Photo of a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and timber.

Periscope House

Mihaly Slocombe

Periscope House draws light into a young family’s home, adding thoughtful solutions and flexible spaces to 1950s Art Deco foundations. Our clients engaged us to undertake a considered extension to their character-rich home in Malvern East. They wanted to celebrate their home’s history while adapting it to the needs of their family, and future-proofing it for decades to come. The extension’s form meets with and continues the existing roofline, politely emerging at the rear of the house. The tones of the original white render and red brick are reflected in the extension, informing its white Colorbond exterior and selective pops of red throughout. Inside, the original home’s layout has been reimagined to better suit a growing family. Once closed-in formal dining and lounge rooms were converted into children’s bedrooms, supplementing the main bedroom and a versatile fourth room. Grouping these rooms together has created a subtle definition of zones: private spaces are nestled to the front, while the rear extension opens up to shared living areas. A tailored response to the site, the extension’s ground floor addresses the western back garden, and first floor (AKA the periscope) faces the northern sun. Sitting above the open plan living areas, the periscope is a mezzanine that nimbly sidesteps the harsh afternoon light synonymous with a western facing back yard. It features a solid wall to the west and a glass wall to the north, emulating the rotation of a periscope to draw gentle light into the extension. Beneath the mezzanine, the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces effortlessly overlap. Also accessible via an informal back door for friends and family, this generous communal area provides our clients with the functionality, spatial cohesion and connection to the outdoors they were missing. Melding modern and heritage elements, Periscope House honours the history of our clients’ home while creating light-filled shared spaces – all through a periscopic lens that opens the home to the garden.

Summer Hill Complete Renovation & Restoration

Denby Dowling Interiors

The brief was to restore the home to its former glory whilst accommodating existing cherished furnishings, to include the Chesterfield sofa, coffee table, dining table & chairs, Persian rug & hall runners. To make the quirky furnishings work with the Victorian restoration I balanced bold colours & textures with more traditional flooring & timber veneer colours throughout the home. The kitchen pendant light is a custom designed piece in collaboration with Magins Lighting. The orange splash back tiles (hand made through DeLorenzo Tiles) compliment the dining & lounge floor rugs & balance the room. The blue grout - the icing on the eclectic cake!

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.

Clipper Quay

Quin Wyatt Building Designer

timber veneer kitchen with polished concrete tops, mirror splash back reflecting views of marina
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, black splashback, limestone floors, with island, grey floor, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey benchtop and window splashback.

Sunnyland Residence

Rosewood Custom Builders

Jenn Baker
Inspiration for a large industrial galley open plan kitchen in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, concrete floors, with island, black appliances and grey floor.

Lakeside Retreat

Tielens Construction Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with with island, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Peak Performance

JayJeffers

Matthew Millman
This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Navarin

BAT & CO

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, beige splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Wyndham Beach House

Sky Architect Studio

We created a practical, L-shaped kitchen layout with an island bench integrated into the “golden triangle” that reduces steps between sink, stovetop and refrigerator for efficient use of space and ergonomics. Instead of a splashback, windows are slotted in between the kitchen benchtop and overhead cupboards to allow natural light to enter the generous kitchen space. Overhead cupboards have been stretched to ceiling height to maximise storage space. Timber screening was installed on the kitchen ceiling and wrapped down to form a bookshelf in the living area, then linked to the timber flooring. This creates a continuous flow and draws attention from the living area to establish an ambience of natural warmth, creating a minimalist and elegant kitchen. The island benchtop is covered with extra large format porcelain tiles in a 'Calacatta' profile which are have the look of marble but are scratch and stain resistant. The 'crisp white' finish applied on the overhead cupboards blends well into the 'natural oak' look over the lower cupboards to balance the neutral timber floor colour.

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.

San Carlos Treetop

Cathie Hong Interiors

What started as a kitchen and two-bathroom remodel evolved into a full home renovation plus conversion of the downstairs unfinished basement into a permitted first story addition, complete with family room, guest suite, mudroom, and a new front entrance. We married the midcentury modern architecture with vintage, eclectic details and thoughtful materials.

NICOLLET

Kate Roos Design LLC

A peak inside the hidden pantry
Design ideas for a large transitional single-wall open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor and white benchtop.

Noir Peaks

The Ranch Mine

Photo by Roehner + Ryan
Country galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, limestone splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

The Art Lover's House

Kelsey Leigh Design Co.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Two-Toned Warm Kitchen Remodel

Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in St Louis with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, shaker cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Classic With a New Angle

Studio Dearborn

This expansive Victorian had tremendous historic charm but hadn’t seen a kitchen renovation since the 1950s. The homeowners wanted to take advantage of their views of the backyard and raised the roof and pushed the kitchen into the back of the house, where expansive windows could allow southern light into the kitchen all day. A warm historic gray/beige was chosen for the cabinetry, which was contrasted with character oak cabinetry on the appliance wall and bar in a modern chevron detail. Kitchen Design: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn Architect: Ned Stoll, Interior finishes Tami Wassong Interiors

Modern Kitchen

Photo of a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, a drop-in sink, light wood cabinets and cement tiles.

Mini studio à Neuilly Plaisance

AGENCE MARN DÉCO

Cuisine ouverte et salle d'eau.
Photo of a small modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

MONTORGUEIL

atelier daaa

Photo : BCDF Studio
This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian single-wall open plan kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white splashback, no island, beaded inset cabinets, quartzite benchtops, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, cement tiles, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Open Plan Kitchen with Light Wood 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 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!