Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional single-wall kitchen in Raleigh with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and black benchtop.

West Chelsea Townhouse

Suk Design Group LLP

Photographer: Jeffrey Kilmer
Mid-sized transitional galley kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, with island, brown floor, black benchtop, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood floors.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Lustig Custom Cabinets

Modern plantation home boasts this striking chef's kitchen. Individual fridge & freezer towers anchor the back wall, centering the grand 48" stove & allowing space for a grand island. Mandi B Photography

Old Saybrook - "Beach House"

Tiezzi Construction, LLC

This shingle style cottage was a complete renovation, enhancing its already charming attributes with new, modern amenities. Renovations included enclosing an existing sunroom, new windows and new roof dormers to gain access to a walk-out roof deck.

Price

Spyglass Design, Inc.

Photographer: Thomas Robert Clark
Mid-sized country galley separate kitchen in Philadelphia with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, a farmhouse sink and glass tile splashback.

San Diego Modernized Coastal Ocean Condo

RJA Design

This project was purposefully neutralized in ocean grays and blues with accents that mirror a drama filled sunset. This achieves a calming effect as the sun rises in the early morning. At high noon we strived for balance of the senses with rich textures that both soothe and excite. Under foot is a plush midnight ocean blue rug that emulates walking on water. Tactile fabrics and velvet pillows provide interest and comfort. As the sun crescendos, the oranges and deep blues in both art and accents invite you and the night to dance inside your home. Lighting was an intriguing challenge and was solved by creating a delicate balance between natural light and creative interior lighting solutions.

Family friendly kitchen on the Hudson

Summit Street Design

Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and with island.

1910 Foursquare Kitchen

Craftsman Design and Renovation

The original kitchen was disjointed and lacked connection to the home and its history. The remodel opened the room to other areas of the home by incorporating an unused breakfast nook and enclosed porch to create a spacious new kitchen. It features stunning soapstone counters and range splash, era appropriate subway tiles, and hand crafted floating shelves. Ceasarstone on the island creates a durable, hardworking surface for prep work. A black Blue Star range anchors the space while custom inset fir cabinets wrap the walls and provide ample storage. Great care was given in restoring and recreating historic details for this charming Foursquare kitchen.

Crisp Architects

Kitchen/Family Room. Photographer: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a country eat-in kitchen in New York with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets and soapstone benchtops.

a house in a garden

Brennan + Company Architects

Mid-sized arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, black splashback, panelled appliances, a double-bowl sink, soapstone benchtops, light hardwood floors, with island and red floor.

Eco-Friendly in Ball Square

Design Details

Red birch cabinetry, Soapstone countertops and recycled fir flooring contribute to the natural feel of the project.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Barton Creek Kitchen Renovation

CG&S Design-Build

Photography by Tre Dunham
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional kitchen in Austin with glass-front cabinets, turquoise cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black benchtop and stainless steel appliances.

Kitchen and Family Room with Double Sided Fireplace

Platt Builders

KT2DesignGroup Michael J Lee Photography
This is an example of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Custom Transitional Kitchens

Pars Design Plus

This is an example of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

La Grange Kitchen

Sheri's Design and Consulting

The large wood beam, brick tile backsplash, and exposed brick post add to the rustic feel of this kitchen. La Grange, Illinois
Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors, a farmhouse sink, soapstone benchtops, stone tile splashback, brown splashback and brown floor.

South Berkeley Open Eclectic Kitchen

Levitch Associates, Incorporated

Treve Johnson
This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

San Diego Kitchen Remodel 5

Remodel Works Bath & Kitchen

This small, rectangular shaped San Diego kitchen remodel was inspired by white and gray earth tones. It was built modern with white cabinets, modern hardware, soapstone countertops and subway tiling. www.remodelworks.com

100 Square Foot Kitchen Remodel

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio -- Photos: Greg Page Photography
Photo of a small arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Minneapolis with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, subway tile splashback, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, no island, soapstone benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Buena Vista Residence

Schwartz and Architecture

Typical of many San Francisco Victorians, this home’s kitchen had evolved over the years out of an enclosed porch. The centerpiece of the new light-filled space is a custom island / drop-leaf table that converts from a casual family dining area to an ample area for the children’s art projects, or seating for twelve. Open shelving and a series of custom ledges for the family’s seasonal canning efforts intensify the casual, working feel to the kitchen, which is both modern, yet appropriate to the essence of the home. Photography: Matthew Millman

Arberoue

Marion Naffrechoux Architecture

Johann Garcia
Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped kitchen in Bordeaux with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, ceramic floors, with island, beige floor, beige benchtop and a double-bowl sink.

Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops 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!