Compact kitchen in the Caretakers Apartment complete with 24" glass top GE Electric Free-Standing Range and 24" LG Fridge and Freezer Combo (not shown). Red painted shaker cabinets, with white glass knobs and Pental Quartz countertops and 4" blacksplash in "Polished Cashmere". Kohler stainless steel single bowl sink, top mounted, with Kohler Simplice faucet in vibrant stainless. Wall mounted sconce above the sink is Shades of Sleek Contemporary bath light in rubbed bronze. Walls are Sherwin Willams "White Heron Stain", baseboards, window sills and beams are hemlock in Wurth "Morgeau" stain. Flooring is Cathedral Plank in "Gold Coast Oak." Tongue and groove ceiling is rough sawn fir and spruce. Floating shelves on sink wall use floating shelve brackets and are finished in the same wood at the exposed beams.

Stone Farmhouse Renovation

Jonathan Miller Architects

St. Matthews

JH Designs, LLC.

Photos by J.L. Jordan Photography

Black & Cherry

Yancy Interior Design

Clever Storage in a Compact Kitchen - Grosse Pointe Woods

Woodmaster Kitchens

A compact kitchen design requires astute space planning to maximize the available storage and workspace. Base corner cabinets incorporate lazy susans, and have matching upper diagonal wall cabinets. Every space is utilized, including a small storage are in the base cabinet next to the dishwasher. The stainless sink includes an offset faucet in a matching finish, that also complements the stainless appliances and hood. The kitchen includes a dining table with pendant lights, and connects to the family room to facilitate family dinners and casual entertaining.

KraftMaid: Quartersawn Cherry in Natural

KraftMaid

To add warmth to a contemporary kitchen, consider a natural finish on wood cabinetry. These slab doors made of quartersawn cherry add a dynamic feel, while the kitchen island adds function.

Maple

Millwork Designs Corp.

Function & Style: Modern Kitchen Redesign

Interiors by Popov

Oregano & Chocolate / Golden Ivory

Blue River Cabinetry Kitchen & Bath

StarMark maple cabinetry in Oregano with Chocolate glaze, Golden Ivory granite with waterfall edge, Philadelphia Light tumbled stone backsplash, stainless steel appliances and sink.

Contemporary Kitchen

Craftsman Kitchen

Warmth

Modern Kitchen Design

Mark Karrer

The Jackson Kitchen Remodel

CTW Abbey Carpet & Floor

Ballard Addition

Jim Burton Architects

Cindy Apple

Condo remodel in Palos Verdes

Trinidad Campbell Design

Kitchen with island , counters of black granite with silver and gold sparkles, like stars. Pull out pantry in black stained walnut. Artwork by Laria Saunders.

Soft Contemporary, Brookhaven

San Luis Kitchen Co.

A truly soft contemporary look -- clean lines without fuss mix with warm colors and light wood finishes for an inviting whole. A kitchen that you want to cook in. We combined the kitchen entry and pass-thru into one big opening, removing the short hanging cabinets and adding a bar peninsula, to create an open plan kitchen/dining/living area. Next, we moved the refrigerator down, centering it on the wall, removing it from its former cramped corner position. On either side of the refrigerator the homeowner’s wife requested extra wide (42”) deep drawers and more counter space. The range remained in place and gained a stylish stainless chimney hood. For great storage access we added corner swing-out shelves, lots of deep drawers, roll-out shelves and a pull-out trash cabinet. The wall corner cabinets were flared for extra storage and optional lazy susans. The new counter is engineered quartz with a textured finish in a dark charcoal color. The backsplash features large format tile in a variegated pattern of beige and green while the floor tile harmonizes in tones of mossy green. We added a nice new stainless dishwasher and undermount stainless sink and finished off the remodel with a tray ceiling and recessed lights. Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry: Brookhaven's Vista

Bernal Heights Remodel: Kitchen, Bedroom, Bath and Stairs

Brent Daniel

Kitchen, with paneled Sub-Zero fridge. Photo by Brent L Daniel

McTrax Backyard Cottage

User

A fold down dining room table disappears when more space is needed in this modern backyard cottage.

1970s kitchen becomes great room

Keilty Remodeling LLC

Raising the sunken living room floor, reconfiguring kitchen space and installing hardwood throughout, really opened up this 1970s home.

Chicago Ave

Eye to Eye Interiors, LLC

Renovating a 1950s kitchen and needed to fill 6 inches of space, so our client chose a nook - perfect for quick access to cutting boards and a favorite cookbook.

Small 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!