We had a tight timeline to turn a dark, outdated kitchen into a modern, family-friendly space that could function as the hub of the home. We enlarged the footprint of the kitchen by changing the orientation and adding an island for better circulation. We swapped out old tile flooring for durable luxury vinyl tiles, dark wood panels for fresh drywall, outdated cabinets with modern Semihandmade ones, and added brand new appliances. We made it modern and warm by adding matte tiles from Heath, new light fixtures, and an open shelf of beautiful ceramics in cool neutrals.

SAVANNAH PLACE MODEL

FabDiggity Inc.

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Cliffside Farmhouse // Modern Farmhouse

Younger Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Transitional Elegance

Tobias Design LLC

Photo of a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Sierra Madre Renovation

SoCal Canyon Builders

Updated kitchen with custom green cabinetry, black countertops, custom hood vent for 36" Wolf range with designer tile and stained wood tongue and groove backsplash.

Colourful Yet Calm Family Home - Kitchen

Studio Fabbri

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, pink cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, linoleum floors, with island, green floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Arlington Kitchen Remodel

Alison Giese Interiors

A spacious kitchen with three "zones" to fully utilize the space. Full custom cabinetry in painted and stained finishes.
Photo of a large traditional separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Cold Spring Harbor

Chango

Advisement + Design - Construction advisement, custom millwork & custom furniture design, interior design & art curation by Chango & Co.
Large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and timber.

Timeless Country

Kirshman Kitchen Design Studio

Photo of an expansive transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Grand Rapids with grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, limestone splashback, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands, white benchtop, timber, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Coastal Mediterranean Remodel

Lola Interiors

Photo: Jessie Preza Photography
Photo of a small mediterranean single-wall separate kitchen in Jacksonville with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, no island, brown floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Wyndham Beach House

Sky Architect Studio

we created a practical, L-shaped kitchen layout with an island bench integrated into the “golden triangle” that reduces steps between sink, stovetop and refrigerator for efficient use of space and ergonomics. Instead of a splashback, windows are slotted in between the kitchen benchtop and overhead cupboards to allow natural light to enter the generous kitchen space. Overhead cupboards have been stretched to ceiling height to maximise storage space. Timber screening was installed on the kitchen ceiling and wrapped down to form a bookshelf in the living area, then linked to the timber flooring. This creates a continuous flow and draws attention from the living area to establish an ambience of natural warmth, creating a minimalist and elegant kitchen. The island benchtop is covered with extra large format porcelain tiles in a 'Calacatta' profile which are have the look of marble but are scratch and stain resistant. The 'crisp white' finish applied on the overhead cupboards blends well into the 'natural oak' look over the lower cupboards to balance the neutral timber floor colour.

Kitchens III

Webber Coleman Woodworks

Transitional kitchen featuring white cabinets with flat-panel doors and stained island. White quartz countertops and white beveled subway tile backsplash. Decorative wood range hood.

Colonial Revival Restoration + Addition

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

A vintage range is one of the beautiful focal points in the kitchen and the black island is a lovely complement. A clear glass door provides access to the yard.

Saratoga

Melissa Nierman Designs

Inspiration for a large country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, timber and quartz benchtops.

Lakeside Farmhouse

Kingswood Custom Homes

Kitchen pantry in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Private Waterfront Residence on the Chester River

Purple Cherry Architects

This stunning coffee bar features a plumbed coffee maker that is plumbed directly into the water lin. In addition, the custom cabinetry was designed to fit perfectly around the artwork.

A Splash of Yellow

Next Stage Design + Build

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Arlington Home Remodel

Alison Giese Interiors

Plaster hood and full custom cabinets with French, Lacanche range. Design by: Alison Giese Interiors.
Photo of a large transitional separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, timber and stone slab splashback.

Modern Medina Two-Story

Swanson Homes

The gourmet kitchen appliances harmonize with the elevated interior finishes to provide the perfect blend of modern technology, innovation and beauty. The open concept main level aids in the feeling of coziness while creating a spacious, yet, comfortable area for entertainment and day-to-day life.

Lakefront Beauty

Jeff Puckett Construction Inc

Modern farmhouse kitchen with rustic elements and modern conveniences.
Photo of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and timber.

All Backsplash Materials Kitchen with Timber 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!