Custom kitchen with reclaimed wood beams, wolf appliances, engineered quartz counter tops, blue accent island, butcher block top and center cut white oak flooring.

Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade

Solitude Homes

Design ideas for a large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Navy is a Neutral Ranch Remodel & Addition

KBG Design

Large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Point Loma Residence

Hope Pinc Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

25th Avenue Multi-Space Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Large Kitchen Bay Window

KraftMaster Renovations

Beautiful large bay window behind the sink that looks out into the backyard. It's such a nice look with the counter top extending all the way toward the window. Photos by Chris Veith.

Spinnaker Bay

Kennedy Cole Interior Design

Contemporary Coastal Kitchen Design: Three Salt Design Co. Build: UC Custom Homes Photo: Chad Mellon
Photo of a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, brown floor, white cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Modern Apartment Upgrade in Cobble Hill

Crown Woodworking Corp

Small modern galley eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, white splashback, subway tile splashback, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Long Island Residence

JSE Interior Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in New York with shaker cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Farmhouse Transitional Kitchen

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

This remodel is a stunning 100-year-old Wayzata home! The home’s history was embraced while giving the home a refreshing new look. Every aspect of this renovation was thoughtfully considered to turn the home into a "DREAM HOME" for generations to enjoy. With Mingle designed cabinetry throughout several rooms of the home, there is plenty of storage and style. A turn-of-the-century transitional farmhouse home is sure to please the eyes of many and be the perfect fit for this family for years to come. Spacecrafting

Oil Rubbed and Hammered Copper Range Hood

Orren Pickell Building Group

The curves of the dark, oil-rubbed copper hood complement the kitchen’s more linear elements. Furniture-inspired features are used sparingly to add warmth without feeling too traditional. Photo by MIke Kaskel

Rockville

Jennifer Radakovic Design

Inspiration for a large country l-shaped kitchen in Richmond with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Interior Room photography- Kitchen 9

Springhaven Photography

Mandy Donneky
This is an example of a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen in Cornwall with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Bob-O-Link | 2018

Coats Homes

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and solid surface benchtops.

Two - Tone Craftsman Designed By: Michelle O'Connor

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

Treve Johnson Photography
Photo of a mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Dan Vis builders

Photos By Kaity

Kate Bruinsma - Photos By Kaity
Design ideas for a country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Rosslyn Cabin

Studio Miel

Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Design ideas for a small eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, porcelain floors, with island and brown floor.

Fletcher Rhodes

Thomas Kuoh Photography

Thomas Kuoh Photography
Photo of a mediterranean u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Borden

South Park Design Build

Valerie Wilcox & Charlie Coull
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall separate kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, marble benchtops, brown floor and white benchtop.

Mountain Lakeside Home

Marie-Dominique Verdier, photographer

© Marie-Dominique Verdier
Country kitchen in Other with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, with island, brown splashback, stone tile splashback and beige floor.

Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets and with 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!