Photo of a midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

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.

Brampton Kitchen Reno

Sosna Inc

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Lowland Farm Kitchen

Kristina Crestin Design

Jared Kuzia Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Custom Mid-Century Kitchen

Able And Baker

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, black floor, white benchtop, medium wood cabinets, mosaic tile splashback, slate floors and quartz benchtops.

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen. All appliances are under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Mud Run Mountain House

River Woodcraft

This beautiful Pocono Mountain home resides on over 200 acres and sits atop a cliff overlooking 3 waterfalls! Because the home already offered much rustic and wood elements, the kitchen was well balanced out with cleaner lines and an industrial look with many custom touches for a very custom home.

Lawless Rereat

Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

The kitchen, dining, and living areas share a common space but are separated by steps which mirror the outside terrain. The levels help to define each zone and function. Deep green stain on wire brushed oak adds a richness and texture to the clean lined cabinets.

Kitchen

Realarchitecture Ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Mod McElroy

STUDIOrobert jamieson

Midcentury kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

L shape country kitchen

Kettle Co. Kitchens

Large l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cornwall with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Projet Felix Faure : un appartement familial à l’esprit cottage anglais

Atelier Germain

Une cuisine fonctionnelle et épurée. Le + déco : les 3 miroirs Atelier Germain au dessus du bar pour agrandir l’espace.
Inspiration for a small scandinavian single-wall separate kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, red floor and white benchtop.

Duboce Triangle Flat - Kitchen

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Mod McElroy

STUDIOrobert jamieson

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen, with all appliances under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Lowland Farm Kitchen

Kristina Crestin Design

Jared Kuzia Photography
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Bethesda, MD Contemporary Galley Kitchen

FineCraft Contractors, Inc.

Location: Bethesda, MD, USA We completely revamped the kitchen and breakfast areas and gave these spaces more natural light. They wanted a place that is both aesthetic and practical and we achieved this by having space for sitting in the breakfast space and the peninsulas on both sides of the kitchen, not to mention there is extra sitting space along the bay window with extra storage. Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Soleimani Photography

Japandi Interior with Curves and Cladding

Western Cabinets

An unrecognisable kitchen transformation. Curvaceous, enriched with warmed oak doors and velvet beige hues, the clouded concrete benches that cascade into a matte black framed bay window lined with large fluted textured wall paneling.

Let there be light!

Tucker Distinctive Kitchens

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

Water Mill Refurbishment

Woodford Architecture and Interiors

Photo of a large country u-shaped kitchen in Devon with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, stone slab splashback, slate floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and panelled appliances.

Kitchen with Slate Floors and White Benchtop 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!