Polly Eltes
Photo of a large contemporary separate kitchen in Gloucestershire with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances and with island.

The Best of the Galley Kitchen

Creative Living

Wellborn Premier Prairie Maple Shaker Doors, Bleu Color, Amerock Satin Brass Bar Pulls, Delta Satin Brass Touch Faucet, Kraus Deep Undermount Sik, Gray Quartz Countertops, GE Profile Slate Gray Matte Finish Appliances, Brushed Gold Light Fixtures, Floor & Decor Printed Porcelain Tiles w/ Vintage Details, Floating Stained Shelves for Coffee Bar, Neptune Synergy Mixed Width Water Proof San Marcos Color Vinyl Snap Down Plank Flooring, Brushed Nickel Outlet Covers, Zline Drop in 30" Cooktop, Rev-a-Shelf Lazy Susan, Double Super Trash Pullout, & Spice Rack, this little Galley has it ALL!

Traditional Kitchen

Large traditional galley separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and recessed-panel cabinets.

Magnificent Transition Kitchen

CairnsCraft Design & Remodel

Large transitional kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback and shaker cabinets.

Waialae Residence

WhiteSpace Architects

Inspiration for a large tropical l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and solid surface benchtops.

House // TW

M Gooden Design

Small midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Dallas with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white benchtop, window splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Mariano & Co., LLC

This all white Farmhouse Kitchen is STUNNING! For our repeat clients, we have removed all of the old cabinetry, changed the island to a single level, added new white shaker style cabinetry, hood, farm sink, white quartz countertops, white 3x6 waved subway tiles backsplash, and all of the gorgeous fixtures and lighting! We also added the full wall of shiplap in the living room.

Farm House Retreat

BKC of Westfield

BKC of Westfield
Small country single-wall separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, grey benchtop, with island and brown floor.

The Doheny Penthouse

Osinoff General Contractors

This traditional Shaker Kitchen has a masculine feel with its chocolate lower cabinets and walls of subway tile. The apron farmhouse sink is the centerpiece of the galley juxtaposed with a contemporary pull-out faucet. By applying a mirror on the door it gives the impression that it leads to a Dining Room. The wide plank flooring in a walnut stain adds texture and richness to this space. Laura Hull Photography

Øster Søgade

Nicolaj Bo™

When refurbishing, the goal was clearly defined: plenty of room for the whole family with children, in a beautiful kitchen designed and manufactured locally in Denmark. The owners like to simply contemplate their kitchen from their office space in the corner of the room, or from the couch in the next room. “We love to admire the kitchen and consider it a piece of furniture in and of itself as well as a tool for daily cooking."

New Build Apartment in Putney

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in London with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, dark hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white splashback.

Kitchen Renovations

Revision LLC

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with grey cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, raised-panel cabinets, a farmhouse sink, solid surface benchtops, brown floor, white benchtop and ceramic splashback.

Mill Valley Calm

Ann Lowengart Interiors

A partial remodel of a Marin ranch home, this residence was designed to highlight the incredible views outside its walls. The husband, an avid chef, requested the kitchen be a joyful space that supported his love of cooking. High ceilings, an open floor plan, and new hardware create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. With the concept that “less is more,” we focused on the orientation of each room and the introduction of clean-lined furnishings to highlight the view rather than the decor, while statement lighting, pillows, and textures added a punch to each space.

Cherokee Blvd Project

Sticks 2 Stones Design, LLC

Photo of a large traditional galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Eclectic Island Home

Classic Kitchens & Interiors

Flush Inset cabinetry with shaker style doors & drawers. Perimeter cabinetry paint finish in Putty, Island cabinetry paint finish in Navy by Brookhaven Cabinetry . Soapstone countertops on the perimeter and Marble countertop on the island with a 3" thick Walnut countertop section. Flooring and furnishings, by others. Renovation and Design selections per ARC Design Group and Tim Sack, Interior Designer. Photography by Flagship Photo

The Dominion

A-Design By Gustavo Arredondo, Inc.

Inspiration for a large transitional open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, granite benchtops, subway tile splashback, marble floors, beige floor and recessed-panel cabinets.

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

ISLES KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

By relocating the sink and dishwasher to the island the new kitchen layout allows the owners to engage with guests seated at the island and the banquette while maintaining a view to the outdoor terrace.

Island Family Retreat

Martha's Vineyard Interior Design

Eric Roth Photography
Large country l-shaped kitchen in Boston with open cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, concrete benchtops, metal splashback, beige floor and grey benchtop.

BLUE CYPRESS

Pegasus Builders, Inc.

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, panelled appliances, with island, limestone benchtops, porcelain floors and beige floor.

Large and 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!