Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orlando with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Howard Cottage

Heiberg Cummings Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian galley open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Big EZ Residence

North Fork Builders of Montana, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, soapstone benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, with island, medium wood cabinets, light hardwood floors and blue benchtop.

49th Place

Two Hawks Design and Development

le courneu, kitchen, pot filler, black and white, soapstone, soapstone counter top
Country galley kitchen in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, with island, black benchtop, white splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Hawk Construction

This Farmhouse Kitchen provides maximum function while creating a cozy and timeless space to host the family and friends.
Photo of a mid-sized country kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Barn Renovation

Integrity Development & Construction, Inc.

Open concept kitchen that shares space with a small seating area, living room, and dining space. The two-story space is flooded with natural light and features open shelves, a large counter and bar area, and a custom spiral staircase.

Making Home Dreams Real

Benson Builders LLC

Mid-sized country galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Montauk Residence

Abelow Sherman Architects LLC

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, with island and blue floor.

Jefferson Park Craftsman

Restoration Ryann

Photo of a small arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, soapstone benchtops, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances and grey benchtop.

1904 Cornwall on Hudson Kitchen

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Grand Street Kitchen

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, brown floor, black benchtop and recessed.

Sleek, Modern Italian Cabinetry

Cucine Ricci

Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and black benchtop.

Lincoln

Annie Hall Interiors

Michael Lee
This is an example of a large eclectic galley eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, soapstone benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback and black benchtop.

Teton Valley Residence

Yellowstone Traditions

Peter Zimmerman Architects // Peace Design // Audrey Hall Photography
This is an example of a country kitchen in Other with glass-front cabinets, soapstone benchtops, timber splashback, with island, an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Kitchen

Norris Architecture

Kitchen overlooking the lake and opens to the porch
Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, shaker cabinets, white splashback and timber splashback.

Severn River Modern kitchen

Allbright Bullock Architects

The thickness of the sapele wood kitchen countertop is expressed at the stone island counter. The existing ceilings were removed and replaced with exposed steel I-beam crossties and new cathedral ceilings, with the steel beams placed sideways to provide a cavity at the top and bottom for continuous linear light strips shining up and down. The full height windows go all the way to floor to take full advantage of the view angle down the hill. Photo by Lisa Shires.

Interiors

Beckwith Builders, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland Maine with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, green splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Elegant Hillside Home

Allen Construction

Jim Bartsch Photography
Photo of a large mediterranean galley kitchen pantry in Santa Barbara with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Robin's Egg Gallery Kitchen

Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

Designed to the period of the home, this kitchen was created to keep as much of the 1932 Cape Cod feel of the home as possible while giving it a completely functional update. The designer kept all the smallest details in mind including door styles, pulls, “icebox” latches and bracketed molding. All the details harken back to the earlier era. In keeping with the old house feel, fir floors stained in cherry provide some orange tones which are a nice foil to the blue-gray tones of the cabinetry.

Maineville Residence

John Senhauser Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized country single-wall open plan kitchen in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops and Timber Splashback 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!