Photo credit: Nolan Painting Interior Design: Raindrum Design
This is an example of a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, glass tile splashback, with island, an undermount sink, soapstone benchtops, black benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Riverbend Guest House - Green With Character

Jarrett Design

Photo of a small country l-shaped separate kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Ontare Residence

Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design

Photos by Lepere Studio
Large contemporary kitchen in Santa Barbara with soapstone benchtops, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Miller Kitchen

Turan Designs, Inc.

Transitional White Kitchen
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, a farmhouse sink, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor, with island and green benchtop.

Classic design. Timeless elegance.

User

vertical storage for large baking trays, cutting boards and muffin tins. All in walnut. Classic white kitchen designed and built by Jewett Farms + Co. Functional for family life with a design that will stand the test of time. White cabinetry, soapstone perimeter counters and marble island top. Hand scraped walnut floors. Walnut drawer interiors and walnut trim on the range hood. Many interior details, check out the rest of the project photos to see them all.

Beach Street Residence

TINEKE TRIGGS

Suzanne Scott
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with with island, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and a farmhouse sink.

Tahoe Ski Cabin

Studio Bergtraun AIA

The wood used for the cabinetry was passed through a steel comb roller on a belt planer to give it a rugged but smooth texture expressing the wood grain and reminiscence of tree bark. -The industrial looking metal dining table on wheels reflects the outdoor light brightening the space and enhancing the informal feel of a fun home. The Oxgut chairs with rolls are made with recycled fire-hoses!

RedHouse

Misiaszek Turpin pllc

The 800 square-foot guest cottage is located on the footprint of a slightly smaller original cottage that was built three generations ago. With a failing structural system, the existing cottage had a very low sloping roof, did not provide for a lot of natural light and was not energy efficient. Utilizing high performing windows, doors and insulation, a total transformation of the structure occurred. A combination of clapboard and shingle siding, with standout touches of modern elegance, welcomes guests to their cozy retreat. The cottage consists of the main living area, a small galley style kitchen, master bedroom, bathroom and sleeping loft above. The loft construction was a timber frame system utilizing recycled timbers from the Balsams Resort in northern New Hampshire. The stones for the front steps and hearth of the fireplace came from the existing cottage’s granite chimney. Stylistically, the design is a mix of both a “Cottage” style of architecture with some clean and simple “Tech” style features, such as the air-craft cable and metal railing system. The color red was used as a highlight feature, accentuated on the shed dormer window exterior frames, the vintage looking range, the sliding doors and other interior elements. Photographer: John Hession

Hicks Street Townhouse, Brooklyn Heights, NYC

Kevin Dakan Architect

Francis Dzikowski
Inspiration for a small transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in New York with white cabinets, beige splashback, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, soapstone benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Gladwyne, PA Kitchen, Mudroom and Living Room Remodel

Rudloff Custom Builders

This kitchen has many interesting elements that set it apart. The sense of openness is created by the raised ceiling and multiple ceiling levels, lighting and light colored cabinets. A custom hood over the stone back splash creates a wonderful focal point with it's traditional style architectural mill work complimenting the islands use of reclaimed wood (as seen on the ceiling as well) transitional tapered legs, and the use of Carrara marble on the island top. This kitchen was featured in a Houzz Kitchen of the Week article! Photography by Alicia's Art, LLC RUDLOFF Custom Builders, is a residential construction company that connects with clients early in the design phase to ensure every detail of your project is captured just as you imagined. RUDLOFF Custom Builders will create the project of your dreams that is executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsman, while creating lifetime client relationships that are build on trust and integrity. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area including West Chester, Gladwynne, Malvern, Wayne, Haverford and more. As a 6 time Best of Houzz winner, we look forward to working with you on your next project.

Historic Kitchen Renovation

TreHus Architects+Interior Designers+Builders

The color palate of this kitchen is mostly black and white - the height of fashion now - but the space is also timeless. Granite, marble, soapstone, quartersawn oak, carefully design custom cabinets, and even stained glass tie this kitchen in seamlessly with the grand historic home. Photo by Brit Amundson.

Past Meets Present

Judith Wright Design

Saving the original stained glass picture window from 1916, we created a focal point with a custom designed arch alcove with dentil molding. Leaded glass upper cabinets add ambiance and sparkle to the compact kitchen.

Prospect Heights Apartment

Ben Herzog

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, white floor and black benchtop.

Santa Barbara - Kitchen Remodel

Luxe Remodel

Materials Countertop: Soapstone Range Hood: Marble Cabinets: Vertical Grain White Oak Appliances Range: @subzeroandwolf Dishwasher: @mieleusa Fridge: @subzeroandwolf Water dispenser: @zipwaterus

South Land Park

WOOL Design Studio

Walnut cabinets, soapstone countertops, built-in oven hood with floating shelves.
Design ideas for a modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Private Waterfront Residence on the Chester River

Purple Cherry Architects

The butler's pantry of the home features stainless steel appliances, a herringbone flooring and a subway tile back splash.
Inspiration for an expansive traditional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Baltimore with white cabinets, zinc benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, multi-coloured floor and timber.

45Teel Kitchen

Aurora Architects + Builders

Our first steampunk kitchen, this vibrant and meticulously detailed space channels Victorian style with future-forward technology. It features Vermont soapstone counters with integral farmhouse sink, arabesque tile with tin ceiling backsplash accents, pulley pendant light, induction range, coffee bar, baking center, and custom cabinetry throughout.

Parkside

Hello Kitchen

Mid-sized scandinavian galley open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Mission Victorian

Form + Field

Mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Ultra Modern Luxury Oasis

Regal Construction & Remodeling Inc.

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, black benchtop, an undermount sink and soapstone benchtops.

Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops and Zinc 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!