Dale Christopher Lang
Mid-sized modern u-shaped kitchen pantry in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and no island.

Crane Residence

Spore Design

Inspiration for a modern open plan kitchen in Seattle with a single-bowl sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Modern Suburban Home

Patrick Farley Architect

Photo by Kip Dawkins
This is an example of a large modern u-shaped kitchen pantry in Richmond with a double-bowl sink, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and open cabinets.

burlingame residence

serrao design/architecture

Free standing pantry in the kitchen creates a portal to the living room behind. john todd, photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

REFORMA DE VIVIENDA EN BILBAO - GEORGE STEER

EGENOR S.L.

Cocina americana con espacio abierto al salón. Cocina en madera con paredes en tonos verdes.
Mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Bilbao with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

Küche

Jens Gerber Fotografie

Gartenhaus an der Tabaksmühle
Inspiration for a small modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Frankfurt with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor, beige benchtop and wood.

Piedmont House

Charles Di Piazza Architecture

Daylight from multiple directions, alongside yellow accents in the interior of cabinetry create a bright and inviting space, all while providing the practical benefit of well illuminated work surfaces.

Gesellige Kücheninsel

Tischlerei Mau

Der Tresen am Kochplatz verspricht gesellige Kocherlebnisse. Die Abzugshaube fährt bei Bedarf aus der Arbeitsplatte hoch.
Modern kitchen in Hamburg with open cabinets, white cabinets, with island and white benchtop.

Shelf Storage

Organization & Relocation

We utilized these great kitchen shelves for cook books and cooking supplies.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern eat-in kitchen in Denver with a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Unfolding Apartment

Michael K Chen Architecture

Design ideas for a modern kitchen in New York with open cabinets.

Parade of Homes

Closet Craft Inc.

Photo of a large modern kitchen pantry in Other with open cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, carpet and brown floor.

Hydeaway House

Schwartz and Architecture

Photography by Matthew Millman
This is an example of a modern l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, green splashback, concrete floors, with island and grey floor.

Pine Forest

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Alamo Square Beautiful Home

Hayasa Flooring Design, Inc

Photo of a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

London Garden Room

Eckford Chong Design

This 3 storey mid-terrace townhouse on the Harringay Ladder was in desperate need for some modernisation and general recuperation, having not been altered for several decades. We were appointed to reconfigure and completely overhaul the outrigger over two floors which included new kitchen/dining and replacement conservatory to the ground with bathroom, bedroom & en-suite to the floor above. Like all our projects we considered a variety of layouts and paid close attention to the form of the new extension to replace the uPVC conservatory to the rear garden. Conceived as a garden room, this space needed to be flexible forming an extension to the kitchen, containing utilities, storage and a nursery for plants but a space that could be closed off with when required, which led to discrete glazed pocket sliding doors to retain natural light. We made the most of the north-facing orientation by adopting a butterfly roof form, typical to the London terrace, and introduced high-level clerestory windows, reaching up like wings to bring in morning and evening sunlight. An entirely bespoke glazed roof, double glazed panels supported by exposed Douglas fir rafters, provides an abundance of light at the end of the spacial sequence, a threshold space between the kitchen and the garden. The orientation also meant it was essential to enhance the thermal performance of the un-insulated and damp masonry structure so we introduced insulation to the roof, floor and walls, installed passive ventilation which increased the efficiency of the external envelope. A predominantly timber-based material palette of ash veneered plywood, for the garden room walls and new cabinets throughout, douglas fir doors and windows and structure, and an oak engineered floor all contribute towards creating a warm and characterful space.

Lanai Windows

Lanai Doors

Folding windows opening even from the center for fresh air and an open view. Folding windows are an excellent alternative to a stationary, fixed window.

Kitchen Cabinet Finishing in Resin

Unravel Design

Contemporary Italian kitchen cabinet in resin by Zampieri Cucine. Resin is hand-applied to create a rustic and yet sleek look. Lots of storage space with custom shelving.

Crane Residence

Spore Design

Modern galley kitchen in Seattle with open cabinets, light wood cabinets, black splashback, stone slab splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Fourty-One

The Glade Design

Walk in pantry
Photo of a small modern l-shaped separate kitchen in Melbourne with open cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, light hardwood floors, no island, yellow floor and beige benchtop.

PARK AVENUE DUPLEX

de-spec

Photographer: Frank Oudeman
Photo of a modern galley separate kitchen in New York with wood benchtops, a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white floor.

Modern Kitchen with Open 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 Modern 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!