Design ideas for a small tropical single-wall kitchen in Brisbane with an integrated sink, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, no island, grey floor and green benchtop.

Minimalist White and Timber Contemporary Kitchen

Transform-A-Space

A light and bright minimalist design featuring two-pack painted cabinetry to match the clients freshly painted walls, subway tile stack-style, and feature timber components bring warmth into the space. 20mm Caesarstone 'Ocean Foam' benchtops in a polished finish help to reflect overhead light. A small kitchen packed with functionality.

Warriewood Kitchen + Laundry

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and beige splashback.

Enamour Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture

Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen, Whitebridge

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

This is an example of a small beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

Coburg Frieze

Mihaly Slocombe

Coburg Frieze is a purified design that questions what’s really needed. The interwar property was transformed into a long-term family home that celebrates lifestyle and connection to the owners’ much-loved garden. Prioritising quality over quantity, the crafted extension adds just 25sqm of meticulously considered space to our clients’ home, honouring Dieter Rams’ enduring philosophy of “less, but better”. We reprogrammed the original floorplan to marry each room with its best functional match – allowing an enhanced flow of the home, while liberating budget for the extension’s shared spaces. Though modestly proportioned, the new communal areas are smoothly functional, rich in materiality, and tailored to our clients’ passions. Shielding the house’s rear from harsh western sun, a covered deck creates a protected threshold space to encourage outdoor play and interaction with the garden. This charming home is big on the little things; creating considered spaces that have a positive effect on daily life.

What is Cooking - Kitchen Renovation

Comma Design Studio

The client came to comma design in need of an upgrade to their existing kitchen to allow for more storage and cleaner look. They wanted to swap their laminate bench to a sleek stone bench tops that can provide a luxurious loo to their space. Comma design worked closely with the trades on site to achieve the results.

Kitchen with Bronzed Mirror Splashbacks

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

Southbank Apartment

Jasmine McClelland Design

Fresh, clean, white apartment kitchen with living room in mirrored reflection.
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Cremorne Kitchen

Kaiko Design Interiors

Referencing the art deco period in which the apartment was build, a curved range hood finished in linear kit kat Japanese tiles forms the focal point of the kitchen. Light timber laminate for full height joinery with dark grey / charcoal ultra matte laminate for below bench cupboards and drawers. Quartzite bench tops in a leathered finish.

upstairs bar area

Kinning Design Build

This smaller bar kitchen unit is located just off from the full size kitchen. The bar sink includes a wine chiller and a mini fridge. Behind the sink area is a work area/storage room.

Barn Door Walk-in Pantry, Transitional Kitchen Remodel

MainStreet Design Build

This beautiful Birmingham, MI home had been renovated prior to our clients purchase, but the style and overall design was not a fit for their family. They really wanted to have a kitchen with a large “eat-in” island where their three growing children could gather, eat meals and enjoy time together. Additionally, they needed storage, lots of storage! We decided to create a completely new space. The original kitchen was a small “L” shaped workspace with the nook visible from the front entry. It was completely closed off to the large vaulted family room. Our team at MSDB re-designed and gutted the entire space. We removed the wall between the kitchen and family room and eliminated existing closet spaces and then added a small cantilevered addition toward the backyard. With the expanded open space, we were able to flip the kitchen into the old nook area and add an extra-large island. The new kitchen includes oversized built in Subzero refrigeration, a 48” Wolf dual fuel double oven range along with a large apron front sink overlooking the patio and a 2nd prep sink in the island. Additionally, we used hallway and closet storage to create a gorgeous walk-in pantry with beautiful frosted glass barn doors. As you slide the doors open the lights go on and you enter a completely new space with butcher block countertops for baking preparation and a coffee bar, subway tile backsplash and room for any kind of storage needed. The homeowners love the ability to display some of the wine they’ve purchased during their travels to Italy! We did not stop with the kitchen; a small bar was added in the new nook area with additional refrigeration. A brand-new mud room was created between the nook and garage with 12” x 24”, easy to clean, porcelain gray tile floor. The finishing touches were the new custom living room fireplace with marble mosaic tile surround and marble hearth and stunning extra wide plank hand scraped oak flooring throughout the entire first floor.

Mike + Samantha's Kitchen and Bathroom

Encircle Design and Build

Michelle Ruber
Design ideas for a small modern separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and no island.

Studio parisien - Trocadéro / Paris 16ème

E.G Home Concept

La cuisine a été conservée partiellement (linéaire bas noir). Avant, la cuisine était en total look noir (crédence et meubles hauts compris) Après : Dans l'objectif d'optimiser les rangements et la luminosité, une crédence blanche a été posée et les meubles hauts ont été remplacés par des meubles blancs de plus grande capacité. La crédence est ponctuée d'une étagère bois, en rappel aux aménagements installés dans la pièce de vie.

Cottage Kitchen Remodel

Linette Dai Design

Photo of a small country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with raised-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, with island, a farmhouse sink, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Function & Style: Modern Kitchen Redesign

Interiors by Popov

Inspiration for a small modern kitchen in Seattle with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Guesthouse at Conn Creek

RGArchitecture

Interior view of the kitchen area. Interior design from Donald Ohlen at Ohlen Design. Photo by Adrian Gregorutti.
Inspiration for a small country single-wall open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and wood benchtops.

Studio parisien - Trocadéro / Paris 16ème

E.G Home Concept

Pinetree Kitchen Renovation

Terracotta Design Build

Jeff Herr
Photo of a small traditional kitchen in Atlanta with glass-front cabinets, subway tile splashback, a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Horton Road

Finch London

Compact U-shaped kitchen in Hackney Matt Lacquer doors in Ceramic Blue by Sanderson Bespoke Handles and Box Shelves in American Black Walnut 40mm thick American Black Walnut worktops Scallop tiles by Mosaic Del Sur Copper Pendant by Nordlux Photos by Polly Tootal

All Backsplash Materials Small 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!