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.

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.

WHISTLER STREET - KITCHEN + BUTLERS

Timpelle Kitchens

Stunning finishes including natural timber veneer, polyurethane & Caesarstone make for a professionally designed space. Opting for the contemporary V Groove cabinetry doors creates warmth & texture along with black accents to complete the look.

Hambleton

Daniela Fulford Photography

Modern galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Property Styling - Ryde

Issy & H Creative

Photo of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Marine Loft

SUBU Design Architecture

Kitchen remodel with reclaimed wood cabinetry and industrial details. Photography by Manolo Langis. Located steps away from the beach, the client engaged us to transform a blank industrial loft space to a warm inviting space that pays respect to its industrial heritage. We use anchored large open space with a sixteen foot conversation island that was constructed out of reclaimed logs and plumbing pipes. The island itself is divided up into areas for eating, drinking, and reading. Bringing this theme into the bedroom, the bed was constructed out of 12x12 reclaimed logs anchored by two bent steel plates for side tables.

Middleton, WI Condo

DC Interiors & Renovations

Mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with light hardwood floors, brown floor, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

El Segundo Beach House

popix designs

Photo of a beach style l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

ЖК "Сердце Столицы"

Дарья Рыбак

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

STUDIO 30m2

DOMOKA

Une cuisine tout équipé avec de l'électroménager encastré et un îlot ouvert sur la salle à manger.
Small scandinavian galley eat-in kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, black splashback, panelled appliances, painted wood floors and grey floor.

Kitchen

User

View of kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is by Italkraft and features white quartz counter-tops by Santino Design. The black leather 'S' chairs with metal chrome are from KOM. RS3 designed the custom-created cantilevered black glass bartop. Fabricated by MDV Glass. Modern dropped ceiling features contemporary recessed lighting and hidden LED strips. Custom floating dining table was also designed by RS3 and fabricated by Arlican Wood Inc. White Glass floors are from Opustone.

EAST COBB Modern Boho Kitchen

Rosa Moreno Kitchens

Photo of a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Filbert Street

ballonSTUDIO interiors & remodeling

Our San Francisco studio added a bright palette, striking artwork, and thoughtful decor throughout this gorgeous home to create a warm, welcoming haven. We added cozy, comfortable furnishings and plenty of seating in the living room for family get-togethers. The bedroom was designed to create a soft, soothing appeal with a neutral beige theme, natural textures, and beautiful artwork. In the bathroom, the freestanding bathtub creates an attractive focal point, making it a space for relaxation and rejuvenation. We also designed a lovely sauna – a luxurious addition to the home. In the large kitchen, we added stylish countertops, pendant lights, and stylish chairs, making it a great space to hang out. --- Project designed by ballonSTUDIO. They discreetly tend to the interior design needs of their high-net-worth individuals in the greater Bay Area and to their second home locations. For more about ballonSTUDIO, see here: https://www.ballonstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.ballonstudio.com/filbertstreet

Sonoran Scandi

K2 Signature Homes

Open concept kitchen with prep kitchen/butler's pantry. Integrated appliances.
Design ideas for a scandinavian open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Lincoln Park Renovation

Devon Grace Interiors

The kitchen pulls in a clean, modern aesthetic with a neutral palette of warm wood, bright white, and crisp black materials.
This is an example of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Scarsdale home

Lucy Harris Studio

Key decor elements include: Pendants: Grain pendants by Brendan Ravenhill Studio Stools: Beetle counter chair by Gubi from Design Public Group Large brass bowl: Michael Verheyden Marble Cannister: Michael Verheyden Art: Untitled (1010) by Bo Joseph from Sears Peyton Gallery

Strathgowan House

laneway millwork

A closer look at our rift cut white oak Slim Shaker cabinets.
Mid-sized contemporary eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Neutral Coastal Style Home Remodel

Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors

We took a builder basic home and did what others said could not be done. We removed a structural wall that divided the family room -dining area with the living room. Moved the kitchen from its original layout to face the backyard with a view the whole family could enjoy. We focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality without sacrificing beauty. White walls, wood floors, modern furniture, and minimalist decor are all hallmark traits of a California aesthetic. A lot of cost were invested into changing the structure so we keep the materials simple, but we were still able to add wood features in the home like the island, the warm toned light fixture centered over the island adds depth to this personal home. Designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin Builder Artistic Design and Remodeling Photographer James Furman

Woods Kitchen Remodel

Bombeck Design

Design ideas for a small scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Scandi-MODERN

Barbara Purdy - Purdy & Associates Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped open plan kitchen in Ottawa with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, grey splashback, with island, white benchtop, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and porcelain splashback.

White 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!