Adjustable storage. Alex Claney Photography, LauraDesignCo.
Photo of a large traditional open plan kitchen in Chicago with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and medium wood cabinets.

Orono Artisan 2016 Tour Home

Gordon James Construction

High-end appliances and a huge walk-in pantry make this kitchen a dream for everyday cooking and entertaining Landmark Photography
Expansive transitional open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, white appliances, dark hardwood floors and with island.

Modern Seaside Retreat

Urbana Design Studio

Beautiful Ann Sacks glass tile backsplash frames an induction cooktop. Custom anigre cabinetry and LED lighting provide great storage and functionality. Kate Falconer Photography

Haines Project

San Diego Remodeling Pros

Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors and with island.

SW Portland Contemporary

Robin Rigby Fisher, CMKBD/CAPS/CLIPPS

Dale Lang NW Architectural Photography
Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Worthington, OH Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

NJW Construction

What this Mid-century modern home originally lacked in kitchen appeal it made up for in overall style and unique architectural home appeal. That appeal which reflects back to the turn of the century modernism movement was the driving force for this sleek yet simplistic kitchen design and remodel. Stainless steel aplliances, cabinetry hardware, counter tops and sink/faucet fixtures; removed wall and added peninsula with casual seating; custom cabinetry - horizontal oriented grain with quarter sawn red oak veneer - flat slab - full overlay doors; full height kitchen cabinets; glass tile - installed countertop to ceiling; floating wood shelving; Karli Moore Photography

Worthington, OH Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

NJW Construction

El Viejo Project

H2 Architecture Studio LLC

© 2014 H2 Architecture Studio
Inspiration for a large modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors and with island.

Lincoln Square Apartment II

Intelligent Kitchen

This contemporary kitchen may lack in size but not efficiency. Adding the peninsula added storage and counter top space. The flat grey panel is a neutral tone that works great with surrounding pops of colors.

Ioco Road

User

Tracey Ayton Photography
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Dennis Bayview Cape

REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder

Mid-sized beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white cabinets and granite benchtops.

Home, Unplugged

Meadowlark Design+Build

This kitchen is central to the home, but is elevated above the surrounding spaces so that sight lines to the exterior are maximized. This also brings in loads of natural daylight. This custom home was designed and built by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Dana Hoff Photography

Kitchen

Pike Properties

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Open Concept Kitchen Design with Automation

Catheline Cavarroc Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Montreal with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

JVille

Asher Homes Inc.

Photo of a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

2019 NARI CotY Award-Winning Kitchens

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Haven Design and Construction, San Antonio, Texas, 2019 NARI CotY Award-Winning Residential Kitchen $100,001 to $150,000
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen Newton Square Remodel - Geneva

Redstart Construction, Inc.

Picture Perfect House
Mid-sized transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Chicago with white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets and glass tile splashback.

Oak Kitchen Makeover

Designs by BSB

The clients believed the peninsula footprint was required due to the unique entry points from the hallway leading to the dining room and the foyer. The new island increases storage, counters and a more pleasant flow of traffic from all directions. The biggest challenge was trying to make the structural beam that ran perpendicular to the space work in a new design; it was off center and difficult to balance the cabinetry and functional spaces to work with it. In the end it was decided to increase the budget and invest in moving the header in the ceiling to achieve the best design, esthetically and funcationlly. Specific storage designed to meet the clients requests include: - pocket doors at counter tops for everyday appliances - deep drawers for pots, pans and Tupperware - island includes designated zone for baking supplies - tall and shallow pantry/food storage for easy access near island - pull out spice near cooking - tray dividers for assorted baking pans/sheets, cutting boards and numerous other serving trays - cutlery and knife inserts and built in trash/recycle bins to keep things organized and convenient to use, out of sight - custom design hutch to hold various, yet special dishes and silverware Elements of design chosen to meet the clients wishes include: - painted cabinetry to lighten up the room that lacks windows and give relief/contrast to the expansive wood floors - monochromatic colors throughout give peaceful yet elegant atmosphere o stained island provides interest and warmth with wood, but still unique in having a different stain than the wood floors – this is repeated in the tile mosaic backsplash behind the rangetop - punch of fun color used on hutch for a unique, furniture feel - carefully chosen detailed embellishments like the tile mosaic, valance toe boards, furniture base board around island, and island pendants are traditional details to not only the architecture of the home, but also the client’s furniture and décor. - Paneled refrigerator minimizes the large appliance, help keeping an elegant feel Superior cooking equipment includes a combi-steam oven, convection wall ovens paired with a built-in refrigerator with interior air filtration to better preserve fresh foods. Photography by Gregg Willett

