View of Kitchen with Moroccan Style Ogee Arch

Moroccan arch brought in by architect, to "recreate" the arch lost at small niche in old kitchen. we wanted to keep the Moroccan element going & thought of putting exotic tile at stove backsplash. We added the cobalt blue tile instead, wood elements (palette wood found by cabinet maker in attic)

Italian Country Villa, Full Home Design

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Recalling the Old World flavor of the Italian Countryside, this traditional kitchen features ivory plaster walls and reclaimed wood beams in a rich honey stain. The distressed and glazed finish of the center island coordinates with the walls, while its extra-thick wood top matches the stain of the perimeter cabinets. Topping the perimeter cabinetry is doubly thick quartzite with an ogee edge. The mosaic tile backsplash in shades of ivory, cream, and gold adds just the right amount of shimmer. Hanging above the island are a pair of gold and glass mini chandeliers which pull in the gold of the sconces that flank the limestone hood by Francois & Co. Bronze cabinet hardware adds a bit of jewelry to this hard-working space. A glimpse of beautiful blue linen draperies in the living room can be seen through the doorway.

Long Island House

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Christine Oh Kim
This is an example of a small transitional single-wall kitchen pantry in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Live Edge Island Kitchen and Bathroom Oasis

Grossmueller's Design Consultants

John Tsantes
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in DC Metro with wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kensington Remodel

Michaelson Homes LLC

The pantry just off the kitchen has an old world feel with its brick accents and antique doors. The brick walls, previously the back exterior of the home, give this pantry lots of character. The cabinetry and gorgeous wood countertops are courtesy of Riverside Custom Cabinetry. Designer: Meg Kohnen Photography by: William Manning

The Anstruther Kitchen - Fisherman's Cottage

Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized country single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback and brown benchtop.

Spanish Revival

Rollins Andrew Interiors

Photo of a large mediterranean l-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Kitchens

Kandel Construction Group

Photo of a large beach style l-shaped separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Old World Deer Lodge Estate

James McNeal Architecture and Design

Inspiration for a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Rustic Mountain Homes

Fedewa Custom Works

This was a rustic walnut kitchen we built for Jessen Construction. The Island is painted a custom blue grey color that the homeowner chose. The island top is walnut. The range is by Lacanche. The photograph is by Tim Murphy Photography.

My Houzz: Eclectic, Kid-Friendly Home for a Creative Couple

Caroline Sharpnack

Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © 2019 Houzz
Inspiration for an eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Custom Home

Alftin Construction

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Twinsburg, OH - Farmhouse - Distressed Walnut Counter

Grothouse Wood Countertops

Countertop Wood: Walnut with Sapwood Construction Style: Flat Grain Wood Countertop Location: Twinsburg, Ohio Countertop Thickness: 1-3/4" Size: 45" x 141" Countertop Edge Profile: Standard Roman Ogee on top horizontal edges, 1/8" Roundover on bottom horizontal edges, 1/2" radius on vertical corners Wood Countertop Finish: Durata® Waterproof Permanent Finish in Satin sheen Wood Stain: Hand Rubbed Black Glaze Designer: Chip Tiber, CKD, NCDIQ, of Studio 76 Kitchens & Baths

MAC Building Solutions - Caistor Rd

MAC Building Solutions Ltd

Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Main Street Kitchen

Ramsay Gourd Home

Greg Premru
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Primrose Hill Basement

Alistair Fleming Design

Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Butcher Block Island

Magnolia Cabinet Company

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Tampa with black cabinets, wood benchtops, with island, beige splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Creative Classic - Pavel HBC

Huggy Bear's Cupboards

Painted blue gray cabinets give a unique feel to this kitchen. With contrasting white interior in the class panel upper cabinets, showcasing the dishes inside.

Corner range top & hood

April Case Underwood

June Stanich
Transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Ocean City New Jersey

Superior Woodcraft, Inc.

The open wood truss system, tongue in groove ceiling and wood counter top on the island all provide great contrasting interests to the white painted recessed paneled custom-made cabinetry. Two sinks and a trough in the island provide ample utility and enough space for multiple chefs. The wall sconces accent and center the window above the kitchen sink while the fully integrated Sub Zero refrigerator is nicely concealed. Photo Credit: Randle Bye

Kitchen with Wood Benchtops and Dark Hardwood Floors 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!