Tropical u-shaped kitchen in Mumbai with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, a peninsula, grey floor and black benchtop.

Kukio

Nicholson

This is an example of a mid-sized tropical single-wall separate kitchen in Hawaii with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, green splashback, glass tile splashback, with island, an undermount sink, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and beige floor.

Zen Kitchen-Island Style

MCYIA Interior Architecture and Design

The wide cook top counter also doubles as a buffet line. The custom environmentally friendly bamboo cabinets have pull out shelves for ease of use. {Photo Credit: Andy Mattheson}

Kailua Kona Estate

Roy Lambrecht Woodworking, Inc.

Inspiration for a tropical u-shaped kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, louvered cabinets, medium wood cabinets, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Warm White

ZERO9

The living room revolves around the botanical painting which influences the choice of furnishings of the furniture around. The all white flooring symbolises the snow and the copper chinnar leaves scattered on the floor bring in the flavour of the fall season. The vertical fins on pivot add an element of privacy to the dinning area as well as create an interesting and playful element in living space.

Island Chic

Willman Interiors / Gina Willman, ASID

Design ideas for a tropical kitchen in Hawaii with shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, porcelain splashback, travertine floors and beige floor.

Halo Bay Retreat

Stephanie Brown Inc.

Photography by Living Maui Media
This is an example of a large tropical u-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors and with island.

Stair Solution

Richard Landon Design

Designing a new staircase to connect all three levels freed up space for this kitchen. Before, my client had to squeeze through a narrow opening in the corner of the kitchen to access an equally narrow stair to the basement. In the process of evaluating the space we discovered there was no foundation under the kitchen walls! Noticing that the entry to their home was little used--everyone came right in to the kitchen--gave me the idea that we could connect the kitchen to the entry and convert it into a pantry! Hence, the white painted brick--that wall was formerly an exterior wall. William Feemster

Tropical Kitchen

This is an example of a tropical galley open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, brown splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and medium hardwood floors.

Kapalua Textures

Rick Ryniak Architects

Inspiration for a large tropical open plan kitchen in Hawaii with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops and multiple islands.

Hainoa Lot 4

GM Construction, Inc.

Ethan Tweedie Photography
Tropical galley eat-in kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Trans-Pacific Design

This is an example of a tropical kitchen in Hawaii with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

Kitchen

Architectural Design & Construction

Tropical Light Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical u-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors, a peninsula and multi-coloured benchtop.

Purdum Residence

Cooper Johnson Smith Architects and Town Planners

The architectural vocabulary draws upon British Colonial precedents in the West Indies with masonry-stucco walls, a standing seam metal hip roof with a kick at the eaves, a wooden balcony supported by wood brackets on the more public street facade, and a wooden gallery atop hefty masonry columns framed with wood brackets on the more private waterfront façade. These features have been developed and refined over hundreds of years to accommodate comfortable living in the Caribbean and have evolved into a living tradition of beautiful vernacular architecture that is, as a result, truly sustainable. The covered outdoor spaces in conjunction with the protected courts, deep overhangs and operable wood shutters provide a sustainable home that respects the context and climate, maximizes energy-efficiency and minimizes environmental impact. The simple massing and layout of this house with its simple and flexible spaces can accommodate many different family types and lifestyles and can even change uses as market demands change over time. These characteristics together with a timeless elegance and beauty support the firmness, commodity and delight required for truly sustainable living.

Hale Aina By The Sea

Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs

Photography: Augie Salbosa Kitchen remodel Sub-Zero / Wolf appliances Butcher countertop Studio Becker Cabinetry Cork flooring Ice Stone countertop Glass backsplash

North Valley Pastoral

ECOterra Design Build

Looking lengthwise down the galley-style kitchen. Although it is a smaller kitchen, it has been designed for maximum convenience and has abundant storage.

Tropical Kitchen

Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical l-shaped kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, shaker cabinets, grey splashback and brown floor.

Kapalua Textures

Rick Ryniak Architects

Photo of a large tropical open plan kitchen in Hawaii with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops and multiple islands.

Kauna'oa Traditional Hawaiian Residence

Stephen Green Architecture, Inc.

Ian Lindsey
Inspiration for a large tropical l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors and a peninsula.

Wing House

McClellan | Tellone

Andrea Brizzi
Photo of a large tropical u-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, beige splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Tropical Kitchen with Medium 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 Tropical 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!