Design ideas for an expansive contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, with island, a double-bowl sink, marble benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, grey floor, grey benchtop and wood.

Molesey Park Road

Concept 8 Architects

kitchen
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Surrey with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Contemporary Kitchen

Nina Williams Interiors

We updated this kitchen by adding large 48x48 concrete look porcelain tile, and a mix of three cabinet finishes. The island has a waterfall edge and is mitered to be 3" thick. A soffit above the island echoes the high gloss wood trim around the cabinetry.

Projekt B1 | Die Küche als Mittelpunkt

SieMatic - moebelplus Deutschland GmbH & Co KG

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Leipzig with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, with island, beige floor, black benchtop and wood.

Saguaro Grove

AFT Construction

Large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Lake Almanor Traditional

Deirdre Doherty Interiors

Design ideas for a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

414 Fall Creek Drive

3rd Street Custom Homes

Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Home Remodel- Sunnyvale

May Construction, Inc.

The dramatic open and airy kitchen remodel revealed just how much potential lied within this home. The sleek white cabinet design is much fresher than the former wood material in this kitchen and make it feel twice as big. The polished quartz countertops and backsplash perfectly complement the apron sink and new appliances, while the adorable pair of 10-lite doors scream, welcome home.

Beverly Hills Modern

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, faces the Kitchen just off the grand entryway with curved staircase.
This is an example of an expansive modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Ridge Residence

Hsu McCullough

An assemblage of textures and raw materials, the great room spaces are distinguished by two unique ceiling heights: A dark-hued, minimalist layout for the kitchen opens to living room with panoramic views of the canyon to the left and the street on the right. We dropped the kitchen ceiling to be lower than the living room by 24 inches. There is a roof garden of meadow grasses and agave above the kitchen which thermally insulates cooling the kitchen space. Wood siding of the exterior wraps into the house at the south end of the kitchen concealing a pantry and panel-ready column, FIsher&Paykel refrigerator and freezer as well as a coffee bar. Soapstone counter top, backsplash and shelf/window sill, Brizo faucet with Farrow & Ball "Pitch Black" painted cabinets complete the edges. The smooth stucco of the exterior walls and roof overhang wraps inside to the ceiling passing the wide screen windows facing the street. An American black walnut island with seating also separates the kitchen and living room - all sitting on the black, irregular-shaped flagstone floors which circuit throughout the entire first floor. Walnut stair treads and handrail beyond with a solid white oak ceiling for a warm balance to the dark floors. Delta Light fixtures were used throughout for their discreet beauty yet highly functional settings.

Bailey Residence

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Inspiration for a beach style open plan kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and wood.

Lake Home Retreat

Projects Contemporary Furniture

This is an example of an expansive contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Other with with island, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, beige floor, black benchtop and wood.

CWE Residence

Studio Lark

This kitchen renovation was part of a larger, extensive project that merged two units into one at a Central West End condominium building. The kitchen design contrasts the existing concrete of the building structure with a refined palette of cherry, oak, and polished natural stone. Cherry casework at the perimeter of the kitchen conceals mechanical systems and provides storage and display space. The dropped ceiling — clad in locally sourced white oak — provides a textural grain towards the Basilica and conceals mechanical systems. Integrated LED strip lighting further emphasizes the directionality towards the Basilica. Polished, vein-cut quartzite at the countertops and backsplash contrasts with the exposed concrete column and ceiling. The adjacent eating area is anchored by a long, wall–mounted cherry credenza. A pendant light hanging above the table provides a soft luminosity and adds a touch of color, while views to the south bring the scale of the city into the condominium. ©Alise O’Brien Photography

Atkinson Green

Northern Edge Studio

Mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with a single-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, grey benchtop and wood.

Shawnee Woods

Tays & Co Design Studios

Design ideas for a country l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Saguaro Grove

AFT Construction

This is an example of a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Mountain Eclectic

Colossus Mfg.

The mountain vibes are strong in this rustic industrial kitchen with textured dark wood cabinetry, an iron wrapped hood, milk globe pendants, black shiplap walls, and black counter tops and backsplash.

Загородный дом в Подмосковье

Салахова Дина

Design ideas for a mid-sized country u-shaped separate kitchen in Moscow with green cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, white benchtop, wood, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets and brown floor.

700 Admiralty

Kukk Architecture & Design P.A.

Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop, recessed and wood.

08109 Private Residence in The Ridges, Las Vegas Nevada

Pinnacle Architectural Studio

Pinnacle Architectural Studio - Contemporary Custom Architecture - Kitchen View - Indigo at The Ridges - Las Vegas
Photo of an expansive contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Las Vegas with a triple-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, multiple islands, white floor, beige benchtop and wood.

Kitchen with Stone Slab Splashback and Wood 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!