Photo of a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Blue Stallion Farm - Southwest Ranches, FL

Big Chill

A Big Chill Retro refrigerator and dishwasher in mint green add cool color to the space.
Small country l-shaped kitchen in Miami with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, coloured appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island and orange floor.

Allpress Kitchen Case Study

Roundhouse

Roundhouse Classic matt lacquer bespoke kitchen in Little Green BBC 50 N 05 with island in Little Green BBC 24 D 05, Bianco Eclipsia quartz wall cladding. Work surfaces, on island; Bianco Eclipsia quartz with matching downstand, bar area; matt sanded stainless steel, island table worktop Spekva Bavarian Wholestave. Bar area; Bronze mirror splashback. Photography by Darren Chung.

Award Winning Kitchen Remodel

GMT Home Designs Inc.

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback and ceramic splashback.

Pantry

KuDa Photography

Designed by Rod Graham and Gilyn McKelligon. Photo by KuDa Photography
Inspiration for a country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Portland with open cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and panelled appliances.

PARIS 09- Rénovation lourde de combles

Mon Concept Habitation

STEPHANE VASCO
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island, grey floor and beige benchtop.

Colleton River

Randolph Stewart

Design ideas for a large mediterranean u-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, a farmhouse sink, terra-cotta floors and brown benchtop.

Traditional Pantry

CLOSET FURNISHINGS & CABINETRY

Traditional white pantry. Ten feet tall with walnut butcher block counter top, Shaker drawer fronts, polished chrome hardware, baskets with canvas liners, pullouts for canned goods and cooking sheet slots.

The Leicestershire Kitchen in the Woods by deVOL

deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens
Photo of a mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors and no island.

New build oak framed cottage - Herefordshire

Border Oak Ltd

Inspiration for a country single-wall kitchen in West Midlands with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops and stainless steel appliances.

Elk Country Estate_French Country_Kitchen

Cascade Builders & Associates Inc.

Inspiration for a large l-shaped kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Stunning kitchen extension in Bromley.

Veronica Rodriguez Interior Photography

Photography by Veronica Rodriguez
Inspiration for a country eat-in kitchen in London with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, with island and white appliances.

Open, airy kitchen in Rutland, UK

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

Bright, open and airy Knocking through a few rooms to create a large open-plan area, the owners of this sleek kitchen wanted to create a free, fluid space that made the kitchen the unequivocal hub of the home whilst at the same time stylistically linking to the rest of the property. We were tasked with creating a large open-plan kitchen and dining area that also leads through to a cosy snug, ideal for relaxing after a hard afternoon over the Aga!! The owners gave us creative control in the space, so with a loose rein and a clear head we fashioned a faultless kitchen complete with a large central island, a sunken sink and Quooker tap. For optimum storage (and a dash of style) we built a number of large larders, one of which cleverly conceals a television, as well as a false chimney surround to frame the Aga and a bespoke drinks unit. All the units are hand-crafted from Quebec Yellow Timber and hand-painted in Zoffany ‘Smoke’ and ‘Elephant Gray’ Walnut worktops, with Silestone ‘Lagoon’ Worktops around the outside and American Black Walnut on the island. Photo: Chris Ashwin

Mission Hills

Mindy Day Designs,LLC

Brynn Burns Photography
Transitional l-shaped kitchen in Orlando with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, with island, an undermount sink, wood benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Portland Craftsman Kitchen

HOLAH Design + Architecture

KuDa Photography
Inspiration for a traditional galley kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Cotswold Chapel Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Glazed oak cabinet with LED lights painted in Farrow & Ball Chappell Green maximise the space by making the most of the high ceilings. The unified colour also creates a more spacious feeling. Pine table with chapel chair hint at the origins of the house as an old chapel with the limestone flooring adding to the rustic feel.

Crisp Architects

Rob Karosis, Photographer
Design ideas for a traditional separate kitchen in New York with glass-front cabinets, wood benchtops, white cabinets, an undermount sink, white splashback and white appliances.

Foster Residence

Clayton&Little Architects

Photo by Casey Dunn
Inspiration for a country separate kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback and stainless steel appliances.

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.

Modern Berkeley Cabin

Gustave Carlson Design

Gustave Carlson Design
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with wood benchtops, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Kitchen with Wood 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!