Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands and brown floor.

Oceanside Wood Mode

SANOMA Kitchen & Bath

This is an example of a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and multiple islands.

Riverwoods Residence Kitchen

Studio21 Architects

Kitchen with two large kitchen islands, terra-cotta inlays, built-in cabinets, with a large arched doorway.
This is an example of an expansive traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Chicago with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors and multiple islands.

Rustic Cottage Retreat

Chervin Kitchen & Bath Inc.

To make the cabinets accessible, we decided to add rolling ladders to reach all the cabinets in the kitchen. What's not to love about accessible space?

Victorian

Gallery Kitchens and Baths

This is an example of an expansive traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and multiple islands.

White Birch, Rye NY

Monique Varsames Design, LLC

All exterior and Interior finishes by Monique Varsames Moka Design, LLC Photos by Frank Ambrosino.
Large transitional separate kitchen in New York with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands and an undermount sink.

Mayfair

Artisan Custom Homes

Jim Schmid
Design ideas for an expansive traditional single-wall kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Cheyenne Addition

Homes By Frameworks

Harper Point Photography
Photo of a large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and multiple islands.

Gorgeous antique oak island creates a natural gathering point and room for many

User

The Island is the true focal point of the kitchen. Large enough for many people to gather round it provides a beautiful and functional meeting spot. Design and construction by Jewett Farms + Co. Photography by Justen Peters

Old World Elegance, Santa Fe, NM

STATEMENTS IN Tile/Lighting/Kitchens/Flooring

Richard White
Expansive mediterranean u-shaped open plan kitchen in Albuquerque with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, distressed cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and multiple islands.

Wyatt Mountain Retreat

Arterra Design & Construction

Mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, slate splashback, slate floors, multi-coloured floor and black benchtop.

Kitchen

Angela Reynolds Designs

Inspiration for an expansive transitional eat-in kitchen in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, exposed beam, multiple islands, brown floor and green benchtop.

Kennebunkport Modern Farmhouse

e4 Interior Design, LLC

e4 Interior Design This farmhouse was purchased by the clients in the end of 2015. The timeframe for the renovation was tight, as the home is a hot summer rental in the historic district of Kennebunkport. This antique colonial home had been expanded over the years. The intention behind the renovation was quite simple; to remove wall paper, apply fresh paint, change out some light fixtures and renovate the kitchen. A somewhat small project turned into a massive renovation, with the renovation of 3 bathrooms and a powder room, a kitchen, adding a staircase, plumbing, floors, changing windows, not to mention furnishing the entire house afterwords. The finished product really speaks for itself! The aesthetic is "coastal farmhouse". We did not want to make it too coastal (as it is not on the water, but rather in a coastal town) or too farmhouse-y (while still trying to maintain some of the character of the house.) Old floors on both the first and second levels were made plumb (reused as vertical supports), and the old wood beams were repurposed as well - both in the floors and in the architectural details. For example - in the fireplace in the kitchen and around the door openings into the dining room you can see the repurposed wood! The newel post and balusters on the mudroom stairs were also from the repurposed lot of wood, but completely refinished for a new use. The clients were young and savvy, with a very hands on approach to the design and construction process. A very skilled bargain hunter, the client spent much of her free time when she was not working, going to estate sales and outlets to outfit the house. Their builder, as stated earlier, was very savvy in reusing wood where he could as well as salvaging things such as the original doors and door hardware while at the same time bringing the house up to date.

Urban Retreat in Houston

By Design Interiors, Inc.

Erika Barczak, By Design Interiors Inc. Photo Credit: Daniel Angulo www.danielangulo.com Builder: Wamhoff Design Build www.wamhoffdesignbuild.com After knocking down walls to open up the space and adding skylights, a bright, airy kitchen with abundant natural light was created. The lighting, counter stools and soapstone countertops give the room an urban chic, semi-industrial feel but the warmth of the wooden beams and the wood flooring make sure that the space is not cold. A secondary, smaller island was put on wheels in order to have a movable and highly functional prep space.

Dreams & Details

Grand Banks Building Products

Monica Banks
Inspiration for a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and multiple islands.

Wadlow Kitchen Remodeling

EA Home Design

This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Palm Residence in New York

Michael Rust-Architect LLC

Crown Point Cabinetry
This is an example of a large arts and crafts u-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white appliances, concrete floors, multiple islands and grey floor.

Cordell Modern Renovation

Crafted Custom Homes + Renovations

Photo of a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Houston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, black floor and black benchtop.

Scotland Farmhouse Kitchen

Kitchen Living, LLC

Large country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Hudson River Home

Millbrook Cabinetry and Design

Robert P Campbell
Contemporary eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops and multiple Islands 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!