The informal dining area integrated at this end of the island provides a safe space for the children to sit whilst Carla and Ben are cooking. Bearing in mind the need for this room to work for a family, a designated safe area for the children was necessary. The pendant lights above the table echo the Merlot glass splashback, bringing different elements of the room together.

Lake View

Jennifer Ryan Design

Katheryn Moran Photography
Photo of a small country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Farmhouse Coffee Bar

Cheryl Pett Design Ltd.

Finished in Vintage Lace, the Coffee Bar boasts an elegant center cabinet with that charming aged chicken wire insert. The open shelves are crafted from reclaimed Pine wood.

Custom Kitchen Cabinetry 881

Kitchen Appeal

Kitchen remodel with custom cabinetry. High-end style meets form meets function.
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

MINI APPARTEMENT PARIS 05

NIM Architecture

HERVE ABBADIE + FRANCESCA DE MARCHI
Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback and panelled appliances.

Mid Century meets a Victorian Terrace

Claudia Dorsch Interior Design Ltd

Expansive transitional eat-in kitchen in London with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, red splashback, black appliances, no island, grey floor, white benchtop, quartzite benchtops, cement tile splashback and terrazzo floors.

Contemporary Kitchen with new pass through window

Lori Jolin Design, LLC.

High gloss laminate cabinets Greg Sutter Photography
Mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and no island.

Glossy white with a bold back splash - Schaumburg, IL

CraftedWild Cabinetry

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island and grey floor.

Colorful Modern Spanish Kitchen

LA Dwelling Inc

This kitchen is anything but fowl, although chickens are prominent! Large spanish kitchen gets a modern makeover in Santa Monica, featuring a large island with induction cooktop. The space includes a baking area, pull out spice racks and contrasting cabinets/countertops. All the modern conveniences with old world charm - Malibu tile pulls it all together.

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.

Farmhouse Sink with Brick Backsplash

Kristen Elizabeth Design

Rustic details complement contemporary white trim and cabinetry.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Island Retreat

Jill Frey Kitchen Design

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Contemporary dark grey kitchen with walnut breakfast bar

User

The wine cooler is in the perfect position, accessible and practical for gatherings and parties. The variety of materials work well within the space, giving a modern look.

Kitchen Transformation

D M C / D Maahs Construction, LLC

Textured melamine combined with stainless steel accents, quartz counter tops, clay tile, LED lighting in a southwestern setting. Island lighting reused wrought iron plated to brushed nickel with matching textured melamine. Backsplash tile from Statements in Tile and Lighting, Santa Fe, NM Contemporary meets Santa Fe Style. Photo: Douglas Maahs

Sliding Curve | 140 MQ

Filippo Colombetti, architetto

High end top of the range kitchen units (Varenna) with luxury built in appliances Photo by Sara Scanderebech
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milan with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Traditional Homes

Kitchen Encounters Design

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey floor.

Fox Creek Custom Home

Plantation Reclaimed Inc.

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Custom Kitchen Cabinetry 881

Kitchen Appeal

Kitchen remodel with custom cabinetry. High-end style meets form meets function.
Mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

3rd Street

Kowalchuk Construction LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized industrial l-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Beverly Hills - Kitchen

Luxe Remodel

caesarstone, modern
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island and turquoise floor.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and Red 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!