This bespoke ‘Heritage’ hand-painted oak kitchen by Mowlem & Co pays homage to classical English design principles, reinterpreted for a contemporary lifestyle. Created for a period family home in a former rectory in Sussex, the design features a distinctive free-standing island unit in an unframed style, painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings’ shade and fitted with Belgian Fossil marble worktops. At one end of the island a reclaimed butchers block has been fitted (with exposed bolts as an accent feature) to serve as both a chopping block and preparation area and an impromptu breakfast bar when needed. Distressed wicker bar stools add to the charming ambience of this warm and welcoming scheme. The framed fitted cabinetry, full height along one wall, are painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Purbeck Stone’ and feature solid oak drawer boxes with dovetail joints to their beautifully finished interiors, which house ample, carefully customised storage. Full of character, from the elegant proportions to the finest details, the scheme includes distinctive latch style handles and a touch of glamour on the form of a sliver leaf glass splashback, and industrial style pendant lamps with copper interiors for a warm, golden glow. Appliances for family that loves to cook include a powerful Westye range cooker, a generous built-in Gaggenau fridge freezer and dishwasher, a bespoke Westin extractor, a Quooker boiling water tap and a KWC Inox spray tap over a Sterling stainless steel sink. Designer Jane Stewart says, “The beautiful old rectory building itself was a key inspiration for the design, which needed to have full contemporary functionality while honouring the architecture and personality of the property. We wanted to pay homage to influences such as the Arts & Crafts movement and Lutyens while making this a unique scheme tailored carefully to the needs and tastes of a busy modern family.”

The Beach House

Public/Private

Photography: Chris Warnes
Mid-sized eat-in kitchen in Sydney with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Leschi Kitchen and Powder

Brio Interior Design

Alex Hayden
Mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Seattle with blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, onyx benchtops, stone tile splashback, light hardwood floors and no island.

Bonnet Bay - Modern country

Sartorial Interiors

VYACHESLAV FROLOV http://frolov.photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Chichester kitchen collection

Neptune

Chichester is an elegant update on a classic English style. Crafted from birch wood and decorated with traditional beading and smart cornices, Chichester offers a wide range of freestanding furniture and wall cabinets. With the option to customise the hand painted finish with any of our unique colours, it's our most affordable and versatile kitchen.

Kitchen examples

Marrokal Design & Remodeling

This is an example of a mid-sized eclectic u-shaped separate kitchen in San Diego with glass-front cabinets, an undermount sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, with island, white floor and blue benchtop.

Oakville New Build

Creative Streak Interiors

Leslie Goodwin Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Family Home

Philip Raymond Photography

Philip Raymond Photography
Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in London with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Kitchens

Gail Marsden Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Manchester with grey cabinets, with island, white benchtop, mirror splashback, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black appliances, marble floors and grey floor.

Marble Yard - Colonial Cream Granite

Marble Yard - Granite - Orange County, Anaheim

Inspired by early morning whitewater surfing enjoyed by the residents, White Colonial Cream Verona granite with this exquistie mirror polished finish is accented with beautiful white onyx from quarries in the remote foothills of Baluchistan.

Recent Work

Maciek Platek - Interior and Architecture

Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cambridgeshire with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black appliances, with island, brown floor and beige cabinets.

Lady Fern Circle Kitchen

ReVision Design/Remodeling

Photography: Glenn DeRosa
Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Charlotte with stainless steel appliances, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, an undermount sink, light hardwood floors, with island and glass-front cabinets.

Beach Bungalow Second Story Addition

Sato Architects, Inc.

Photos by StudioCeja.com
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, white splashback, porcelain splashback and a peninsula.

Transitional Kitchen

Photo of a mid-sized transitional galley kitchen in London with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, white benchtop, a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets and beige floor.

Orangery with broken plan layout

Westbury Garden Rooms

MPG Construction
Photo of a mid-sized transitional single-wall kitchen in Essex with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor and shaker cabinets.

Painted White and Periwinkle Kitchen

The Kitchenworks

A classic and charming white kitchen here in East Fort Lauderdale with some unique features where architectural details seamlessly blend with our cabinetry. We maximized the cabinetry storage without compromising the natural light and views from the existing windows. The double sided fireplace connects from the kitchen to the dining room. Photos by: Matthew Horton

Classic Kitchen - Surrey

User

SB Furniture
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen in Sussex with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island and beige floor.

Monticello Drive

V Fine Homes

Mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Dallas with glass-front cabinets, subway tile splashback, green cabinets, a farmhouse sink, marble benchtops, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Miller Kitchen

Turan Designs, Inc.

Transitional White Kitchen
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, a farmhouse sink, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor, with island and green benchtop.

Foy Kitchen

House of Cline Design

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Newark with granite benchtops, an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

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!