With tall ceilings, an impressive stone fireplace, and original wooden beams, this home in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, had plenty of character and a style that felt coastal. Six months into the purchase of their home, this family of six contacted Alessia Loffredo and Sarah Coscarelli of ReDesign Home to complete their home’s renovation by tackling the kitchen. “Surprisingly, the kitchen was the one room in the home that lacked interest due to a challenging layout between kitchen, butler pantry, and pantry,” the designer shared, “the cabinetry was not proportionate to the space’s large footprint and height. None of the house’s architectural features were introduced into kitchen aside from the wooden beams crossing the room throughout the main floor including the family room.” She moved the pantry door closer to the prepping and cooking area while converting the former butler pantry a bar. Alessia designed an oversized hood around the stove to counterbalance the impressive stone fireplace located at the opposite side of the living space. She then wanted to include functionality, using Trim Tech‘s cabinets, featuring a pair with retractable doors, for easy access, flanking both sides of the range. The client had asked for an island that would be larger than the original in their space – Alessia made the smart decision that if it was to increase in size it shouldn’t increase in visual weight and designed it with legs, raised above the floor. Made out of steel, by Wayward Machine Co., along with a marble-replicating porcelain countertop, it was designed with durability in mind to withstand anything that her client’s four children would throw at it. Finally, she added finishing touches to the space in the form of brass hardware from Katonah Chicago, with similar toned wall lighting and faucet.

Transitional Kitchen

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Boston with grey splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets and grey cabinets.

San Blas

Jula Cole Design

samantha goh
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

White oak accents in White kitchen

Woodshop QC

White oak Island with Beaded inset perimeter cabinetry
This is an example of a beach style eat-in kitchen in Charlotte with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Julie Coppa Designs, Inc.

photography by Jennifer Hughes
Design ideas for a large country eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Mukilteo Gem

Interiors by Popov

When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! John Granen.

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

Design ideas for a 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.

Bellaire 2- Kitchen

BwCollier Interior Design, BwC Studio, Inc

High Ceilings and Tall Cabinetry. Water fall Counters in Marble.
Design ideas for a large transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Houston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, with island, an undermount sink, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Skyview Ridge Parade of Homes 2018

Twist Tours Real Estate and Portfolio Marketing

Allison Cartwright
Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kirkwood Terrace | Sammamish

Quadrant Homes

Inspiration for an expansive transitional eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop, shaker cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and stone slab splashback.

Vallejo Court Project

AFT Construction

Open Kitchen with large island. Two-tone cabinetry with decorative end panels. White quartz counters with stainless steel hood and brass pendant light fixtures.

Legacy 27-6

Judith Balis Interiors

Dawn Burkhart
This is an example of a mid-sized country kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

TWO TONE KITCHEN- SCHROCK ENTRA

Cabinetry Of Pinehurst

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Dallas | Lakewood Heights | Kitchen

Kitchen Design Concepts

We really opened up and reorganized this kitchen to give the clients a more modern update and increased functionality and storage. The backsplash is a main focal point and the color palette is very sleek while being warm and inviting. Cabinetry: Ultracraft Destiny, Avon door in Arctic White on the perimeter and Mineral Grey on the island and bar shelving Hardware: Hamilton-Bowes Ventoux Pull in satin brass Counters: Aurea Stone Divine, 3cm quartz Sinks: Blanco Silgranit in white, Precis super single bowl with Performa single in bar Faucets: California Faucets Poetto series in satin brass, pull down and pull-down prep faucet in bar, matching cold water dispenser, air switch, and air gap Pot filler: Newport Brass East Linear in satin brass Backsplash tile: Marble Systems Mod-Glam collection Blocks mosaic in glacier honed - snow white polished - brass accents behind range and hood, using 3x6 snow white as field tile in a brick lay Appliances: Wolf dual fuel 48" range w/ griddle, 30" microwave drawer, 24" coffee system w/ trim; Best Cologne series 48" hood; GE Monogram wine chiller; Hoshizaki stainless ice maker; Bosch benchmark series dishwasher

Timeless, Classic, Chic

SKIN Interior Design

Andrew Miller
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

California Eclectic

Lindye Galloway Interiors

Chad Mellon Photographer
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances and beige floor.

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.

Maison en Bourgogne

François Guillemin

Architectes d'intérieur FG Studio Photo François Guillemin
This is an example of a country kitchen in Paris with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, green splashback and with island.

Brooklin Update

Erin Interiors

Transitional l-shaped kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and grey floor.

All Islands Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets 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!