Photo by: Joshua Caldwell
Design ideas for a traditional open plan kitchen in Salt Lake City with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and blue splashback.

Traditional Kitchen

Traditional kitchen in Miami with white cabinets, blue splashback, subway tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Barrington Carpenter Gothic

Katie Hutchison Studio

This project for a builder husband and interior-designer wife involved adding onto and restoring the luster of a c. 1883 Carpenter Gothic cottage in Barrington that they had occupied for years while raising their two sons. They were ready to ditch their small tacked-on kitchen that was mostly isolated from the rest of the house, views/daylight, as well as the yard, and replace it with something more generous, brighter, and more open that would improve flow inside and out. They were also eager for a better mudroom, new first-floor 3/4 bath, new basement stair, and a new second-floor master suite above. The design challenge was to conceive of an addition and renovations that would be in balanced conversation with the original house without dwarfing or competing with it. The new cross-gable addition echoes the original house form, at a somewhat smaller scale and with a simplified more contemporary exterior treatment that is sympathetic to the old house but clearly differentiated from it. Renovations included the removal of replacement vinyl windows by others and the installation of new Pella black clad windows in the original house, a new dormer in one of the son’s bedrooms, and in the addition. At the first-floor interior intersection between the existing house and the addition, two new large openings enhance flow and access to daylight/view and are outfitted with pairs of salvaged oversized clear-finished wooden barn-slider doors that lend character and visual warmth. A new exterior deck off the kitchen addition leads to a new enlarged backyard patio that is also accessible from the new full basement directly below the addition. (Interior fit-out and interior finishes/fixtures by the Owners)

Historic Talmadge-El Cerrito Heights Kitchen Remodel

Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Traditional Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

Design ideas for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Craftsmen to Modern Kitchen Transformation

Stonehenge Custom Tile and Stone

Modern kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Ocean Grande

Archetype Design Studio, LLC

The Kitchen was a major transformation from the dark cherry cabinetry and millwork that was used previously. The cabinetry was painted in a crisp white and the countertops were replaced with a white quartz. An ice blue glass waveline tile was used as the backsplash as well as the face of the peninsula bar. The island was replaced by custom designed angled cabinetry painted in a deep indigo blue finish which is illuminated by a natural woven pendant light. A natural textured wallcovering was installed on the upper ceiling to add additional texture to the space.

Willow Glen Cottage

Arch Studio, Inc.

2019 -- Complete re-design and re-build of this 1,600 square foot home including a brand new 600 square foot Guest House located in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, CA.

Kitchens & Bath Remodels Islamorada Fl

Kitchen & Bath Specialists

Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Home Mini Bar with Hexagon Tile Backsplash

Fireclay Tile

Anchored by a Navy Blue Hexagon Tile Backsplash, this transitional style kitchen serves up some nautical vibes with its classic blue and white color pairing. Love the look? Sample navy blue tiles and more at fireclaytile.com. TILE SHOWN 6" Hexagon Tiles in Navy Blue DESIGN John Gioffre PHOTOS Leonid Furmansky INSTALLER Revent Remodeling + Construction

Hexagon Tile Backsplash in Navy Blue

Fireclay Tile

Altadena Mid-Century

Susan Pickering Real Estate Photography

Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white appliances, no island, brown floor and blue benchtop.

Ramped and Revamped

Brewster Thornton Group Architects, LLP

Robert Brewster Photography
Design ideas for a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Providence with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

White and Blue Coastal Inspired Kitchen

SOLLiD Cabinetry

PC: Shane Baker Studios
Photo of a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Daly City Remodel

J Reilly Construction

Designed by Gina Rachelle Design Photography by Max Maloney
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and white cabinets.

Two-toned Blue Kitchen Oasis from Orlando Soria

Cambria

This dreamy blue kitchen from Orlando Soria creates contrast with White Cliff Matte countertops, a pure white quartz countertop design. A patterned blue tile backsplash with white grout complements a peacock-blue kitchen island with matte black hardware.

N Edgewood St Kitchen

Jordan Design-Build Group

This charming Lyon Park house was built in 1925, when the typical kitchen was small, modest and closed-off from the rest of the home. For a family that loves to cook and bake, the cramped, outdated and dysfunctional kitchen was a source of constant frustration. Our new design expanded the kitchen into an adjacent sunroom, opening it up to the rest of the home and creating a spacious, light and updated kitchen that now serves as the heart of the home. We more than doubled the amount of countertop space and added much needed pantry storage as well as a dedicated coffee nook. The bold blue herringbone backsplash, honed black granite, white shaker cabinets and substantial matte black pulls complement the rustic modern style of the adjoining living space.

Avernus Ct.

Tomlinson Kitchen and Bath

Mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Bridge Residence

Gainesville Kitchen & Bath

Bridge Residence Powered by CABINETWORX Before and after, complete kitchen remodel, 300 year old wooden shelves, built in coffee station, quartz counter tops, exposed brick, new back splash

Mariposa Ave

UV Designs

Deb Cochrane Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with White Cabinets and Blue Splashback 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!