Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Bridgeport with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, brown floor, light wood cabinets and grey splashback.

Kemper Kitchen

Miller Woodworks

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Cincinnati with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Simply MOD

Lucy Johnson Interior Design

Dale Lang
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with with island, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, bamboo floors, light wood cabinets, blue splashback and glass sheet splashback.

Bentley New Home Build

Keswick Homes

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Shoalwood Contemporary

Village Interior Design LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Chuckanut Ridge

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Benjamin Benschneider
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Modern Kitchen

Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, beige splashback and porcelain splashback.

Modern Kitchen

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

Blending contemporary and historic styles requires innovative design and a well-balanced aesthetic. That was the challenge we faced in creating a modern kitchen for this historic home in Lynnfield, MA. The final design retained the classically beautiful spatial and structural elements of the home while introducing a sleek sophistication. We mixed the two design palettes carefully. For instance, juxtaposing the warm, distressed wood of an original door with the smooth, brightness of non-paneled, maple cabinetry. A cork floor and accent cabinets of white metal add texture while a seated, step-down peninsula and built in bookcase create an open transition from the kitchen proper to an inviting dining space. This is truly a space where the past and present can coexist harmoniously. Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Condominium Kitchen, Nashville, TN

Connie Long Interiors

Condominium Kitchen Renovation, located in Nashville, TN, using manufactured cabinetry with custom detailing.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in Nashville with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Earthy Bamboo Kitchen

Jess Cooney Interiors

Design ideas for a large country single-wall eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands and bamboo floors.

Mid-Century Modern

LaDyne Design

Stephen LaDyne
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island and window splashback.

Madison B

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

Shutterbug
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Grandin Terrace

Carlton Edwards

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Winan's Lake, Brighton, MI Transitional Style Kitchen

KSI Kitchen & Bath

Updating this kitchen to function and look well given all the angles was the challenge. Two side-by-side pantries provide lots of storage and easy access. Dura Supreme Hudson in cashew was chosen to complement the bamboo flooring. KSI Designer Lloyd Endsley. Photography by Steve McCall

Teragren Bamboo Flooring

Green Building Supply

Color: Synergy-Solid-Strand-Bamboo-Wheat
Photo of a small asian u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Cape Home Addition - Expanding Home and Lifestyle

'g' Green Design Center

Green Home Remodel – Clean and Green on a Budget – with Flair Today many families with young children put health and safety first among their priorities for their homes. Young families are often on a budget as well, and need to save in important areas such as energy costs by creating more efficient homes. In this major kitchen remodel and addition project, environmentally sustainable solutions were on top of the wish list producing a wonderfully remodeled home that is clean and green, coming in on time and on budget. ‘g’ Green Design Center was the first and only stop when the homeowners of this mid-sized Cape-style home were looking for assistance. They had a rough idea of the layout they were hoping to create and came to ‘g’ for design and materials. Nicole Goldman, of ‘g’ did the space planning and kitchen design, and worked with Greg Delory of Greg DeLory Home Design for the exterior architectural design and structural design components. All the finishes were selected with ‘g’ and the homeowners. All are sustainable, non-toxic and in the case of the insulation, extremely energy efficient. Beginning in the kitchen, the separating wall between the old kitchen and hallway was removed, creating a large open living space for the family. The existing oak cabinetry was removed and new, plywood and solid wood cabinetry from Canyon Creek, with no-added urea formaldehyde (NAUF) in the glues or finishes was installed. Existing strand woven bamboo which had been recently installed in the adjacent living room, was extended into the new kitchen space, and the new addition that was designed to hold a new dining room, mudroom, and covered porch entry. The same wood was installed in the master bedroom upstairs, creating consistency throughout the home and bringing a serene look throughout. The kitchen cabinetry is in an Alder wood with a natural finish. The countertops are Eco By Cosentino; A Cradle to Cradle manufactured materials of recycled (75%) glass, with natural stone, quartz, resin and pigments, that is a maintenance-free durable product with inherent anti-bacterial qualities. In the first floor bathroom, all recycled-content tiling was utilized from the shower surround, to the flooring, and the same eco-friendly cabinetry and counter surfaces were installed. The similarity of materials from one room creates a cohesive look to the home, and aided in budgetary and scheduling issues throughout the project. Throughout the project UltraTouch insulation was installed following an initial energy audit that availed the homeowners of about $1,500 in rebate funds to implement energy improvements. Whenever ‘g’ Green Design Center begins a project such as a remodel or addition, the first step is to understand the energy situation in the home and integrate the recommended improvements into the project as a whole. Also used throughout were the AFM Safecoat Zero VOC paints which have no fumes, or off gassing and allowed the family to remain in the home during construction and painting without concern for exposure to fumes. Dan Cutrona Photography

capitol hill backyard cottage

microhouse

This small kitchen uses a kitchen table (not pictured) to double the work surface. two built in pantries and cabinets provide abundant storage for this backyard cottage. design, bruce parker, microhouse photo, max ralph, LCM builders

Ampudia Residence

Larimer Design :: Architecture and Planning

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and a peninsula.

PBH Colip House

PBH Design

Large midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and a peninsula.

Kitchen with Light Wood Cabinets and Bamboo Floors 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!