Roundhouse Urbo bespoke matt lacquer kitchen in Crown Antique white with worktops in Polished Silkstone and Wholestave Oak
Photo of a large scandinavian single-wall open plan kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, with island, light hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances.

A Refreshing re-do San Diego Award Winner

Design Studio West

A custom hutch with glass doors and shaker style mullions to the far end of the kitchen creates additional storage for cook books, tea pots and small appliances. One of the drawers is fitted with an electrical outlet and serves as charging station for I-Pads and cell phones.

Modern Monochromatic Kitchen - Wheaton, IL

Drury Design

The concept of a modern design was created through the use of two-toned acrylic Grabill cabinets, stainless appliances, quartz countertops and a glass tile backsplash. The simple stainless hood installed in front of large format Porcelanosa tile creates a striking focal point, while a monochromatic color palette of grays and whites achieve the feel of a cohesive and airy space. Additionally, ample amounts of artificial light, was designed to keep this kitchen bright and inviting.

Fulham Traditional Kitchen

WILLIAMS RIDOUT

Traditional hand painted, Shaker style kitchen with a Corian worktop and butler sink. Photos by Adam Butler
Inspiration for a small traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in London with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, no island, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and beige floor.

Morningside

WestPort Development LLC / Atlanta Basements

Susan Googe SGooge photography
Large traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and multiple islands.

Quarter sawn white oak kitchen.

Susan Brook Interiors

The clients called me in to help with finishing details on their kitchen remodel. They had already decided to do a lot of the work themselves and also decided on a cabinet company. I came into the project early enough to see a better layout to the original kitchen, then i was able to give my clients better options to choose from on the flow and aesthetics of the space. They already had an existing island but no sink, the refrigerator was an awkward walk away from the work space. We panned with everything moving and a much better flow was created, more storage than needed..that's always a good problem to have! Multiple storage drawers under the range, roll out trash, appliance garage for the coffee maker and much more. This was my first time working with non custom cabinets, it turned out wonderful with all the bells and whistles a dream kitchen should have.

Mid-Century Modern

cocoon home design

debra szidon
This is an example of a midcentury l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback and with island.

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

Kitchens

Alair Homes Charlotte

Jim Scmid
This is an example of a transitional kitchen in Charlotte with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and dark hardwood floors.

Columbus Circle 3 Bedroom Condo

Dan Ruhland Designs LLC

Large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, metallic splashback and dark hardwood floors.

TONG KITCHEN

Nichola Blakely Design

Herne Bay villa kitchen renovation
Photo of a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Auckland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, mosaic tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Tanya's

Annie Hall Interiors

Michael Lee
Mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen in Boston with glass-front cabinets, white appliances, a farmhouse sink, white splashback, with island, solid surface benchtops, timber splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black cabinets.

East Hampton Beach house

ds Interiors

Joseph D'Arco
Photo of a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, solid surface benchtops, brown floor and white benchtop.

Franklin Street High Rise Interior

Kaplan Architects, AIA

New custom design kitchen and breakfast banquette with a combination of stainless steel cabinets and painted wood cabinets. Mitchell Shenker, Photography

Micro-apartment

Allen+Killcoyne Architects

Inspiration for a small scandinavian l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with open cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Clapham Painted Shaker Kitchen

Higham Furniture

Painted shaker kitchen with a Corian worktop. Cabinets painted in Farrow and Ball Shaded White. 40mm thick Glacier White Corian. Satin Nickel cup handles and knobs.

eichler in marinwood

building Lab, inc.

Eichler in Marinwood - In conjunction to the porous programmatic kitchen block as a connective element, the walls along the main corridor add to the sense of bringing outside in. The fin wall adjacent to the entry has been detailed to have the siding slip past the glass, while the living, kitchen and dining room are all connected by a walnut veneer feature wall running the length of the house. This wall also echoes the lush surroundings of lucas valley as well as the original mahogany plywood panels used within eichlers. photo: scott hargis

Crestmoore

User

Rick Mendoza
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley separate kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, metallic splashback, solid surface benchtops, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and no island.

Clairemont Whole House Renovation

Terracotta Studio

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

Sweeney Lake House

CHRISTIAN DEAN ARCHITECTURE, LLC

Chad Holder
Photo of a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and with island.

All Cabinet Finishes 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!