Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in Portland with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Waterfront Getaway

Arnold Lumber Company

Candlelight Cabinetry, white painted shaker doors, full overlay. Wall cabinets with frosted glass insert.
Inspiration for a large beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Providence with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, light hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback and stainless steel appliances.

The Nested Neighbor

Phi Builders + Architects

Design Build Phi Builders + Architects Custom Cabinetry Phi Builders + Architects Sarah Szwajkos Photography Cabinet Paint - Benjamin Moore Spectra Blue Trim Paint - Benjamin Moore Cotton Balls Wall Paint - Benjamin Moore Winds Breath Wall Paint DR - Benjamin Moore Jamaican Aqua. The floor was a 4" yellow Birch which received a walnut stain.

Amherst

User

This is an example of an expansive mediterranean l-shaped kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors, with island, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Alchemy Hill

Unique Homestays

Unique Home Stays
This is an example of a mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with brown cabinets, wood benchtops, with island, beige floor, black benchtop, recessed-panel cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Whole Home Remodel for Wheelchair Bound Veteran

Accessibility by Design, Inc.

Rev-a-shelf pantry insert in a remodeled kitchen.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in New Orleans with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and brown floor.

Istoria Bespoke Pale Oak engineered wood flooring

Istoria by Jordan Andrews

The Istoria Bespoke Pale Oak is our most popular bespoke colour. The processes the floor goes through leave the wood feeling rough to the touch and looking as raw as possible. If you want a raw, unfinished appearance this is the colour for you. As it only seals the timber rather than colouring it, it is available on any raw timber: the only colour variation you will have is from the raw material itself.

Tulay kitchen

Scott Tulay

Architect - Scott Tulay, AIA Contractor-Roger Clark Cabinetry-Jim Picardi
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and a peninsula.

Watsons Bay Beach House

Walter Barda Design

Mid-sized beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and grey splashback.

My Houzz: Rustic Meets Refined in a Converted Ohio Barn

Adrienne DeRosa

Tucked neatly into an existing bay of the barn, the open kitchen is a comfortable hub of the home. Rather than create a solid division between the kitchen and the children's TV area, Franklin finished only the lower portion of the post-and-beam supports. The ladder is one of the original features of the barn that Franklin could not imagine ever removing. Cleverly integrated into the support post, its original function allowed workers to climb above large haystacks and pick and toss hay down a chute to the feeding area below. Franklin's children, 10 and 14, also enjoy this aspect of their home. "The kids and their friends run, slide, climb up the ladder and have a ton of fun," he explains, "It’s a barn! It is a place to share with friends and family." Adrienne DeRosa Photography

Chestnut

Dresner Design | Chicago Custom Kitchens Cabinets

Jim Tschetter
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Aspen Residence

Zone 4 Architects, LLC

Jason Dewey
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Denver with an integrated sink, metal splashback, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island and brown floor.

Lakewood Mid-Century

DeForest Architects

Photo: Ben Benschneider
Midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Pacific Heights Home

Patrick LePelch Architecture

Trevor Henley
This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, metallic splashback, metal splashback, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets and multi-coloured floor.

Susan Brook Interiors

This kitchen was totally transformed from the existing floor plan. I used a mix of horizontal walnut grain with painted cabinets. A huge amount of storage in all the drawers as well in the doors of the cooker hood and a little bread storage pull out that is usually wasted space. My signature corner drawers this time just having 2 drawers as i wanted a 2 drawer look all around the perimeter.You will see i even made the sink doors "look" like 2 drawers. There is a designated cooking area which my client loves with all his knives/spices/utensils etc all around him. I reduced the depth of the cabinets on one side to still allow for my magic number pass through space, this area has pocket doors that hold appliances keeping them hidden but accessible. My clients are thrilled with the finished look.

Custom Stainless hood

Vicente Burin Architects

A sinuous shape hood is the focal point for this cooking area. Stainless steel finishes in both polished and brushed are repeated in cabinets, hardware, Fittings, hood, backsplash and range. #stainlesssteel

Tobin High Bluff Waterfront Remodel, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Custom designed rolling island. Photography by Ian Gleadle.
This is an example of a modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

moss tree, landfall

PBC Design + Build

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional single-wall open plan kitchen in Wilmington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Willetta 9

Studio D - Danielle Wallinger

This three story loft development was the harbinger of the revitalization movement in Downtown Phoenix. With a versatile layout and industrial finishes, Studio D’s design softened the space while retaining the commercial essence of the loft. The design focused primarily on furniture and fixtures with some material selections. Targeting a high end aesthetic, the design lead was able to value engineer the budget by mixing custom designed pieces with retail pieces, concentrating the effort on high impact areas.

Queen Anne remodel kitchen

Goforth Gill Architects

Kitchen remodel in early 1900s home, includes granite countertops and backsplash, oak flooring, painted custom cabinetry. Photo credit - Digital Home Show

Kitchen with Metal Splashback and Stainless Steel Appliances 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!