Jeff Herr
Contemporary kitchen pantry in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Islington Glass box extension

London Contemporary

Peninsular units separate the kitchen and dining areas
Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in London with an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, panelled appliances and flat-panel cabinets.

Willoughby

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

This modern kitchen space was converted from a separate kitchen, laundry and dining room into one open-plan area, and the lowered ceiling in the kitchen helps define the space.

Kosher Kitchen

Superior Woodcraft, Inc.

Photo Credit: Randl Bye
Large traditional u-shaped kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, solid surface benchtops, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Rio Del Mar Kitchen With Natural Lighting and Wood Cabinetry

Talmadge Construction, Inc.

Natural lighting plays a major role in the overall ambiance of this midcentry kitchen remodel, and the natural lighting in this space accentuates the wood grain throughout the cabinets and the flooring. The green glass backsplash also lights up with the natural lighting, adding a stylish dash of color to the room.

F65 Transit Village

Mark Dziewulski Architect

Inspiration for a modern single-wall eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with black appliances, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, a drop-in sink, solid surface benchtops, concrete floors and no island.

Holiday Decor

Julie Ranee Photography

Julie Ranee Photography © 2012 Houzz
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Columbus with stainless steel appliances, open cabinets and solid surface benchtops.

Bella Vida - 2014 NARI COTY & 2013 ORA Award winner

L.EvansDesignGroup,inc

Gleaming concrete polished floors
Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Portland with solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets and brown splashback.

Queen Anne Residence

Lee Edwards - residential design

Custom Contemporary Home in a Northwest Modern Style utilizing warm natural materials such as cedar rainscreen siding, douglas fir beams, ceilings and cabinetry to soften the hard edges and clean lines generated with durable materials such as quartz counters, porcelain tile floors, custom steel railings and cast-in-place concrete hardscapes. Photographs by Miguel Edwards

Somerset Modern Addition/Renovation

Balodemas Architects

Mid-sized modern galley open plan kitchen in DC Metro with black appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Cottage Kitchen - Personal Touches

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

Reminisce about your favorite beachfront destination and your mind’s eye evokes a serene, comfortable cottage with windows thrown open to catch the air and the relaxing sound of waves nearby. In the shade of the porch, a hammock sways invitingly in the breeze. The color palette is simple and clean, with hues of white, like sunlight reflecting off sand, and blue-grays, the color of sky and water. Wood surfaces have soft painted finishes or a scrubbed-clean, natural wood look. “Cottage” styling is carefree living, where every element conspires to create a casual environment for comfort and relaxation. This cottage kitchen features Classic White paint with a Personal Paint Match kitchen island cabinets. These selected soft hues bring in the clean and simplicity of Cottage Style. As for hardware, bin pulls are a popular choice and make working in the kitchen much easier. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Residential building | baurmann.dürr architekten | Germany

Leicht Küchen AG

Leicht Küchen: http://www.leicht.com /en/references/inland/project-karlsruhe/ baurmann.dürr architekten: http://www.bdarchitekten.eu/

Eagle Harbor Cabin

FINNE Architects

The Eagle Harbor Cabin is located on a wooded waterfront property on Lake Superior, at the northerly edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about 300 miles northeast of Minneapolis. The wooded 3-acre site features the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, a lake that sometimes behaves like the ocean. The 2,000 SF cabin cantilevers out toward the water, with a 40-ft. long glass wall facing the spectacular beauty of the lake. The cabin is composed of two simple volumes: a large open living/dining/kitchen space with an open timber ceiling structure and a 2-story “bedroom tower,” with the kids’ bedroom on the ground floor and the parents’ bedroom stacked above. The interior spaces are wood paneled, with exposed framing in the ceiling. The cabinets use PLYBOO, a FSC-certified bamboo product, with mahogany end panels. The use of mahogany is repeated in the custom mahogany/steel curvilinear dining table and in the custom mahogany coffee table. The cabin has a simple, elemental quality that is enhanced by custom touches such as the curvilinear maple entry screen and the custom furniture pieces. The cabin utilizes native Michigan hardwoods such as maple and birch. The exterior of the cabin is clad in corrugated metal siding, offset by the tall fireplace mass of Montana ledgestone at the east end. The house has a number of sustainable or “green” building features, including 2x8 construction (40% greater insulation value); generous glass areas to provide natural lighting and ventilation; large overhangs for sun and snow protection; and metal siding for maximum durability. Sustainable interior finish materials include bamboo/plywood cabinets, linoleum floors, locally-grown maple flooring and birch paneling, and low-VOC paints.

Modern Kitchen

Design ideas for a modern galley kitchen in New York with solid surface benchtops, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and brown splashback.

Rosebud beach side home

Jasmine McClelland Design

Contemporary open plan spacious mixed surfaces kitchen with black steel island bench framing, feature window, feature shelving above window, contrast blue overheads and warm wood tones.

Bespoke kitchen in new extension

Roundhouse

Roundhouse Urbo bespoke matt lacquer kitchen in Farrow and Ball Light Grey with island in horizontal Mango wood book-matched veneer with Silestone Tigris Sand polished worksurface

Brayer Design Studio Kitchen

Brayer Design

Nick Smith
Inspiration for a traditional single-wall eat-in kitchen in Surrey with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

三ツ沢上町の家

株式会社結設計

This is an example of a mid-sized single-wall open plan kitchen in Yokohama with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Sweet Southern - Palmetto Bluff

Southern Grace Interiors

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Navy is a Neutral Ranch Remodel & Addition

KBG Design

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.

Kitchen with Solid Surface 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!