Stephanie Russo Photography
Photo of a small country single-wall open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula and grey floor.

Chicago Condo Remodel

Normandy Remodeling

This gray transitional kitchen consists of open shelving, marble counters and flat panel cabinetry. The paneled refrigerator, white subway tile and gray cabinetry helps the compact kitchen have a much larger feel due to the light colors carried throughout the space. Photo credit: Normandy Remodeling

2022 NARI CotY Award-Winning Residential Kitchens $100,001 to $150,000

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Magnolia Waco Properties, LLC dba Magnolia Homes, Waco, Texas, 2022 Regional CotY Award Winner, Residential Kitchen $100,001 to $150,000
Small country l-shaped separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, shiplap splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured benchtop and timber.

Black in the 'Stow

PlaceDesign Kitchens and Interiors

The view from the sofa into the kitchen. A relatively small space but good coming has meant the area feels uncluttered yet still has a lot of storage.

Aliso Viejo- Hollyleaf

Streamline Construction

Design ideas for a small transitional l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Three Arch Cottage

Nate Fischer Interiors

Bright and airy cottage kitchen with natural wood accents and a pop of blue.
This is an example of a small beach style single-wall open plan kitchen in Orange County with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, panelled appliances, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Craftsman Kitchen

Scenic Interiors, LLC

We completely remodeled an outdated, poorly designed kitchen that was separated from the rest of the house by a narrow doorway. We opened the wall to the dining room and framed it with an oak archway. We transformed the space with an open, timeless design that incorporates a counter-height eating and work area, cherry inset door shaker-style cabinets, increased counter work area made from Cambria quartz tops, and solid oak moldings that echo the style of the 1920's bungalow. Some of the original wood moldings were re-used to case the new energy efficient window.

Industrial Bachelor Pad

Nina Williams Interiors

John Lennon
Inspiration for a small industrial kitchen in Miami with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors and with island.

Coffee bar

Lisa Robazza Design

The space under the stairs was made useful as a coffee bar and for overflow storage. Ample lighting and a sink make it useful for entertaining as well. Photos: Dave Remple

KITCHEN Meridian Kessler Two Tone Green and White Transitional by CCG, Inc.

Central Construction Group, Inc.

Photo of a small transitional galley separate kitchen in Indianapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, no island, grey floor and yellow benchtop.

CHIC HISTORIC SMALL KITCHEN

Molly J Littlejohn Design

Inspiration for a small traditional galley separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, wood benchtops, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and black benchtop.

eclectic green and gray washed alder kitchen

M&M Interiors

This couples small kitchen was in dire need of an update. The homeowner is an avid cook and cookbook collector so finding a special place for some of his most prized cookbooks was a must!

Rénovation totale RdC Paris XV

Desjoconception

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall kitchen in Paris with black cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, no island, shaker cabinets, black appliances, multi-coloured floor and brown benchtop.

Transitional Cottage Kitchen in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Forward Design Build Remodel

A few words our clients used to describe their dream kitchen: nothing shiny, comfort, cooking, rustic, utilitarian. Aside from the sheen on that bronze hardware, looks about right to us!

Palisades

Anne Rae Design

Inspiration for a small modern kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Finished Kitchen

Parker & Company

This is an example of a small contemporary galley separate kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Urban Farmhouse

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

Design ideas for a small country l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern White Farmhouse

Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home

Robb Siverson Photography
Small country eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Open Concept Kitchen with Large Island for Entertaining

CJC Interiors

This modern farmhouse kitchen features traditional cabinetry with a dry bar and extra counter space for entertaining. The open shelving creates the perfect display for farmhouse-style kitchen decor. Copper accents pop against the white tile backsplash and faux greenery.

St. Matthews

JH Designs, LLC.

Photos by J.L. Jordan Photography
Small traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Louisville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and white benchtop.

Small Kitchen with Shaker Cabinets 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!