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.

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.

Council Crest Remodel

Robert Miller FAIA Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, dark wood cabinets, window splashback and brown floor.

LA Green Designs

Pierre Galant Photography

Pierre Galant Photogrpahy
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Cocina en Puerta de Hierro

Neuhaus ad hoc

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Madrid with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Firenze Residence

Assembledge

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, window splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

HUF House T

Alexander Huf - M.Sc Architekt

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Stuttgart with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, with island, window splashback, white benchtop and medium hardwood floors.

Projekt 8

Kizil Interior Services

Inspiration for an industrial galley open plan kitchen in Frankfurt with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, with island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Wedgetail Retreat

Mikasa Designs

DMAX Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

James St - Renovation

Big House Little House

Design ideas for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen with a double-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, concrete floors, with island, white benchtop and window splashback.

Rylock Custom Windows & Doors

Rylock Australia

Double Glazed - Sliding Window, Bifold Door & Specialist Windows with ColorBond™ Monument Frame and Black Hardware
This is an example of a modern galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, window splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Cocina amplia con isla y mesa supletoria

Hermanos Pérez

Photo of a mid-sized modern galley open plan kitchen in Madrid with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Mike's Hammock

Josh Wynne Construction

I built this on my property for my aging father who has some health issues. Handicap accessibility was a factor in design. His dream has always been to try retire to a cabin in the woods. This is what he got. It is a 1 bedroom, 1 bath with a great room. It is 600 sqft of AC space. The footprint is 40' x 26' overall. The site was the former home of our pig pen. I only had to take 1 tree to make this work and I planted 3 in its place. The axis is set from root ball to root ball. The rear center is aligned with mean sunset and is visible across a wetland. The goal was to make the home feel like it was floating in the palms. The geometry had to simple and I didn't want it feeling heavy on the land so I cantilevered the structure beyond exposed foundation walls. My barn is nearby and it features old 1950's "S" corrugated metal panel walls. I used the same panel profile for my siding. I ran it vertical to match the barn, but also to balance the length of the structure and stretch the high point into the canopy, visually. The wood is all Southern Yellow Pine. This material came from clearing at the Babcock Ranch Development site. I ran it through the structure, end to end and horizontally, to create a seamless feel and to stretch the space. It worked. It feels MUCH bigger than it is. I milled the material to specific sizes in specific areas to create precise alignments. Floor starters align with base. Wall tops adjoin ceiling starters to create the illusion of a seamless board. All light fixtures, HVAC supports, cabinets, switches, outlets, are set specifically to wood joints. The front and rear porch wood has three different milling profiles so the hypotenuse on the ceilings, align with the walls, and yield an aligned deck board below. Yes, I over did it. It is spectacular in its detailing. That's the benefit of small spaces. Concrete counters and IKEA cabinets round out the conversation. For those who cannot live tiny, I offer the Tiny-ish House. Photos by Ryan Gamma Staging by iStage Homes Design Assistance Jimmy Thornton

Custom Home #4

CKA Construction Group

Expansive modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

All Islands 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!