The kitchen of a large country house is not what it used to be. Dark, dingy and squirrelled away out of sight of the homeowners, the kitchen was purely designed to cater for the masses. Today, the ultimate country kitchen is a light, airy open room for actually living in, with space to relax and spend time in each other’s company while food can be easily prepared and served, and enjoyed all within a single space. And while catering for large shooting parties, and weekend entertaining is still essential, the kitchen also needs to feel homely enough for the family to enjoy themselves on a quiet mid-week evening. This main kitchen of a large country house in the Cotswolds is the perfect example of a respectful renovation that brings an outdated layout up to date and provides an incredible open plan space for the whole family to enjoy together. When we design a kitchen, we want to capture the scale and proportion of the room while incorporating the client’s brief of how they like to cook, dine and live. Photo Credit: Paul Craig

Cabin Redo

SALA Architects

Cabin Redo by Dale Mulfinger Creating more dramatic views and more sensible space utilization was key in this cabin renovation. Photography by Troy Thies

CP Residence

Karen Aston Design

Large midcentury galley kitchen pantry in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Hunts Point Custom Home

Windows, Doors, & More

Photo of a midcentury kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Star Lake Compound

Wade Weissmann Architecture

The open kitchen features highly varnished wooden countertops and charming open shelves.
Design ideas for a country kitchen in Milwaukee with a farmhouse sink, medium wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Woody

Topos Homes

This is an example of a small country single-wall open plan kitchen in Denver with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, no island, wood benchtops and window splashback.

Wellborn Design Gallery

Hannon Home Center

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Burlington with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Modern and Contemporary Interior

Tile Setters Hawaii LLC

porcelain tile planks (up to 96" x 8")
Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, window splashback, panelled appliances, with island, beige floor, dark wood cabinets, porcelain floors and quartz benchtops.

Woodland Hills House

Bunch Design

Kitchen, bathroom and partial renovation of a residence. Design intent was to create a design complimentary to the existing mid century house while introducing hints and love of Japanese lifestyle. Photographed by: Bo Sundius

Winden Estate - Ourimbah

Penman Brown Interior Design

Design ideas for an expansive country open plan kitchen in Sydney with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, window splashback, painted wood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Offset House

Amrish Maharaj Architecture

A muted palate of materials allows for the feature island to be the hero with its soft curves and timber lining.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

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.

Mitcham Modern

BD Building Design

Mid-sized scandinavian galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

The New American Remodel Great Room 2019

By Design

This mud room/laundry space is the starting point for the implementation of the Farm to Fork design concept of this beautiful home. Fruits and vegetables grown onsite can be cleaned in this spacious laundry room and then prepared for preservation, storage or cooking in the adjacent prep kitchen glimpsed through the barn door.

Résidence Gilbert Poulin

SGD A Architecture + Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Oak Pass Main House

Walker Workshop

Inspiration for a modern l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Squaw Valley

Design Alchemy

David Livingston
Design ideas for a country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, window splashback, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, grey benchtop and panelled appliances.

Suncatcher

Tim Casagrande Photography

Tim Casagrande
Design ideas for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, window splashback, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

The Kalgan Contemporary

WA Country Builders

This is an example of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Perth with a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island and grey floor.

Madison Connecticut Home Renovation 2017

Atlas Construction Services LLC

Traditional eat-in kitchen in Bridgeport with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, window splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Kitchen with Window 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!