Photo of a large transitional open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

COASTAL HAMPTONS LUXE HOME | Stephanie & David

INNOVATIVE KITCHENS

Inspiration for a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Adelaide with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Whole House Renovation

Refresh Renovations Melbourne Paul Cree

Mid-sized transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen, New Lambton Heights

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Custom Kitchen with Large Island

DK Homes

Uniquely situated on a double lot high above the river, this home stands proudly amongst the wooded backdrop. The homeowner's decision for the two-toned siding with dark stained cedar beams fits well with the natural setting. Tour this 2,000 sq ft open plan home with unique spaces above the garage and in the daylight basement.

Philadelphia Blue & White Kitchen

Kitchen Magic

Residing in Philadelphia, it only seemed natural for a blue and white color scheme. The combination of Satin White and Colonial Blue creates instant drama in this refaced kitchen. Cambria countertop in Weybourne, include a waterfall side on the peninsula that elevate the design. An elegant backslash in a taupe ceramic adds a subtle backdrop. Photography: Christian Giannelli www.christiangiannelli.com/

Avenues Family House: Kitchen

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography
This is an example of a large eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Knoll - Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

In the Deets

Modern functionality with a vintage farmhouse style makes this the perfect kitchen featuring marble counter tops, subway tile backsplash, SubZero and Wolf appliances, custom cabinetry, white oak floating shelves and engineered wide plank, oak flooring.

Modern Traditional

House Sprucing

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, quartzite benchtops, ceramic splashback and porcelain floors.

Paces Forest, Buckhead

Alan Clark Architects, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, marble benchtops, ceramic splashback and with island.

Greenhaven Road Rye NY Shingle Style

Studio Dearborn

A spacious colonial in the heart of the waterfront community of Greenhaven still had its original 1950s kitchen. A renovation without an addition added space by reconfiguring, and the wall between kitchen and family room was removed to create open flow. A beautiful banquette was built where the family can enjoy breakfast overlooking the pool. Kitchen Design: Studio Dearborn. Interior decorating by Lorraine Levinson. All appliances: Thermador. Countertops: Pental Quartz Lattice. Hardware: Top Knobs Chareau Series Emerald Pulls and knobs. Stools and pendant lights: West Elm. Photography: Jeff McNamara.

QUOGUE, NY - Beach Houseelegant

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

The new floor plan design made more effective use of the space, accommodating multiple renovation needs into the kitchen. The new layout created an open galley kitchen with a 13 1/2′ Island with seating at each end, a cool-grey custom banquette with 2 tables.

Dilworth New Build - Living & Kitchen Design

House of Nomad

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Charlotte with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, marble benchtops and ceramic splashback.

Saratoga Whimsy House

Cathie Hong Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Bright English Beach Cottage

Alison Kandler Interior Design

Kitchen
This is an example of an eclectic open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with white cabinets, wood benchtops, ceramic splashback, painted wood floors, coloured appliances and shaker cabinets.

Boho Bungalow Kitchen

Arcata Cabinet & Design Company

Design ideas for a small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

S. View Terrace Kitchen Renovation

Jordan Design-Build Group

Distinctive quartzite counters are a showstopper, with unique veining and striking color variation, from blue to gray to ochre. The overall goal was to create an expansive entertaining kitchen that could accommodate our clients’ large gatherings of family and friends, and provide them with several zones for prepping, serving, seating, and socializing. Also high on the clients’ wish list: a more generous island, professional appliances, and better storage. We expanded the island in two directions to allow for comfortable seating at the counter with plenty of room for a table in the breakfast nook. An expandable bar height table in the adjacent dining area offers even more flexibility for eating and socializing. We designed a custom hutch which has a multitude of storage options and functionality – open display shelves, roll-outs, drawers, extra counter/serving space, as well as a beverage fridge and appliance garage/coffee center. On the opposite side of the kitchen, we replaced a small pantry closet with a furniture style built-in that took advantage of underutilized space. Anticipating issues with supply chain, we opted to use a local cabinet maker on this project which allowed us to fully customize the cabinets for optimal functionality. Other stand-out features include a Thermador appliance package, workstation farmhouse sink, ‘touch’ faucet, hot+cold water dispenser, and hidden toe-kick storage. Our clients now have a beautiful, cohesive space that reflects their personal style and fulfills their dream of a having an expansive kitchen where they can cook and entertain for years to come.

Flint Hill Custom Home

c|s DESIGN STUDIO LLC

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Van Norden Lodge

Colossus Mfg.

Cabin kitchen with light wood cabinetry, blue and white geometric backsplash tile, open shelving, milk globe sconces, and peninsula island with bar stools. Leads into all day nook with geometric rug, modern wood dining table, an eclectic chandelier, and custom benches.

Warwick Road Residence

Anna Gartland Interiors

We reconfigured the kitchen to maximize the light and the view. The sink and window were previously facing the next door neighbor's garage, so that became the range wall and the window was relocated to face the beautiful trees and rock formations in the back yard. A full light exterior entry door was added in place of the former door to let natural light flood the space. Ceiling, which had previously been lowered to hide electrical work, was taken back up to original height and smoothed. Layered recess lighting and a glass pendant over the sink further increase brightness in what was previously a very dark space. Custom moody gray-blue inset shaker cabinetry is paired with elongated handmade matte white tile backsplash, alongside white quartz, pale blue walls and off-white trim. Quartersawn white oak floors replace the old linoleum and blend beautifully with the original pine floors on the rest of the first floor. Warm brass hardware and fixtures are a lovely contrast against the dark cabinetry. A fluted white fireclay farm sink is a functional statement piece in a small space. An Acacia wood island with stainless steel top adds practical warmth. Period-appropriate moulding was brought back into the modern kitchen to maintain the historic integrity of the home.

Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets and Ceramic 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!