Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Church

Daniela Fulford Photography

Design ideas for a modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen

Dennehy Builders Pty Ltd

This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and black cabinets.

Bonaventure

Lindon Homes Pty Ltd

Modern Galley Kitchen.
Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

North Balgowlah Kitchen & Bathroom

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, with island, brown floor, vaulted, white cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and beige benchtop.

Weather House

Mihaly Slocombe

Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Hindley & Co - Kitchen

Hindley & Co Architecture & Interior Design

Blue-green and white kitchen with timber details. recessed pull handles and kickers in contrasting colours.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen and Breakfast Bar

Interior Design By Jo

These clients have a stunning view of the Story Bridge from their Spring Hill Apartment. We designed the kitchen and living space to maximise the view and create an open floorplan.

Contemporary Kitchen, Tingira Heights

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Palm Beach

Blackburne Designs

Open kitchen, dining, living
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Brighton

Sketch Building Design

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Double Storey Extension - Ashgrove, Brisbane

Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions Ashgrove

Photo of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Brisbane with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Terranora Road

BCI Hawker

Photo of a modern galley open plan kitchen in Gold Coast - Tweed with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Surry Hills Kitchen Island Seating

Matter Design & Make Pty Ltd

In 2019, Interior designer Alexandra Brown approached Matter to design and make cabinetry for this penthouse apartment. The brief was to create a rich and opulent space, featuring a favoured smoked oak veneer. We looked to the Art Deco inspired features of the building and referenced its curved corners and newly installed aged brass detailing in our design. We combined the smoked oak veneer with cambia ash cladding in the kitchen and bar areas to complement the green and brown quartzite stone surfaces chosen by Alex perfectly. We then designed custom brass handles, shelving and a large-framed mirror as a centrepiece for the bar, all crafted impeccably by our friends at JN Custom Metal. Functionality and sustainability were the focus of our design, with hard-wearing charcoal Abet Laminati drawers and door fronts in the kitchen with custom J pull handles, Grass Nova ProScala drawers and Osmo oiled veneer that can be easily reconditioned over time. Photography by Pablo Veiga

The Bromley

Dalecki Design

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, white appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

High House

Dieppe Design

Contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Patching Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

Large beach style galley open plan kitchen in Geelong with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Aranda Renovation

Studio Black Interiors

Built by Pettit & Sevitt in the 1970s, this architecturally designed split-level home needed a refresh. Studio Black Interiors worked with builders, REP building, to transform the interior of this home with the aim of creating a space that was light filled and open plan with a seamless connection to the outdoors. The client’s love of rich navy was incorporated into all the joinery. Fifty years on, it is joyous to view this home which has grown into its bushland suburb and become almost organic in referencing the surrounding landscape. Renovation by REP Building. Photography by Hcreations.

Lakeside Drive

Prime Design Tasmania Pty Ltd

Contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hobart with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

U House

C. Kairouz Architects

White and black kitchen design with integrated fridge, VZUG appliances, central island bench and high window facing the open plan living and dining with views out towards the central courtyard.

Open Plan Kitchen with an Undermount Sink 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!