This backsplash is a natural travertine honed marble and it adds a nice organic feel to this white kitchen
Photo of a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in Houston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

A Wine Connoisseur's Home

Fiorito Interior Design

Like many projects, this one started with a simple wish from a client: turn an unused butler’s pantry between the dining room and kitchen into a fully functioning, climate-controlled wine room for his extensive collection of valuable vintages. But like many projects, the wine room is connected to the dining room which is connected to the sitting room which is connected to the entry. When you touch one room, it only makes sense to reinvigorate them all. We overhauled the entire ground floor of this lovely home. For the wine room, I worked with Vintage Cellars in Southern California to create custom wine storage embedded with LED lighting to spotlight very special bottles. The walls are in a burgundy tone and the floors are porcelain tiles that look as if they came from an old wine cave in Tuscany. A bubble light chandelier alludes to sparkling varietals. But as mentioned, the rest of the house came along for the ride. Since we were adding a climate-controlled wine room, the brief was to turn the rest of the house into a space that would rival any hot-spot winery in Napa. After choosing new flooring and a new hue for the walls, the entry became a destination in itself with a huge concave metal mirror and custom bench. We knocked out a half wall that awkwardly separated the sitting room from the dining room so that after-dinner drinks could flow to the fireplace surrounded by stainless steel pebbles; and we outfitted the dining room with a new chandelier. We chose all new furniture for all spaces. The kitchen received the least amount of work but ended up being completely transformed anyhow. At first our plan was to tear everything out, but we soon realized that the cabinetry was in good shape and only needed the dated honey pine color painted over with a cream white. We also played with the idea of changing the counter tops, but once the cabinetry changed color, the granite stood out beautifully. The final change was the removal of a pot rack over the island in favor of design-forward iron pendants. Photo by: Genia Barnes

Backsplash

ANA STONE INC.

Photo of a transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances and beige benchtop.

Mound Kitchen

Knight Construction Design Inc.

Ehlen Creative
This is an example of a large transitional eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Whole House Renovation

Morning Star Builders LTD

Kolanowski Studio
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kettering Buckingham Kitchen

Remodeling Designs, Inc.

©2017 Daniel Feldkamp Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor, beige benchtop and recessed.

Benview

LoneStar Design Build

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, with island, brown floor, quartzite benchtops, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Cambria Newport and Cambria Canongate Kitchen

Creative Surfaces Countertops & Tile

These homeowners had previously used Cambria and there wasn't going to be any other countertop option when they remodeled this home. You enter the kitchen where you'll find clean lines of Cambria Newport quartz countertops on the kitchen island accented with Cambria Canongate on the perimeter cabinets. Around the corner is Cambria Galloway on their wet bar; and the master suite showcases a double vanity featuring Cambria Berwyn.

White Kitchen

TJ Bush Enterprises, Inc

This is an example of a large transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Specialty Spice Rack

Big City Construction Co

Bayside Images
Design ideas for an expansive transitional galley open plan kitchen in Houston with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Mixed Metal Masterpiece

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

These homeowners love to entertain and bake. The homeowners requested their new kitchen to include a single oven, speed oven, and a 36” range with a 3rd oven to accommodate hosting large family gatherings and parties. A built-in 42” fridge holds plenty of food; the 36” gas range has a griddle in the center for pancakes and smash burgers. The range is crowned with a custom Vent-A-Hood range hood with 2 different stainless-steel finishes.

Kettering Buckingham Kitchen

Remodeling Designs, Inc.

©2017 Daniel Feldkamp Photography
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, black appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor, beige benchtop and recessed.

Mocha Shaker kitchen

DNA Designs

DNA Designs INC
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Warm Kitchen Glow in Brighton, MI

Dream Kitchens

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Detroit with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Trotter Run

Kitchens by Design Firm

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and green benchtop.

Golden Elegance

The Kitchen Design Center of Maryland

Photo of a large transitional kitchen in Baltimore with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, travertine splashback, black appliances, marble floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

New Orleans Remodel

Campbell Cabinet Co.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional eat-in kitchen in New Orleans with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige splashback and travertine splashback.

River Crossing Kitchen Remodel

Simply Elegant Interiors

This spacious kitchen includes a microwave drawer and double ovens. The custom range hood is the focal point of the galley kitchen. The travertine countertops and backsplash complete the elegant look. Simply Elegant Interiors, Tampa.

Avondale Full Kitchen Remodel

Chester County Kitchen & Bath

Avondale PA full kitchen remodel. Echelon cabinetry in the Addison door with Graystone finish were used on the perimeter along with a contrasting island in Onyx finish. Doing some slight design changes and some reduced depth cabinetry we were able to design an island with seating into this new kitchen. Luxury vinyl tile was chosen for the flooring it looks just like tile and is very durable as well as being softer and warmer under foot. Granite countertops in Orion White and tumbled Silver Travertine backsplash tie all the colors together. New LED recessed and under cabinetry lights provide great general and task lighting. The new picture looks like a beautiful framed painting but it also doubles as a new TV.

Piper Glen

Kelly Tivey Interior Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and wood.

Transitional Kitchen with Travertine 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 Transitional 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!