Craig LaCourt
Photo of a large transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, matchstick tile splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Saratoga Pool House

Mimi Snowden Design

This is an example of a small beach style u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, blue cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, glass-front cabinets and matchstick tile splashback.

Bonita Drive - Traditional Kitchen and Bath Remodel

Tru Craft Woodworks, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Bucknell

MAK Design + Build Inc.

Dave Adams Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sacramento with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Arlington Square

BLOCK Design & Build

chris snook
This is an example of a small scandinavian single-wall kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Cherrybrook Kitchen

Dan Kitchens Australia

Nestled inside a beautiful modernist home that began its charismatic existence in the 70’s, you will find this Cherrybrook Kitchen. The kitchen design emanates warmth, elegance and beauty through the combination of textures, modern lines, luxury appliances and minimalist style. Wood grain and marble textures work together to add detail and character to the space. The paired back colour palette is highlighted by a dark wood grain but softened by the light shelving and flooring, offering depth and sophistication.

kitchendesigns.com

Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. (CKD, CBD, CR)

NYC apartment kitchen,
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with black cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback and matchstick tile splashback.

世田谷の家

TYPE SEVEN（タイプセブン）

Photo:KAI HIRATA
Inspiration for an industrial galley kitchen in Tokyo with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island, matchstick tile splashback, slate floors and black floor.

Contemporary Kitchen

Large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Port Credit Custom Home

Prestige Custom Homes

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Toronto with white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and glass-front cabinets.

Red Cherry Transitional Kitchen with Cherry Island

Caves Kitchens

Under cabinet lighting were designed in this kitchen to aid in task lighting and to contrast against the darker cabinetry. A large microwave and double oven were built into the wall of this kitchen, and a unique range hood gives this kitchen a very modern look. - Allison Caves, CKD Caves Kitchens

Preserve Parkway

Studio Shelter

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and coffered.

Maison #92

AMOS

joan bracco
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley kitchen in Paris with black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, ceramic floors and beige benchtop.

Trade Mark Interiors - Ferncroft Ave

Nicholas Ferris Photography LLC

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Tampa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Oakville Family Home Transformation

Bridgemont Properties Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and multi-coloured benchtop.

Easy Breezy

SV Design

The layout of this colonial-style house lacked the open, coastal feel the homeowners wanted for their summer retreat. Siemasko + Verbridge worked with the homeowners to understand their goals and priorities: gourmet kitchen; open first floor with casual, connected lounging and entertaining spaces; an out-of-the-way area for laundry and a powder room; a home office; and overall, give the home a lighter and more “airy” feel. SV’s design team reprogrammed the first floor to successfully achieve these goals. SV relocated the kitchen to what had been an underutilized family room and moved the dining room to the location of the existing kitchen. This shift allowed for better alignment with the existing living spaces and improved flow through the rooms. The existing powder room and laundry closet, which opened directly into the dining room, were moved and are now tucked in a lower traffic area that connects the garage entrance to the kitchen. A new entry closet and home office were incorporated into the front of the house to define a well-proportioned entry space with a view of the new kitchen. By making use of the existing cathedral ceilings, adding windows in key locations, removing very few walls, and introducing a lighter color palette with contemporary materials, this summer cottage now exudes the light and airiness this home was meant to have. © Dan Cutrona Photography

Eola Parade of Homes

Blue Daze Designs

Eola Parade of Homes
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Orlando with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, matchstick tile splashback, vinyl floors, an undermount sink and grey floor.

Warren Street - NE Atlanta

Urban Purpose Design

Large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Completed Open Concept Kitchen

TEC Construction & Development

COMPLETED PROJECT!! The kitchen walls were removed to create an open concept and allow the beautiful gulf views to be seen from the kitchen in this high rise condo in Naples. The increased counter space is a welcome addition to the homeowner.

Bonita Drive - Traditional Kitchen and Bath Remodel

Tru Craft Woodworks, LLC

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen with White Splashback and Matchstick Tile 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!