Kitchen with Open Cabinets and Wood Splashback Ideas and Designs

Casey Dunn Photography
Design ideas for a large nautical u-shaped kitchen in Houston with an island, white cabinets, marble worktops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, open cabinets, a belfast sink, white splashback and wood splashback.

Maison F&L - Vue Cuisine

ICØS Architecture

Photo of a medium sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Montpellier with white cabinets, wood worktops, grey floors, a single-bowl sink, open cabinets, brown splashback, wood splashback, no island and brown worktops.

Tiny house makes a big impression

New Zealand Certified Builders Association

“We wanted contemporary but unpretentious, keeping building materials to a minimum – wood, concrete, and galvanised steel. We wanted to expose some of the construction methods and natural characteristics of the materials. Small living was a big part of our brief, though the high stud, over-height joinery and creative use of space makes it feel bigger. We have achieved a brand-new house with a feeling of warmth and character.”

Wimbledon Cottage

SGS Design Ltd

Inspiration for a scandi kitchen pantry in Kent with open cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, wood splashback and no island.

Pantry

Southern Closet Systems Inc.

This is an example of a small traditional galley kitchen pantry in Tampa with open cabinets, white cabinets, laminate countertops, white splashback, wood splashback and ceramic flooring.

Boise Residence

Hsu McCullough

Kitchen. Photo by Clark Dugger
Small contemporary galley enclosed kitchen in Los Angeles with a submerged sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood flooring, wood worktops, brown splashback, wood splashback, integrated appliances, no island and brown floors.

Vacation Home

HND Architects

Design ideas for a medium sized rustic u-shaped kitchen/diner in Portland Maine with a double-bowl sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white appliances, an island, stainless steel worktops, wood splashback and black floors.

Country Kitchen

This is an example of a medium sized farmhouse single-wall kitchen/diner in Other with a belfast sink, terracotta flooring, multi-coloured floors, open cabinets, wood splashback, no island, white worktops and distressed cabinets.

Farmhouse Apron 60/40 Double-Bowl 16-Gauge Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink, 33"

Kraus USA, Inc.

Kraus Double Bowl Stainless Steel Farmhouse Sinks add a new twist on the classic apron front design. The extra deep basin fits even your largest of cookware while our industry-leading NoiseDefend soundproofing eliminates noise while sink is in use.

Modern Farmhouse

Insidesign

Small farmhouse l-shaped kitchen pantry in Atlanta with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, brown floors, open cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, wood splashback, brick flooring and no island.

Tracey Rapisardi Design

Tracey Rapisardi Design, 2008 Coastal Living Idea House Pantry
This is an example of a large beach style u-shaped kitchen/diner in Tampa with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, a belfast sink, wood splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring and an island.

Farmhouse Revisited

Phinney Design Group

Modern farmhouse renovation, with at-home artist studio. Photos by Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes
Large modern single-wall enclosed kitchen in Boston with a built-in sink, open cabinets, black cabinets, marble worktops, black splashback, wood splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and black worktops.

mohma Compact

Woodville

Photo of a small modern open plan kitchen in Other with an integrated sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate countertops, white splashback, wood splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, no island, brown floors, white worktops and a vaulted ceiling.

Hinesburg Efficiency Home

Ryan Bent Photography

Interior built by Sweeney Design Build. Kitchen with custom open shelving. Built out of Pine.
Photo of a medium sized country u-shaped kitchen in Burlington with a built-in sink, open cabinets, wood worktops, wood splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, a breakfast bar, black floors and medium wood cabinets.

Holly ADU - Kitchen

Davey McEathron Architecture

Leonid Furmansky
This is an example of a small modern galley kitchen/diner in Austin with an integrated sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, wood splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, an island, grey floors and grey worktops.

Modern Duplex

User

Modern open kitchen flooded with light by a wall of windows. Ventilation provided by single Tilt Only window above sink. The entire kitchen is encompassed in light wood panels. The open wood shelving mirrors the surrounding wood, seamlessly integrating the discreet open storage.

Laurelhurst Storybook Residence

Board & Vellum

The pantry offers plenty of stylish storage solutions with custom, open shelves and a farmhouse feel.
Inspiration for a small traditional kitchen pantry in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood splashback, dark hardwood flooring and brown floors.

W. Creekside Residence

Dillon Kyle Architects (DKA)

Casey Dunn Photography
Inspiration for a large nautical l-shaped kitchen in Houston with a belfast sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island and wood splashback.

Cabot Cove Summer Cottage

Tracey Rapisardi Design

This is an example of a small romantic single-wall open plan kitchen in Tampa with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, no island, white appliances, white splashback, wood splashback, white floors and brown worktops.

Contemporary and transitional kitchens

Strathmore Floors-Design-Cabinets

CHD Magazine
This is an example of a traditional grey and white open plan kitchen in Charleston with open cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, marble worktops, white splashback and wood splashback.

Kitchen with Open Cabinets and Wood Splashback 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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