Design ideas for a large contemporary kitchen in Melbourne.

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, with island, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Surry Hills Kitchen Island Seating

Matter Design & Make Pty Ltd

In 2019, Interior designer Alexandra Brown approached Matter to design and make cabinetry for this penthouse apartment. The brief was to create a rich and opulent space, featuring a favoured smoked oak veneer. We looked to the Art Deco inspired features of the building and referenced its curved corners and newly installed aged brass detailing in our design. We combined the smoked oak veneer with cambia ash cladding in the kitchen and bar areas to complement the green and brown quartzite stone surfaces chosen by Alex perfectly. We then designed custom brass handles, shelving and a large-framed mirror as a centrepiece for the bar, all crafted impeccably by our friends at JN Custom Metal. Functionality and sustainability were the focus of our design, with hard-wearing charcoal Abet Laminati drawers and door fronts in the kitchen with custom J pull handles, Grass Nova ProScala drawers and Osmo oiled veneer that can be easily reconditioned over time. Photography by Pablo Veiga

Transitional Kitchen

Expansive transitional galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with shaker cabinets, with island, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, beige benchtop, stone slab splashback, an undermount sink, black cabinets, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Attadale Project

Western Cabinets

Polished aggregate flooring, with satin lacquered slabbed doors warmed with stained oak timber paneling and marbled benches.
Expansive contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Tahmour: Kitchen NSW 2573

The Renovation Broker

This luxurious Hamptons design offers a stunning kitchen with all the modern appliances necessary for any cooking aficionado. Featuring an opulent natural stone benchtop and splashback, along with a dedicated butlers pantry coffee bar - designed exclusively by The Renovation Broker - this abode is sure to impress even the most discerning of guests!

Vanquish - Certified Passive House

Solaire

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Brisbane.

Post & Gable House

Kirsten Johnstone Architecture

Photo of an expansive contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Malvern East Knockdown and Rebuild

Sherbrooke Design and Construction

The street location of this property had already undergone substantial demolition and rebuilds, and our clients wanted to re-establish a sense of the original history to the area. The existing Edwardian home needed to be demolished to create a new home that accommodated a growing family ranging from their pre-teens until late 20’s.

Kitchen with hand painted Glass panel doors

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

New Build Transitional Style Kitchen

Svelte Kitchens

This kitchen was a perfect blend of modern and traditional. Shaker doors contrasting with modern fixtures gave the space the timeless elegance the client wanted.

Leura - Farmer Doors with Natural Stone

Kitchen Envy - Custom Kitchens

Beautifully crafted doors from Farmer's doors. The benchtop is Blue Roma Brazilian Quartzite. This amazing natural stone takes centre stage in this Blue Mountains home. Nature knows no bounds with vibrant colours and unique patterns. The dark, moody shade of blue complements the rich texture of the flat panel cabinet doors and adds a contemporary look to a farmhouse style

Kingswood Residence

MH-YL Studio

Contemporary take on a traditional shaker style kitchen with reeded glass doors, timber accents and large island.
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Adelaide with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Essendon - Deco House

Dean Dyson Architects

The translucent like quality of the marble island bench becomes apparent in the morning when sunlight shines across it.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with marble benchtops, marble splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

The Wright House

Mesh Design Projects

Contemporary kitchen
Large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Tivoli Rd

Fortem Projects Pty Ltd

Tivoli Road is a period home in South Yarra. Fortem Projects was engaged to remove and reinstate existing period features of the historic building at the front of the house, and to create a modern refurbishment which would seamlessly integrate new architectural elements informed by the architectural vision of Bayley Ward. A complete transformation of external areas also needed to be carried out, including a pool. Clear communication between Fortem Projects, architects Bayley Ward and our client ensured all potential issues were resolved early in the process. A use of natural materials including timber and stone provided a sense of balance to the project which helped to both contrast and highlight the home’s existing period features.

Nedlands

The Maker Designer Kitchens

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Perth.

Patching Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Large beach style galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Coomodore Drive

BJF Joinery

Inspiration for a large transitional galley kitchen pantry in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, multi-coloured floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Belrose House Renovation NSW 2085

The Renovation Broker

Modern kitchen, with dark timber grain joinery, large kitchen island, with walk in pantry that has a barn door. Two sinks and fridges one integrated to service the outdoor BBQ area, lots of bench space plus 3 ovens and a warming drawer

Kitchen 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!