David Rannard
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Kent with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, no island and grey floor.

Kitchen Sink

New Old, LLC

Design ideas for a large country kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, marble benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, light hardwood floors, no island and shaker cabinets.

Historic White Kitchen Remodel w/ Color Pop & Modern Accents

The Cleary Company

Marshall Skinner - Marshall Evan Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Reid Kitchen

Melissa Hardwick Design

Mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and beige floor.

Classic Colonial

Drew Forsyth & co

Design ideas for a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, black appliances, no island and brown floor.

Park View Carbon Neutral House

The Gaines Group Architects

Small modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Proyecto Casa de Pueblo Costa Brava

Nice Home Barcelona

Small mediterranean l-shaped separate kitchen in Barcelona with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, no island, multi-coloured floor and brown benchtop.

Old Saybrook Cottage Renovation

John R. Schroeder, AIA

Photography by Caryn B. Davis Located in the Cornfield Point area of Old Saybrook along Long Island Sound, this project brought a classic, yet forgotten beach house back to life. Through a little detective work and some creative ingenuity, we restored and enhanced the exterior to it’s former glory and transformed the interior to a highly efficient and functional home all the while uplifting its quaint cottage charm. On the exterior, we recreated a wonderful, airy front porch with cozy bench seats that look out to the water. The white cedar shingle siding is pre-bleached with a subtle flair at the bottom and a delicate break at mid-elevation. The asphalt shingles are not only beautifully matched with the siding, but offer superior reflective qualities to dissipate the heat of the summer sun. On the interior, we joined the front seasonal porch with the family room to form a larger, open living and dining space with paneled walls and ceilings anchored by the original round stone fireplace. In the rear, we carefully crafted a galley kitchen and laundry space with an adjacent first floor master suite. The diminutive house and property posed multiple practical and regulatory challenges which were overcome by a strong team effort, due diligence, and a commitment to the process. John R. Schroeder, AIA is a professional design firm specializing in architecture, interiors, and planning. We have over 30 years experience with projects of all types, sizes, and levels of complexity. Because we love what we do, we approach our work with enthusiasm and dedication. We are committed to the highest level of design and service on each and every project. We engage our clients in positive and rewarding collaborations. We strive to exceed expectations through our attention to detail, our understanding of the “big picture”, and our ability to effectively manage a team of design professionals, industry representatives, and building contractors. We carefully analyze budgets and project objectives to assist clients with wise fund allocation. We continually monitor and research advances in technology, materials, and construction methods, both sustainable and otherwise, to provide a responsible, well-suited, and cost effective product. Our design solutions are highly functional using both innovative and traditional approaches. Our aesthetic style is flexible and open, blending cues from client desires, building function, site context, and material properties, making each project unique, personalized, and enduring.

Transitional Home in San Francisco, CA

Jennifer Tulley Architects

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Transitional Kitchen

Transitional u-shaped kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and black floor.

Attic Apartment

Chirigos Designs / Design Bar

Attic space turned Studio apartment!
Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Houston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors and no island.

#TheHighlandsHouse

Alma Homes

Laura Rae Photography
Mid-sized transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, an undermount sink, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, marble splashback and no island.

Custom Atlanta Home

Vincent Longo Custom Builders

Large transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Apartment Remodel

Constructive Pro Inc.

The kitchen layout was reconfigured to open up the space and give it a bright, contemporary feel. White cabinets were custom made to fit the Bosch appliances and hide the dishwasher. The wood floors were re-finished and new molding was installed throughout the apartment.

Creative Kitchen and Deck Remodel

Metamorphosis Design-Build

Walnut cabinets, a patched hardwood floor in existing maple, a black, soapstone countertop, white Kitchen Aid appliances, and a white tile backsplash come together for this warm and inviting kitchen. Photo by David J. Turner

Тихая Мелодия

Дом архитектуры и дизайна Кирилла Егорова

Photo of a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and beige floor.

Downingtown Kitchen Remodel

Greg Pilotti Furniture Makers

Mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Eclectic Colorful Bungalow

Jennifer Grey Color Specialist & Interior Design

Photography by Amy Bartlam
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Classic Bistro Industrial

Legacy Kitchens

French Bistro Look. Matte black hardware. Classic subway tile up around the window and range. The top drawers on either side of the range, were made taller so that spice jars could fit. We removed the wall between the dining room and the kitchen.

Collection of Kitchen Remodels & New Builds

Taiga Tile & Stone LTD

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in San Diego with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, an undermount sink, stainless steel appliances, no island, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets and no Island 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!