Mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Essex with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island and multi-coloured benchtop.

Riddle me this

Jenny Roush Newman, Designer

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Walnut New Construction

Fiorella Design, LLC

Design ideas for a large country eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback and ceramic splashback.

Hale Navy

Thyme & Place Design LLC

The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Cape Dutch Artisan Home

Ron Brenner Architects

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and exposed beam.

French Open

Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC

Mom has two small children and loves to cook for her family. Each day she preps using fresh ingredients and "mise en place" is her motto, a culinary term meaning "everything in its place" so having her dishes and cookware close at hand and displayed beautifully was paramount.

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

Amazing Spaces

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

North Bethesda Renovation

MSTUDIO, LLC

Transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Transitional Farmhouse

Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry

Chelsea door, Slab & Manor Flat drawer fronts, Designer White enamel.
Mid-sized country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Brass Embellished Kitchen

User

Photo of a transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, matchstick tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Poppy 3

Sterling-Huddleson Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop, exposed beam and wood.

Taylor

LABRAN CONSTRUCTION LLC

Photo of a transitional galley eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

The Columbia

Kingston Homes

Transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Shaker Ash Kitchen and Floating Media Center

SOLLiD Cabinetry

Design: @rrdesignsllc Build: @maverick_kitchens PC: @realestate_shanebakerstudios
Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, multi-coloured benchtop and a farmhouse sink.

Soft Modern

JP Malone

Design ideas for a mid-sized l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Pocket door appliance center with internal cabinets for conceal items

Christine Lakas, The Designer, LLC

Large modern u-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Walker Kitchen

Longhouse Architects

Small galley separate kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, white appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Striking Gold In Estada

SANOMA Kitchen & Bath

Our bold, contemporary kitchen located in Cooper City Florida is a striking combination of of textured glass and high gloss cabinetry tempered with warm neutrals, wood grain and an elegant rush of gold.

Complete remodel- Burlingame, CA

W and W Builders Group Inc.

Complete remodel at Burlingame, CA, High Quality laminate flooring, flat-panel white kitchen cabinets, soft closing doors, custom island, Quartz Calacata White countertop, Stainless steel appliances, Led lighting and island light fixtures, quartz slab backsplash.

N. Clovis Custom Kitchen and Bath

Delerio Construction

Custom dining room nook.
Design ideas for a large mediterranean l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchen with with Island and Multi-Coloured Benchtop 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!