Design ideas for a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Allin St.

Hamilton Architects

Inspiration for a small modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Fulton

HALLETT & Co.

This pre-civil war post and beam home built circa 1860 features restored woodwork, reclaimed antique fixtures, a 1920s style bathroom, and most notably, the largest preserved section of haint blue paint in Savannah, Georgia. Photography by Atlantic Archives

Farmhouse Kitchen

Small country galley kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Kitchen Renovation and Addition

Kim Meyer

Kim Meyer
Inspiration for a small transitional galley open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Midtown Houston Contemporary Kitchen

Remodelers of Houston

Open, light contemporary kitchen space keeping with the loft style of the residence. We created a new larger island with more counter and storage space with comfortable seeing for three which integrates well with the open living room/dining room floor plan. Cabinets include full overlay doors styles with clean, tight lines and epoxy base applied finish. Cabinets were custom built in shop, contemporary style, epoxy finish applied on site. Countertop and backsplash is Quartzite with double waterfall edge. Custom stained concrete floors. We installed new accent and under cabinet lighting.

North Berkeley Garden Cottage

Yumi Interiors

This is an example of a small eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Rosslyn Cabin

Studio Miel

Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Small eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, porcelain floors, with island and brown floor.

Open Floor Kitchen in Ellington, CT

Irene Designs

Design ideas for a small traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula and multi-coloured floor.

Coastal Cottage

Kustom Home Design

We transformed an outdated, lack luster beach house on Fripp Island into a coastal retreat complete with southern charm and bright personality. The main living space was opened up to allow for a charming kitchen with open shelving, white painted ship lap, a large inviting island and sleek stainless steel appliances. Nautical details are woven throughout adding to the charisma and simplistic beauty of this coastal home. New dark hardwood floors contrast with the soft white walls and cabinetry, while also coordinating with the dark window sashes and mullions. The new open plan allows an abundance of natural light to wash through the interior space with ease. Tropical vegetation form beautiful views and welcome visitors like an old friend to the grand front stairway. The play between dark and light continues on the exterior with crisp contrast balanced by soft hues and warm stains. What was once nothing more than a shelter, is now a retreat worthy of the paradise that envelops it.

Bainbridge Island Town House

Tom Kuniholm Architects, AIA

A palette of Maple cabinets and shelves, Quartz counter tops, stainless steel, Subway tiles
This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, an undermount sink, white splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Denver Wash Park 1900's Bungalow Pop Top

Beautiful Habitat: Design & Decoration

The existing kitchen was completely remodeled to create a compact chef's kitchen. The client is a true chef, who teaches cooking classes, and we were able to get a professional grade kitchen in an 11x7 footprint! The new island creates adequate prep space. The bookcases on the front add a ton of storage and interesting display in an otherwise useless walkway. The South wall is the exposed brick original to the 1900's home. To compliment the brick, we chose a warm nutmeg stain in cherry cabinets. The countertops are a durable quartz that look like marble but are sturdy enough for this work horse kitchen. The retro pendants are oversized to add a lot of interest in this small space. Complete Kitchen remodel to create a Chef's kitchen Open shelving for storage and display Gray subway tile Pendant lights

Shaker Kitchen & Laundry Remodel

Morey Remodeling Group

This outdated home in Long Beach, CA desperately needed a fresh look. The newly remodeled kitchen is complete with white and grey shaker cabinets, farmhouse sink, subway tile backsplash in herringbone pattern, and engineered wood tile flooring. The Windor trifold vinyl window makes indoor-outdoor entertaining a breeze!

Palatine Restored Kitchen

GS Construction

Photo of a small contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Beach Bungalow Renovation

Coastal Home Design Studio

An adorable but worn down beach bungalow gets a complete remodel and an added roof top deck for ocean views. The design cues for this home started with a love for the beach and a Vetrazzo counter top! Vintage appliances, pops of color, and geometric shapes drive the design and add interest. A comfortable and laid back vibe create a perfect family room. Several built-ins were designed for much needed added storage. A large roof top deck was engineered and added several square feet of living space. A metal spiral staircase and railing system were custom built for the deck. Ocean views and tropical breezes make this home a fabulous beach bungalow.

For the love of Oak

Aspiro Renovations LLC

Design ideas for a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, no island and grey floor.

The Historic Silas Fulton House

Ellsworth Design Build

The kitchen was the most dramatic change- we put in a beam to open up the wall between the kitchen and dining area. We also eliminated the cabinets on the far wall so we could re introduce a window that had been eliminated in a prior remodeling. The back door is in the far left in the picture.

Petite Perfection

Carl Mattison Design

kitchen, eat-in area
Design ideas for a small transitional open plan kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and no island.

Charming Bungalow Galley Renovation

Allen's Fine Woodworking, Inc.

Talk about bringing a kitchen up to date! Little details like the bin pulls and farmhouse sink give a nod to the distant past, but the general tone for this Hood River kitchen is "today." The white on white palette leaves the homeowner free to accessorize at will, but is grounded by the wood accents and beadboard texture of the cabinetry. The dining nook with beautiful distressed table brings people into the kitchen to enjoy time together and gives the area a homey feeling. Medallion Cabinetry will stand up to many years of use and preserve the look of this lovely kitchen for countless meals and gatherings. As always, the design was carefully curated by Allen's Fine Woodworking to ensure the space allows the homeowner to work smarter, not harder.

Hidden Oaks

LoneStar Design Build

Sonja Quintero
This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, raised-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, porcelain floors, subway tile splashback and an undermount sink.

Small Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops 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!