Michael J. Lee
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, marble benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and brown floor.

Byron

DG Kitchen & Bath

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, onyx benchtops and glass tile splashback.

RAPSON REVISITED

Kate Roos Design LLC

The walls on either side of the island are cut back to the bottom of the upper cabinets which allows a full view through the kitchen. Andrea Rugg Photography

House 153

Rodriguez Studio Architecture PC

David Joseph
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, quartz benchtops and marble splashback.

Haus K

strauss architektin

Steffen Vogt, Archigraphie
Mid-sized contemporary separate kitchen in Stuttgart with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an undermount sink and no island.

Ipswich House Construction Photos

FINNE Architects

A new modern farmhouse has been created in Ipswich, Massachusetts, approximately 30 miles north of Boston. The new house overlooks a rolling landscape of wetlands and marshes, close to Crane Beach in Ipswich. The heart of the house is a freestanding living pavilion, with a soaring roof and an elevated stone terrace. The terrace provides views in all directions to the gentle, coastal landscape. A cluster of smaller building pieces form the house, similar to farm compounds. The entry is marked by a 3-story tower, consisting of a pair of study spaces on the first two levels, and then a completely glazed viewing space on the top level. The entry itself is a glass space that separates the living pavilion from the bedroom wing. The living pavilion has a beautifully crafted wood roof structure, with exposed Douglas Fir beams and continuous high clerestory windows, which provide abundant natural light and ventilation. The living pavilion has primarily glass walls., with a continuous, elevated stone terrace outside. The roof forms a broad, 6-ft. overhang to provide outdoor space sheltered from sun and rain. In addition to the viewing tower and the living pavilion, there are two more building pieces. First, the bedroom wing is a simple, 2-story linear volume, with the master bedroom at the view end. Below the master bedroom is a classic New England screened porch, with views in all directions. Second, the existing barn was retained and renovated to become an integral part of the new modern farmhouse compound. Exterior and interior finishes are straightforward and simple. Exterior siding is either white cedar shingles or white cedar tongue-and-groove siding. Other exterior materials include metal roofing and stone terraces. Interior finishes consist of custom cherry cabinets, Vermont slate counters, quartersawn oak floors, and exposed Douglas fir framing in the living pavilion. The main stair has laser-cut steel railings, with a pattern evocative of the surrounding meadow grasses. The house was designed to be highly energy-efficient and sustainable. Upon completion, the house was awarded the highest rating (5-Star +) by the Energy Star program. A combination of “active” and “passive” energy conservation strategies have been employed. On the active side, a series of deep, drilled wells provide a groundsource geothermal heat exchange, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling. Recently, a 13-kW solar power system with 40 photovoltaic panels has been installed. The solar system will meet over 30% of the electrical demand at the house. Since the back-up mechanical system is electric, the house uses no fossil fuels whatsoever. The garage is pre-wired for an electric car charging station. In terms of passive strategies, the extensive amount of windows provides abundant natural light and reduces electric demand. Deep roof overhangs and built-in shades are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the concrete subfloor. Radiant floors provide constant heat with thermal mass in the floors. Exterior walls and roofs are insulated 30-40% greater than code requirements. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years!

Corona Del Mar Modern

maison blue design group

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Makonikey

Breese Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Pavilion House

Minett Studio Architecture and Design

Tatjana Plitt
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, an undermount sink, panelled appliances and with island.

Apartment AU

OPUS.AD

Marius Chira Photography
Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, no island and medium wood cabinets.

Canyon Meadows Residence

LD&A

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Calgary with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Treehouse

Ha2 Architecture & Design Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, window splashback and porcelain floors.

Kitchen Design Ideas

Allen Construction

Photo By: Jim Bartsch
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, mosaic tile splashback and orange floor.

Rose Park

Urban Habitats

CR3 Studio
Mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Adelaide with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen & Butler's Pantry

dSPACE Studio Ltd, AIA

Tony Soluri
Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Contemporary Black and Wood Kitchen 2018

Schmidt Barnet - Kitchens & Interior Solutions

Contemporary Industrial design bespoke kitchen designed by Schmidt. mat black & wood kitchen with island and dining table.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with black cabinets, quartz benchtops, black appliances, concrete floors, grey floor, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey splashback and a peninsula.

Seattle, Phinney Ridge Addition

Tom Kuniholm Architects, AIA

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, orange splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Pure Simple Kitchen

HOUSE OF COOLMORE

Bespoke handcrafted modern kitchen with beutifuly detailed corners and handmade recessed handles. Custom high end materials.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary eat-in kitchen in Cork with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, window splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island and grey floor.

Clive and Jeanne's House

User

Adam Carter Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Cambridgeshire with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, a double-bowl sink, brown floor, panelled appliances and grey benchtop.

CASA BAGUR

RAFAEL VARGAS Foto

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley separate kitchen in Barcelona with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Clerestory Windows Mid-sized 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!