Kitchen/Diner Ideas and Designs

Ryann Ford
Design ideas for a large traditional grey and white kitchen/diner in Austin with white cabinets, stone tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, shaker cabinets, composite countertops, white splashback, brown floors, black worktops and an island.

Small Kitchen

Rutt of Los Altos

Dean J. Birinyi Photography
Traditional u-shaped kitchen/diner in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, a belfast sink, marble worktops and cork flooring.

Opus 6.8

Radifera Design Group, LLC

Photos by Robert Radifera Photography - www.radifera.com
Inspiration for a classic kitchen/diner in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, a belfast sink, white cabinets, white splashback and metro tiled splashback.

Mt. Vernon

Dana Clemons

photo: garey gomez
Design ideas for a large coastal kitchen/diner in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, ceramic flooring, an island, grey floors and white worktops.

townhouse remodel

Evan Chan Architect

Allyson Lubow
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in DC Metro with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, black appliances, porcelain flooring and an island.

Victorian Workers Cottage Addition

Danny Broe Architect

Photography: Karina Illovska The kitchen is divided into different colours to reduce its bulk and a surprise pink study inside it has its own little window. The front rooms were renovated to their former glory with replica plaster reinstated. A tasmanian Oak floor with a beautiful matt water based finish was selected by jess and its light and airy. this unifies the old and new parts. Colour was used playfully. Jess came up with a diverse colour scheme that somehow works really well. The wallpaper in the hall is warm and luxurious.

Stevenson

TAS Construction

Photos by Whit Preston Architect: Cindy Black, Hello Kitchen
Contemporary kitchen/diner in Austin.

Property Brothers | HGTV

Zachos Design Group Inc.

This is an example of a medium sized traditional kitchen/diner in New York with white cabinets and light hardwood flooring.

Leslie Hayes Interiors

Photo: Drew Callahan
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Philadelphia with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz worktops, a submerged sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood flooring and an island.

PARK AVENUE DUPLEX

de-spec

Photographer: Frank Oudeman
Design ideas for a modern kitchen/diner in New York with shaker cabinets and white cabinets.

Randolph Avenue London

Studio Sidika

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary galley kitchen/diner in London with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, mirror splashback, brown floors, beige worktops, a submerged sink, metallic splashback, integrated appliances, dark hardwood flooring and no island.

Oakland Hills Mansion

mark pinkerton - vi360 photography

Photo of a bohemian kitchen/diner in San Francisco with medium wood cabinets.

Bluebell, PA traditional

Bluebell Kitchens

This traditional kitchen, designed by Peter Cardamone of Bluebell Kitchens, is elegant and plush in its furnishing. The bench seating at the kitchen table is the highlight of the kitchen, accentuated by the quartzite countertops, bronze hardware, exposed joists, and traditional white cabintery. Photo credit: Garrett Rowland

Old Town Home Renovation

User

Werner Straube
This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.

Brooklyn Carriage House

Kevin Dakan Architect

Francis Dzikowski
Large midcentury u-shaped kitchen/diner in New York with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, grey splashback, wood splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and multicoloured worktops.

Ashton Woods Dresden Model

Ashton Woods

Photo of a traditional u-shaped kitchen/diner in Atlanta with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring and an island.

Darien Renovation

Cardello Architects

Design ideas for a classic l-shaped kitchen/diner in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Bordley 2

Thompson Custom Homes

photos by Steve Chenn
Medium sized classic u-shaped kitchen/diner in Houston with a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white splashback, limestone splashback, white cabinets, quartz worktops, limestone flooring, an island and beige floors.

Concrete Box House

Robertson Design

This is an example of a modern galley kitchen/diner in Houston with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, window splashback, an island, brown floors, grey worktops and light hardwood flooring.

Leschi Residence Sunroom

Zinc Art + Interiors

Modern Kitchen and sunroom
Photo of an eclectic kitchen/diner in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

Kitchen/Diner Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

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