Whole House Remodel Cape Coral FL - Kitchen

Progressive Design Build

The Challenge This beautiful waterfront home was begging for an update. Our clients wanted a contemporary design with modern finishes. They craved improved functionality in the kitchen, hardwood flooring in the living areas, and a spacious walk-in closet in the master bathroom. With two children in school, our clients also needed the project completed during their summer vacation – leaving a slim 90 days for the entire remodel. Could we do it? …Challenge accepted! Our Solution With their active summer travel schedule, our clients elected to vacate their home for the duration of the project. This was ideal for the intrusive nature of the scope of work. In preparation, our design team created a project plan to suit our client’s needs. With such a clear timeline, we were able to select and order long-lead items in plenty of time for the project start date. In the kitchen, we rearranged the layout to provide superior ventilation for the cooktop on the exterior wall. We added two large storage cabinets with glass doors, accented by a sleek mosaic backsplash of glass tile. We also incorporated a large contemporary waterfall island into the room. With seating at one end, the island provides both increased functionality and an eye-catching focal point for the center of the room. On the interior wall of the kitchen, we maximized storage with a wall of built-in cabinetry – complete with pullout pantry cabinets, a double oven, and a large stainless refrigerator. Our clients wisely chose rich, dark-colored wood flooring to add warmth to the contemporary design. After installing the flooring in the kitchen, we brought it into the main living areas as well. In the great room, we wrapped the existing gas fireplace in a neutral stack stone. The effect of the stone on the media and window wall is breathtaking. In the master bathroom, we expanded the closet by pushing the wall back into the adjacent pass-through hallway. The new walk-in closet now includes an impressive closet organization system. Returning to the master bathroom, we removed the single vanity and repositioned the toilet, allowing for a new, curb-less glass shower and a his-and-hers vanity. The entire vanity and shower wall is finished in white 12×24 porcelain tile. The vertical glass mosaic accent band and backlit floating mirrors add to the clean, modern style. To the left of the master bathroom entry, we even added a matching make-up area. Finally, we installed a number of elegant enhancements in the remaining rooms. The clients chose a bronze metal relief accent wall as well as some colorful finishes and artwork for the entry and hallway. Exceptional Results Our clients were simply thrilled with the final product! Not only did they return from their summer vacation to a gorgeous home remodel, but we concluded the project a full week ahead of schedule. As a result, the family was able to move in sooner than planned, giving them plenty of time to acclimate to the renovated space before their kids returned to school. Ultimately, we provided the outstanding results and customer experience that our clients had been searching for. “We met with many other contractors leading up to signing with Progressive Design Build. When we met Mike, we finally felt safe. We had heard so many horror stories about contractors! Progressive was the best move we could have made. They made our dream house become a reality. Vernon was in charge of our project and everything went better than we expected. Our project was completed earlier than expected, too. Our questions and concerns were dealt with quickly and professionally, the job site was always clean, and all subs were friendly and professional. We had a wonderful experience with Progressive Design Build. We’re so grateful we found them.” – The Mader Family

Main Line Industrial Chic Manse

JAB Design Group

Halkin Mason Photography
Design ideas for a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Open Plan Kitchen with Glass Tile Splashback 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!