Contemporary new home situated absolute waterfront on the magnificent Waiheke Island. The expansive kitchen, scullery, and dining areas are positioned above the sunken lounge and provided a platform to create a feature of the kitchen. Simple white cabinetry was used, which is paired with Petra Grey Granite and finished with blue glass splashbacks and island features. LED lighting features extensively under the shelves plus within the island; not only provides light to the area but imparts drama in the evening.

Kitchen and Island

Daniel Contelmo Architects

Audubon Park Addition

Bethany Adams Interiors

Arcadia Ave

Hello Kitchen

Farmhouse on the Hills

Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen on the Hills of San Marcos

The House of Palms

Sea Island Builders LLC

A stunning coastal kitchen with an oversized wood island mixed with white cabinetry. A bank of windows over the sink provide natural light and the soaring vaulted ceiling and blue backsplash give a coastal feel to the space.

The Country House

Whitley & Co

Classic Rancher

Jeffrey Neve Interior Design

Clairmont, Home Remodel

Audry Cordero, NKBA at Design Studio West

This beautiful kitchen is perfect for friends and family to gather around, cook meals together, or to simply enjoy an afternoon of baking with the kids. The large central island has plenty of storage including a mixer lift, a microwave drawer, and trash/recycle bins. Easy maintenance and kid friendly with plenty of storage were on top of our list. Cabinets: Sollera Cabinets, Custom Colors

Temple Hills

Nate Fischer Interiors

Warmly Inviting - Bright kitchen with skylights

K Squared Builders - Dale Kramer

Warmly Inviting Kitchen and Dining room" Out: brick bearing walls, old porch, tiny kitchen, confining dining room, In: light filled addition, open floorplan with front to back sight lines, stunning kitchen, spacious island, warm reclaimed column and shelving. "The Dining and Mud Rooms" After converting the tiny kitchen into a mudroom with a centered doorway, the typical daily accumulated shoes, backpacks and coats now can easily be hidden from view simply by sliding together the unique re-purposed barn doors. Narrow openings to the left and right were enlarged inviting guests to explore the warm and fun new spaces while allowing plenty of room to expand the table

Oceanview Kitchen overlooking the Pacific and Coronado's Central Beach Owen McGoldrick

Mercer Island Modern

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

Photography by Benjamin Benschneider

Modern/Contemporary Spanish Kitchen in Blue and Rustic Alder

UltraCraft Cabinetry

This beautiful Spanish/Mediterranean Modern kitchen features UltraCraft's Stickley door style in Rustic Alder with Natural finish and Lakeway door style in Maple with Blue Ash paint. A celebration of natural light and green plants, this kitchen has a warm feel that shouldn't be missed!

Joyful Kitchen Chelsea Family Loft

Tamara Hubinsky Interiors

A double island in slate blue, a custom kitchen nook with banquette seating, Decorative storage and functional spaces abound with lots of fun accents.

Farmhouse Inspired Kitchen

HEATHER DISABELLA INTERIOR DESIGN

CA Modern Retro Kitchen

August Interiors

The homeowners, an eclectic and quirky couple, wanted to renovate their kitchen for functional reasons: the old floors, counters, etc, were dirty, ugly, and not usable; lighting was giant fluorescents, etc. While they wanted to modernize, they also wanted to retain a fun and retro vibe. So we modernized with functional new materials: quartz counters, porcelain tile floors. But by using bold, bright colors and mixing a few fun patterns, we kept it fun. Retro-style chairs, table, and lighting completed the look.

Kitchen with Blue Splashback and Grey Benchtop 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!