporary kitchen with red splash back

User

Kitchen with Red Splashback and Porcelain 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!