Design ideas for a mid-sized modern kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, black appliances, with island and wood.

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

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

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, white benchtop, wood and grey floor.

Tri-Color Kitchen

Miyuki Yamaguchi Design Studio

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, recessed, wood and medium wood cabinets.

winter park mountain home

jennifer rhode design

Photo of a large country l-shaped kitchen in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, wood, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops and engineered quartz splashback.

House at Leeside Farm Circular Kitchen

Studio Hillier

This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, black splashback, with island, solid surface benchtops, stone tile splashback, black appliances, marble floors, grey floor and wood.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary galley kitchen in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, beige floor, grey benchtop and wood.

French Country Florida Style

Waterview Kitchens

Gorgeous French Country style kitchen featuring a rustic cherry hood with coordinating island. White inset cabinetry frames the dark cherry creating a timeless design.

Cedar Island Residence

Scott Edwards Architecture

Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Thomasdale

Whack Work

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, concrete floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Functional Storage with Style

Arciform

A long wall of full height custom cabinetry and appliances pack a functional punch for this kitchen, allowing the opposite wall to be upper cabinet free.

Birch Knoll Restoration

k YODER design, LLC

A new kitchen replaced a dated version installed during a prior renovation. Consistent use of walnut wood and marble ensures a timeless aesthetic. As part of the renovation, an enclosed rear stair was opened and outfit with railings to match the home’s main stair. Element by Tech Lighting recessed lighting; Lea Ceramiche Waterfall porcelain stoneware tiles; multi-light pendants by Louis Weisdorf for GUBI; Kolbe VistaLuxe fixed and casement windows via North American Windows and Doors; AKDO Ethereal Flicker white/brass backsplash via Joanne Hudson Associates; Blanco single-bowl sink; Brizo Litze faucet/soap dispenser (Brilliance Luxe Gold); Newport Brass water dispenser (flat black)

Big Fir Vineyard

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

The custom beech cabinetry and Milestone inset contrast nicely with the dark soapstone counters and backsplash. Photography: Andrew Pogue Photography.

Saguaro Grove

AFT Construction

This is an example of a large transitional galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

ROSE LANE

Joel Contreras Design

Contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, window splashback, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Skyview

ID3 Interior Design

Custom kitchen with Heath Ceramics and Caesarstone
Photo of a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, with island and wood.

Кухня со столовой группой

LSD Bureau

Кухня строгая, просторная, монолитная. Множество систем для хранения: глубокие и узкие полочки, открытые и закрытые. Здесь предусмотрено все. Отделка натуральным шпоном дуба (шпон совпадает со шпоном на потолке и на стенах – хотя это разные производители. Есть и открытая часть с варочной панелью – пустая стена с отделкой плиткой под Терраццо и островная вытяжка. Мы стремились добиться максимальной легкости, сохранив функциональность и не минимизируя места для хранения.

Cliffside Farmhouse

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Wooden House

Annalisa Carli Architetto

Una cucina semplice, dal carattere deciso e moderno. Una zona colonne di colore bianco ed un isola grigio scuro. Di grande effetto la cappa Sophie di Falmec che personalizza l'ambiente. Cesar Cucine. Foto di Simone Marulli

Kitchen with Wood 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!