This 1940's house in Seattle's Greenlake neighborhood and the client's affinity for vintage Jadite dishware established a simple but fun aesthetic for this remodel. Photo Credit: KSA - Aaron Dorn; General Contractor: Justin Busch Construction, LLC

Cotswold Chapel Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Base cabinets contrast perfectly in Farrow & Ball Down Pipe with the oak worktops and shelving- all attached to slate wall tiles that marry perfectly with the limestone flooring. The Farrow & Ball Chappell Green on the wall cabinets is illuminated by the LED strip light. A cream Rayburn with tray space to the right provides warmth for Toffee the dog.

Barnes Residence

DRAW Architecture

This renovation retains the residence’s best qualities–the ample daylight, the exposed structure, the high quality craftsmanship, the clean and reserved material palette, and the understanding of how materials come together.

Laguna Remodel

DD Ford Construction

Lepere Studio
Inspiration for a small mediterranean galley eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors and no island.

Modern New York City Apartment – Renovation Kitchen

LAURIE BLUMENFELD DESIGN

The kitchen required inventive strategies. Knowing that new cabinets were not part of the budget and new appliances were a must, we resurfaced the cabinets in glossy gray, added contrasting hardware, and installed cabinet lighting. A new lush black slate floor and handmade Moroccan tile back splash add contrast. The industrial chic pendant is the crowning touch. | Interior Design by Laurie Blumenfeld-Russo | Tim Williams Photography

Wauwatosa Traditional Kitchen

Design Tech Remodeling

Recessing a large header into the ceiling allowed us to open up this space so the dining area does not feel like a separate space. The warm warm wood tones of the cabinetry complement the granite and make this an enviting entertaining space in this Wauwatosa Home.

Wauwatosa Traditional Kitchen

Design Tech Remodeling

The backspalsh complements the warm granite tones and veining within it. The decorative border feature above the stove finishes off the space and gives it another decorative element.

Bold & Beckoning Modern Kitchen Addition and Renovation

House of L

A traditional Georgian home receives an incredible transformation with an addition to expand the originally compact kitchen and create a pathway into the family room and dining area, opening the flow of the spaces that allow for fluid movement from each living space for the young family of four. Taking the lead from the client's desire to have a contemporary and edgier feel to their home's very classic facade, House of L worked with the architect's addition to the existing kitchen to design a kitchen that was incredibly functional and gorgeously dramatic, beckoning people to grab a barstool and hang out. Glossy macassar ebony wood is complimented with lacquered white cabinets for an amazing study in contrast. An oversized brushed nickel hood with polished nickel banding makes a presence on the feature wall of the kitchen. Brushed and polished nickel details are peppered in the landscape of this room, including the cabinets in the second island, a storage cabinet and automated hopper doors by Hafele on the refrigeration wall and all of the cabinet hardware, supplied and custom sized by Rajack. White quartz countertops by Hanstone in the Bianco Canvas colorway float on all the perimeter cabinets and the secondary island and creates a floating frame for the Palomino Quartzite that is a highlight in the kitchen and lends an organic feel to the clean lines of the millwork. The backsplash area behind the rangetop is a brick patterned mosaic blend of stone and glass, while surrounding walls have a layered sandstone tile that lend an incredible texture to the room. The light fixture hanging above the second island is by Wells Long and features faceted metal polygons with an amber gold interior. Woven linen drapes at window winks at the warmer tones in the room with a lustrous sheen that catches the natural light filtering in. The rift and sawn cut white oak floors are 8" planks that were fitted and finished on site to match the existing floor in the family and dining rooms. The clients were very clear on the appliances they needed the kitchen to accommodate. In addition to the vast expanses of wall space that were gained with the kitchen addition the larger footprint allowed for two sizeable islands and a host of cooking amenities, including a 48" rangetop, two double ovens, a warming drawer, and a built-in coffee maker by Miele and a 36" Refrigerator and Freezer and a beverage drawer by Subzero. A fabulous stainless steel Kallista sink by Mick De Giulio's series for the company is fitted in the first island which serves as a prep area, flanked by an Asko dishwasher to the right. A Dorenbracht faucet is a strong compliment to the scale of the sink. A smaller Kallista stainless sink is centered in the second island which has a secondary burner by Miele for overflow cooking. Jason Miller, Pixelate

Still Designing After 43 Years

Wm Ohs Showrooms

Small transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Denver with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback and marble floors.

Pantry Storage Solution

Abundance Organizing

Pull out drawers create accessible storage solution in a tall pantry cabinet.
Small contemporary kitchen pantry in Richmond with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and medium hardwood floors.

1920's Portland Bungalow

Vicki Simon Interior Design

This was a flip for a developer client, who wanted to maximize the use of space in a small kitchen and with a minimal budget. The original kitchen was gutted, and the new kitchen built from scratch. He used appliances he had leftover from another job. Using grey cabinetry minimized the contrast of the stainless steel look, making the kitchen feel larger. The kitchen was made of modified IKEA components. Awkward spaces between standard sized cabinets were filled in with wood trim. The two-toned approach made the kitchen seem larger with heavier grey on the bottom and lighter white on the top. All furniture and accessories from the designer's own collection Photography by Inger Klekacz

Wine Barrel Flooring: A Kitchen Aged to Perfection

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

John Welsh
Photo of a small traditional l-shaped separate kitchen in Philadelphia with soapstone benchtops, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, black benchtop and multi-coloured floor.

Wine Barrel Flooring: A Kitchen Aged to Perfection

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

John Welsh
Photo of a small traditional l-shaped separate kitchen in Philadelphia with medium hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, soapstone benchtops, panelled appliances, white cabinets, black benchtop and multi-coloured floor.

Elkton Farm Kitchen

Classic Kitchen & Bath

Medallion Cabinet, Viaterra Quartz, White Painted Barn Board Backsplash & Ceiling. Classic Kitchen & Bath designer Cathy Pitts along side Ben Trost with Trost Custom Homes worked together to create this beautiful white on white kitchen! Medallion inset cabinets with Viatera quartz really give this kitchen a clean and classic look.

Alphabet City Apartment

Marren Architects

Photo of a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

The Barnes Project

Coastal Cabinet Works

Ally Young
Photo of a small country galley eat-in kitchen in New York with a peninsula, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, a drop-in sink and medium hardwood floors.

South Perth Apartment Renovation

Red Lily Renovations

Photo of a small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Perth with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and with island.

Queen Anne Kitchen

International Kitchens

Kitchen Design by John Ko Photography by Paul Steiner
Design ideas for a small arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Urban Living Simplicity

Mackenzie Collier Interiors

James Stewart
Small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Kitchen Design Ideas

Capital Area Remodeling, LLC

Capital Area Remodeling White farmhouse sink with beautiful stainless steel goose neck faucet
Design ideas for a small contemporary kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, raised-panel cabinets and stone slab splashback.

Small 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!