This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Evergreen

The Glade Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, pink cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, yellow floor and yellow benchtop.

Engawa House, Ivanhoe

Inbetween Architecture

Inspiration for an asian single-wall open plan kitchen in Melbourne with open cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors and exposed beam.

Craftsman kitchen

Buckenmeyer Architecture

Arts and crafts galley separate kitchen in Portland with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, wood benchtops, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

Marine Loft

SUBU Design Architecture

Kitchen remodel with reclaimed wood cabinetry and industrial details. Photography by Manolo Langis. Located steps away from the beach, the client engaged us to transform a blank industrial loft space to a warm inviting space that pays respect to its industrial heritage. We use anchored large open space with a sixteen foot conversation island that was constructed out of reclaimed logs and plumbing pipes. The island itself is divided up into areas for eating, drinking, and reading. Bringing this theme into the bedroom, the bed was constructed out of 12x12 reclaimed logs anchored by two bent steel plates for side tables.

Cambridge Kitchen and Breakfast Nook

Leah Ward Interiors

Traditional white marble New England kitchen with walnut wood island and bronze fixtures for added warmth. Photo: Michael J Lee Photography
Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and wood benchtops.

A Range Wall to Remember

Arciform

The addition of casement windows flanking the range opens this wall up to the stunning view, bringing light and color into the space. A slight jog in the base cabinet depth adds definition to the range and hood. The far end of the island switches from quartzite to butcher block counters, creating a perfect work space.

Meadow Crossing Modern Farmhouse

42 North - Architecture + Design

Country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Grand Rapids with white cabinets, wood benchtops, ceramic floors, black floor and brown benchtop.

Parkview

Warmington & North

Custom cabinetry by Warmington & North Architect: Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Photography: Haris Kenjar
This is an example of a traditional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops and white splashback.

Custom drawer for baking supplies in a Country Kitchen

Carter Construction

Sadro Design Studio, Kitchen Designer Solid Rock Custom Creations, Granite Counter Chets Cabinets, Custom Cabinetry Roger Turk, Northlight Photography

Bluff House Kitchen, void

Auhaus Architecture

Bluff House kitchen. Photography: Auhaus Architecture
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

An Arts and Crafts Kitchen in Kent by deVOL

deVOL Kitchens

Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Farmhouse Inspiration

Pamko Construction

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Boston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Parkwood Road Residence Kitchen

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Selections & Furnishings | Charles Cudd De Novo, Architecture | Troy Thies Photography | Shannon Gale, Photo Styling

A&L - attico caldo e accogliente

LAKD - Progettare l'ambiente cucina

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Rome with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Greenwich Renovation

William D. Earls AIA Architect

Pantry with fully tiled wall.
Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen pantry in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, dark hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Pacific Heights Residence

RHC Construction & Management

Scott Hargis Photography
Design ideas for a traditional kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Cornish Blue Kitchen

George Robinson Kitchens

Detail of the stunning maple wood worktop in this bespoke kitchen. Plug lids neatly conceal the integrrated waste bin unit and undermounted circular sink when not in use.

Back Bay House

BC&J Architecture

The Back Bay House is comprised of two main structures, a nocturnal wing and a daytime wing, joined by a glass gallery space. The daytime wing maintains an informal living arrangement that includes the dining space placed in an intimate alcove, a large country kitchen and relaxing seating area which opens to a classic covered porch and on to the water’s edge. The nocturnal wing houses three bedrooms. The master at the water side enjoys views and sounds of the wildlife and the shore while the two subordinate bedrooms soak in views of the garden and neighboring meadow. To bookend the scale and mass of the house, a whimsical tower was included to the nocturnal wing. The tower accommodates flex space for a bunk room, office or studio space. Materials and detailing of this house are based on a classic cottage vernacular language found in these sorts of buildings constructed in pre-war north america and harken back to a simpler time and scale. Eastern white cedar shingles, white painted trim and moulding collectively add a layer of texture and richness not found in today’s lexicon of detail. The house is 1,628 sf plus a 228 sf tower and a detached, two car garage which employs massing, detail and scale to allow the main house to read as dominant but not overbearing. Designed by BC&J Architecture.

Historic Renovation With Modern Conveniences

Balding Design Build

Cherry wood countertops, white custom cabinetry, glass cabinet doors
Traditional kitchen in Wilmington with glass-front cabinets, a farmhouse sink, wood benchtops, white cabinets, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

Kitchen with Wood Benchtops and Glass Benchtops 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!