Light filled kitchen and dining space, with bespoke dining table and featuring Australian artists.

Transferred this space from dated crème colors and not enough storage to modern high-tech with designated storage for every item in the kitchen

Hindley & Co - Kitchen Joinery

Hindley & Co Architecture & Interior Design

A secret door leads to a laundry and powder room under the stair

Lindsay Court Stage 2

Lisa Cannon Interior Design

1970's Home renovation

Turner Bespoke Design

White rangehood cover with black shelves and a stone look porcelain slab to the splashback for a minimal look.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation - Abbotsford

Damco Kitchens

Using all available space for storage is key, allowing the design not only to look stunning, but also functional.

Contemporary Kitchen, New Lambton Heights

Vista Kitchens Newcastle

Lyneham Extension and Renovation

Build Professional

Kitchen Renovation

Flinders , Sailors Whisk

Mermaid Bay Interiors

Oneills Project Two

Shannon Pepper Design

Tri-Color Kitchen

Miyuki Yamaguchi Design Studio

Philadelphia Blue & White Kitchen

Kitchen Magic

Residing in Philadelphia, it only seemed natural for a blue and white color scheme. The combination of Satin White and Colonial Blue creates instant drama in this refaced kitchen. Cambria countertop in Weybourne, include a waterfall side on the peninsula that elevate the design. An elegant backslash in a taupe ceramic adds a subtle backdrop. Photography: Christian Giannelli www.christiangiannelli.com/

Traditional Kitchen with a Chic Farmhouse Twist

Carrie Johnson

Homeowners aimed to bring the lovely outdoors into better view when they removed the two 90's dated columns that divided the kitchen from the family room and eat-in area. They also transformed the range wall when they added two wood encasement windows which frame the custom zinc hood and allow a soft light to penetrate the kitchen. Custom beaded inset cabinetry was designed with a busy family of 5 in mind. A coffee station hides behind the appliance garage, the paper towel holder is partially concealed in a rolling drawer and three custom pullout drawers with soft close hinges hold many items that would otherwise be located on the countertop or under the sink. A 48" Viking gas range took the place of a 30" electric cooktop and a Bosch microwave drawer is now located in the island to make space for the newly added beverage cooler. Due to size and budget constaints, we kept the basic footprint so every space was carefully planned for function and design. The family stayed true to their casual lifestyle with the black honed countertops but added a little bling with the rustic crystal chandelier, crystal prism arched sconces and calcutta gold herringbone backsplash. But the owner's favorite add was the custom island designed as an antique furniture piece with the essenza blue quartzite countertop cut with a demi-bull stepout. The kids can now sit at the ample sized counter and enjoy breakfast or finish homework in the comfortable cherry red swivel chairs which add a pop to the otherwise understated tones. This newly remodeled kitchen checked all the homeowner's desires.

Traditional San Diego

User

Traditional but unusually shaped kitchen with a white painted cabinets, seapearl quartzite countertops, tradewinds tint mosaic backsplash, paneled appliances, dark wood island with hidden outlets. Featuring a flat panel TV in the backsplash for your viewing pleasure while cooking for your family. This great kitchen is adjacent to an amazing outdoor living space with multiple living spaces and an outdoor pool. Traditional but unusually shaped kitchen with a white painted cabinets, seapearl quartzite countertops, tradewinds tint mosaic backsplash, paneled appliances, dark wood island with hidden outlets. Featuring a flat panel TV in the backsplash for your viewing pleasure while cooking for your family. This great kitchen is adjacent to an amazing outdoor living space with multiple living spaces and an outdoor pool. Photos by Jon Upson

Bayadere Newport Beach

William Guidero Planning and Design

Telluride Cabin

Artisan Builders LLC

Bespoke Longford Kitchen | Blackheath, London

Humphrey Munson

The focal point of the kitchen is without a doubt the large 6 oven black Aga. Traditionally associated with country homes, it’s really lovely to see an Aga in a London family home. The canopy was designed especially for this room: it catches the eye and conceals the extractor. Painted in the same bold black as the island, it helps to anchor the entire design. The clients chose the antiqued distressed effect mirror splashback, which has a softer feel than plain mirror, but still accentuates the light feel of the room. The symmetry of this kitchen is designed to create a balanced look, while the detailing is simple to add to the contemporary feel. The bold colour palette of the kitchen and dining area perfectly suits the space and is softened with accents of natural smoked oak and antique brass. Photo Credit: Paul Craig

Moore II Residence

Hsu McCullough

Tiled kitchen with birch cabinetry opens to outdoor dining beyond windows. Entry with stair to second floor and dining room.

The Party's At Our House

Studio Dearborn

Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped a neighbor and friend to update a “builder grade” kitchen into a personal, family space that feels luxurious and inviting. The homeowner wanted to solve a number of storage and flow problems in the kitchen, including a wasted area dedicated to a desk, too-little pantry storage, and her wish for a kitchen bar. The all white builder kitchen lacked character, and the client wanted to inject color, texture and personality into the kitchen while keeping it classic.

Neutral Bay apartment

Lisa Burdus Interior Design

Mid-sized U-shaped Kitchen 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!