Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New Orleans with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Owens Kitchen

D&G Construction

Inspiration for a large modern u-shaped kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Carriage Kitchen

Homework Design.Build.Remodel

This is one of our favorite kitchen projects! We started by deleting two walls and a closet, followed by framing in the new eight foot window and walk-in pantry. We stretched the existing kitchen across the entire room, and built a huge nine foot island with a gas range and custom hood. New cabinets, appliances, elm flooring, custom woodwork, all finished off with a beautiful rustic white brick.

Sunset Park Remodel

Riki S. Design

Part of a complete remodel, this kitchen was expanded to include a 10 ft island, new cabinets, a black white and gold colorway and beautiful vinyl flooring

Aliso Viejo- Hollyleaf

Streamline Construction

This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Living Area

The House Ministry Limited

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Gloucestershire with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Simple Beauty

Carrie Greene Design

This small island was custom sized to accomodate the narrow dimensions of the kitchen. It is small but provides loads of storage for pots, pans and baking items.

Grand Prairie Modern Charm

Cedar Hill Home and Design

The pantry area right off of the kitchen provides ample storage and a great pop of blue.
Inspiration for a modern kitchen pantry in Dallas with vinyl floors, with island, grey floor, shaker cabinets and blue cabinets.

Project Simpson | Kitchen Renovation

Inhabitat Interiors

New Kitchen Layout, removed corner pantry, flipped fridge & bench to avoid fridge blocking flow, inbuilt microwave area, stainless steel appliances, shaker profile joinery, tiled splashback.

Transitional Green Serenity Kitchen

CairnsCraft Design & Remodel

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Softwood Kitchen Renovation

Esteem Constructions

Classic white on white kitchen, with shaker style cabinets and engineered stone bench tops. Broken up with statement appliances and traditional black handles.

Warm Eclectic Kitchen

Wendy Glaister Interiors

The homeowner prefers a graphic, woodsy look and used the theme in the kitchen nook for soft goods. Fabrics are performance so that pets may enjoy the sunshine on the window bench without worry.

Investment on Camino

ModaScapes Interior Design

The backsplash in this kitchen is a real showstopper! Wish we would have been there when they took the photo as there are few things out of skew. It still turned out great though!

Kitchen Renovation in South Tampa Bayshore

DCI Home Improvements

Full kitchen renovation in South Tampa including new cabinetry by Desginer's Choice Cabinetry, quartz countertops, gold fixtures, accent lighting, and flooring.

Lansing Kitchen and Laundry Remodel

ODD FELLOWS CONTRACTING

Major kitchen overhaul to expand kitchen and dining area into one room. Full demolition of existing space with a full new open concept layout for new kitchen.

Griff's Kitchen Remodel

Bora&Co Construction

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Cedar Lake

Tim Schollaart Builder LLC

Photo of a transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Grand Rapids with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island and white benchtop.

Project 3501-1 Ford Pkwy St. Paul Kitchen Remodel Plaid Wallpaper

Castle Building & Remodeling

This twin home was the perfect home for these empty nesters – retro-styled bathrooms, beautiful fireplace and built-ins, and a spectacular garden. The only thing the home was lacking was a functional kitchen space. The old kitchen had three entry points – one to the dining room, one to the back entry, and one to a hallway. The hallway entry was closed off to create a more functional galley style kitchen that isolated traffic running through and allowed for much more countertop and storage space. The clients wanted a transitional style that mimicked their design choices in the rest of the home. A medium wood stained base cabinet was chosen to warm up the space and create contrast against the soft white upper cabinets. The stove was given two resting points on each side, and a large pantry was added for easy-access storage. The original box window at the kitchen sink remains, but the same granite used for the countertops now sits on the sill of the window, as opposed to the old wood sill that showed all water stains and wears. The granite chosen (Nevaska Granite) is a wonderful color mixture of browns, greys, whites, steely blues and a hint of black. A travertine tile backsplash accents the warmth found in the wood tone of the base cabinets and countertops. Elegant lighting was installed as well as task lighting to compliment the bright, natural light in this kitchen. A flip-up work station will be added as another work point for the homeowners – likely to be used for their stand mixer while baking goodies with their grandkids. Wallpaper adds another layer of visual interest and texture. The end result is an elegant and timeless design that the homeowners will gladly use for years to come. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Wansley Tiny House, built by Movable Roots Tiny Home Builders

Tiny Modern Homes

Wansley Tiny House, built by Movable Roots Tiny Home Builders in Melbourne, FL
Photo of a small modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Shore Acres Residence in Monona, WI

DC Interiors & Renovations

Mid-sized transitional galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets and Vinyl 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!