Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Traditional with a modern twist

Collaroy Kitchen Centre

Inspiration for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

MId Century Family Home

Sally Feeney Interior Design Pty Ltd

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, terrazzo benchtops, subway tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Blackheath Residence

Rocco Revolution

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, grey benchtop, flat-panel cabinets and window splashback.

113 Willow Ave - Hoboken

Comstock Home Renovations LLC

Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Blue Kitchen with Terrazzo Benchtops

Improva

A kitchen that combines sleek modern design with natural warmth. This beautifully crafted space features a curved island as its centrepiece, creating a dynamic flow that enhances both functionality and aesthetics. The island is clad with elegant terrazzo stone adding a touch of contemporary charm. The combination of the Dulux Albeit-coloured joinery and the Milano oak wall cabinets creates a captivating interplay of colours and textures, elevating the visual impact of the kitchen.

City Beach

Glenda Roff

Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with an integrated sink, white cabinets, limestone benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen, Whitebridge

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

This is an example of a small beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Kitchen

Drift Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Wollongong with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Oh What A Ceiling!

Green Sheep Collective

‘Oh What A Ceiling!’ ingeniously transformed a tired mid-century brick veneer house into a suburban oasis for a multigenerational family. Our clients, Gabby and Peter, came to us with a desire to reimagine their ageing home such that it could better cater to their modern lifestyles, accommodate those of their adult children and grandchildren, and provide a more intimate and meaningful connection with their garden. The renovation would reinvigorate their home and allow them to re-engage with their passions for cooking and sewing, and explore their skills in the garden and workshop.

Kitchen with hand painted Glass panel doors

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

North Balgowlah Kitchen & Bathroom

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, with island, brown floor, vaulted, white cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and beige benchtop.

Brighton

Sketch Building Design

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Dark Grey Brown Sophisticated Kitchen

Joyce Kitchens

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen | Project Coolum

desculpto

This kitchen design effortlessly marries reimagined traditional elements with a touch of postmodern flair, crafting a truly one-of-a-kind and personalized space. One cannot help but be drawn to the unique brushed brass rangehood, a true hero piece in this design. It not only adds a powerful stroke of creativity but also serves as a sturdy anchor, grounding the entire space with its commanding presence.

Naremburn

Sartorial Interiors

Photo of a large contemporary kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Hambleton

Daniela Fulford Photography

Modern galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Bayview House

Aatos Design

Light-filled kitchen and dining.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey splashback, beige floor, grey benchtop and wood.

Kitchen with Dolomite splash back and benchtops

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with Timber Elements and V-groove Cabinetry

Improva

This well-designed Kitchen features an appliance pantry with LED strip lighting and bi-fold pocket doors adorned with v-groove cabinetry, setting the stage for a seamless and elegant experience. The rest of the cabinetry in the kitchen is in Polytec Chiffley 18mm Profile, offering a sleek and modern look. The thin shaker cabinetry showcases clean lines and a smooth finish, creating a contemporary aesthetic that effortlessly complements the overall design.

All Cabinet Finishes Kitchen with with Island 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!