Stunning finishes including natural timber veneer, polyurethane & Caesarstone make for a professionally designed space. Opting for the contemporary V Groove cabinetry doors creates warmth & texture along with black accents to complete the look.

Northcote House

Ochre Studio

Custom terrazzo benchtop, oak veneer cupboards with hand pull cutouts for opening, curved walls with timber battens.
Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, light wood cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, concrete floors, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Alphington

Jasmine McClelland Design

Warm earthy tones, organic mixed coloured Fibonacci stone benchtop and beige mosaic splashback tile from Academy tiles compliment the feature timber surrounds of this family kitchen.

Flour and sugar bins in lower cabinet drawer

APEX Design Build

Photo of a mid-sized traditional galley separate kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, multi-coloured floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Lake of the Isles Kitchen

M. Victoria Johnson Interiors

Design ideas for a beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Custom Kitchen Island with Blue Macauba Quartzite

Blackline Renovations

- CotY 2014 Regional Winner: Residential Kitchen Over $120,000 - CotY 2014 Dallas Chapter Winner: Residential Kitchen Over $120,000 Ken Vaughan - Vaughan Creative Media

Hagen By The Sea

Gilbert Design Group

Beautiful leathered dolomite ( marble) countertops paired with the rift cut white oak cabinets, and marble backsplash give this coastal home a rich but organic and casual style! Open shelves create a strong design statement while still offering lots of function.

Mid-Century Classic

Lucy Johnson Interior Design

U-shaped kitchen with Super Susan corner cabinet. Flat door style in Rift-Cut White Oak. Satin Nickel cabinet pulls.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Kitchens

Twisted River Woodworks LLC

Natural Birch Craftsman style kitchen cabinets.
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Urban Fusion

Kitchens & Bathrooms First

A desire for a larger, more welcoming, functional and family centered kitchen required the relocation of interior walls to open up the heart of this home. Contrasting glossy cream and mid toned wood grained cabinetry provides for a warm aesthetic along with beautiful Ceasarstone Quartz counter tops in two colors. LED lighting, dark matte large format porcelain floor tiles and sleek built in appliances combine for a striking urban look.

Timeless Transitional Kitchen - Yorba Linda

Le Gourmet Kitchen Ltd.

This transitional kitchen design in Yorba Linda has a timeless quality that proves great design never goes out of style. The warm, light wood finish Woodmode and Brookhaven custom maple cabinetry with stainless steel appliances and sleek accessories creates the ideal combination of traditional and modern features. The L-shaped kitchen includes raised panel perimeter and island cabinetry, packed with plenty of storage, including a customized cat and dog bowl station that tucks away when not in use. A Cheng concrete countertop and custom backsplash design add color and texture, along with the Le Gourmet custom plaster hood and a black Franke farmhouse sink with a Grohe faucet. The stainless appliances include a Wolf double oven and range and a Sub-Zero glass front refrigerator. Photos by Greg Seltzer

Green Goods

Design by Heather Tissue; construction by Green Goods Kitchen remodel featuring carmelized strand woven bamboo plywood, maple plywood and paint grade cabinets, custom bamboo doors, handmade ceramic tile, custom concrete countertops

ASC Margaritaville

Amy Storm & Company

Inspiration for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and exposed beam.

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

Amazing Spaces

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

Amazing Spaces

Stunning Kitchen Remodel and Decor in McLean Virginia

Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Coastal Contemporary

Sligh Cabinets Inc.

©2018 Sligh Cabinets, Inc. | Custom Cabinetry by Sligh Cabinets, Inc.
This is an example of a mid-sized beach style l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Luis Obispo with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Green Goods

Timber Frame Transitional Kitchen

Designs for Living by Wendy, LLC

This is an example of a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Jacksonville with light wood cabinets, brown splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, soapstone benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances and multi-coloured benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen Design King of Prussia, PA

Reico Kitchen & Bath

Thomas Valko of Reico Kitchen and Bath in King of Prussia, PA in collaboration with Hounddog Contracting, designed a transitional style kitchen featuring Masterpiece Cabinetry. The kitchen cabinets are in the Martel 5-piece door style in Maple in a Shortbread finish, complimented by Classic Rock Tesora Vento quartz countertops. “We love the new layout and design of our kitchen. It is both beautiful and functional! It was a challenge for us to visualize how the project would turn out, so it was extremely helpful to see the Reico 3D images while designing prior to the start of our work. We were very happy with the quality of both the cabinets and quartz we purchased from Reico,” said the client. Thomas found it challenging to optimize the smaller layout for maximum functionality. "Our biggest hurdle was determining the best spot for the island in such a compact space. Choosing the perfect location was tough," he explained. He expressed his admiration for the Shortbread color of the cabinetry, noting its consistency and ability to hold the stain well. Thomas also enjoyed the collaborative relationship with Dan from Hounddog Contracting, “The communication between all to ensure we were all on the same page. This was effective as the overall result of the kitchen was a huge success.” Photos courtesy of Dan Williams Photography.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets and Multi-Coloured Benchtop 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!