While open-concept kitchens seem to be all the rage, these days. This kitchen proves that you can have a U-shaped kitchen that is also modern, functional, and beautiful. This kitchen doesn’t have a large footprint, but the combination of material choice and use of space help make it a great place to cook and entertain in. The cabinets are a white painted shaker, classic and clean, and while the maple elements on the island and window frames and the blue tile add some interest without overwhelming the space. The white built-out range hood and maple open shelving also help to make the upper level of cabinets seem light and easy on the eyes. The large maple-wrapped beam separating the kitchen from the living room perfectly ties the kitchen into the rest of the living space. Some of the functional elements that help bring this space together are the cabinet accessories and the island with built-in storage. One of the issues with U-shaped kitchens is that the layout often creates two blind corner base cabinets which usually become black pits for kitchen items to get lost in. By installing a magic corner in one and a lazy susan in the other, we were able to maximize this kitchen’s functionality. Other features, like a built-in trash pullout and integrate LED lights throughout, help make this kitchen the perfect blend of form and function.

1840's Sweet Shoppe

Hi Tech Projects

Inspiration for a mid-sized country galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Redstart Residence

Arc Three Studio

This is an example of a midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Houston with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Three Arch Cottage

Nate Fischer Interiors

Bright and airy cottage kitchen with natural wood accents and a pop of blue.
This is an example of a small beach style single-wall open plan kitchen in Orange County with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, panelled appliances, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Salten Point - Kitchen

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: Kennerknecht Design Group Builder: JJ Delaney, Inc. Landscape Architect: Horiuchi Solien Landscape Architects Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography

Mountain View Altadena Modern

Wendy Wilson & Associates

Design ideas for a modern eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Masterful use of patterns and color in an Alamo Heights home

Paper Moon Painting

Designer Maria Beck of M.E. Designs expertly combines fun wallpaper patterns and sophisticated colors in this lovely Alamo Heights home. Kitchen painted a Farrow and Ball white

Wood Farmhouse Kitchen | Kimball Starr Interior Design

Kimball Starr Interior Design

Modern farmhouse kitchen featuring white ceiling and white cabinetry accented with blue ceramic backsplash tiles, a white farmhouse kitchen sink, black drawer pulls and handles, lucite and silver metal counter seating at a kitchen island painted cornflower-blue, stainless steel appliances including a stove/cooktop, hood, dishwasher and fridge, and glass dewdrop-shaped pendant lights against a backdrop of cedar wood walls, and hardwood flooring.

Three Arch Cottage

Nate Fischer Interiors

Bright and airy cottage great room with natural elements and pops of blue.
Small beach style single-wall open plan kitchen in Orange County with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, panelled appliances, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

Arrowhead Farmhouse

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

With expansive fields and beautiful farmland surrounding it, this historic farmhouse celebrates these views with floor-to-ceiling windows from the kitchen and sitting area. Originally constructed in the late 1700’s, the main house is connected to the barn by a new addition, housing a master bedroom suite and new two-car garage with carriage doors. We kept and restored all of the home’s existing historic single-pane windows, which complement its historic character. On the exterior, a combination of shingles and clapboard siding were continued from the barn and through the new addition.

Oak Pond Home Remodel

Green Couch Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Casual & Elegant - Kitchen & Bath

Reusch Interior Design

We love a challenge! The existing small bathroom had a corner toilet and funky gold and white tile. To make the space functional for a family we removed a small bedroom to extend the bathroom, which allows room for a large shower and bathtub. Custom cabinetry is tucked into the ceiling slope to allow for towel storage. The dark green cabinetry is offset by a traditional gray and white wallpaper which brings contrast to this unique bathroom. Partial kitchen remodel to replace and reconfigure upper cabinets, full-height cabinetry, island, and backsplash. The redesign includes design of custom cabinetry, and finish selections. Full bathroom gut and redesign with floor plan changes. Removal of the existing bedroom to create a larger bathroom. The design includes full layout redesign, custom cabinetry design, and all tile, plumbing, lighting, and decor selections.

Blue For You

Hankins & Associates, Inc. - Kitchens and Baths

This “Blue for You” kitchen is truly a cook’s kitchen with its 48” Wolf dual fuel range, steamer oven, ample 48” built-in refrigeration and drawer microwave. The 11-foot-high ceiling features a 12” lighted tray with crown molding. The 9’-6” high cabinetry, together with a 6” high crown finish neatly to the underside of the tray. The upper wall cabinets are 5-feet high x 13” deep, offering ample storage in this 324 square foot kitchen. The custom cabinetry painted the color of Benjamin Moore’s “Jamestown Blue” (HC-148) on the perimeter and “Hamilton Blue” (HC-191) on the island and Butler’s Pantry. The main sink is a cast iron Kohler farm sink, with a Kohler cast iron under mount prep sink in the (100” x 42”) island. While this kitchen features much storage with many cabinetry features, it’s complemented by the adjoining butler’s pantry that services the formal dining room. This room boasts 36 lineal feet of cabinetry with over 71 square feet of counter space. Not outdone by the kitchen, this pantry also features a farm sink, dishwasher, and under counter wine refrigeration.

West Seattle Mid-Century

Board & Vellum

Photos by Tina Witherspoon.
Large midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop and wood.

Showroom

EuroLuxe Cabinets

Small contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Contemporary Residence & Pool House

Marc Newman Architect

Picture of new kitchen with wood slat ceiling and concrete floors.
Photo of a midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with concrete floors, with island, exposed beam, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, grey floor and white benchtop.

Traditional Country Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

This is an example of a large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Beach House

Sarah Schmidt

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style galley open plan kitchen in Hawaii with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Showplace Framed Kitchen and Wet Bar in Simpli Gray, Kitchen Island in Hale Navy

Cabinetry by Better Bilt

Cabinetry: Showplace Framed Style: Sonoma w/ Matching Five Piece Drawer Headers Finish: Kitchen Perimeter and Wet Bar in Simpli Gray; Kitchen Island in Hale Navy Countertops: (Solid Surfaces Unlimited) Elgin Quartz Plumbing: (Progressive Plumbing) Kitchen and Wet Bar- Blanco Precis Super/Liven/Precis 21” in Concrete; Delta Mateo Pull-Down faucet in Stainless; Bathroom – Delta Stryke in Stainless Hardware: (Top Knobs) Ellis Cabinetry & Appliance Pulls in Brushed Satin Nickel Tile: (Beaver Tile) Kitchen and Wet Bar– Robins Egg 3” x 12” Glossy Flooring: (Krauseneck) Living Room Bound Rugs, Stair Runners, and Family Room Carpeting – Cedarbrook Seacliff Drapery/Electric Roller Shades/Cushion – Mariella’s Custom Drapery Interior Design/Furniture, Lighting & Fixture Selection: Devon Moore Cabinetry Designer: Devon Moore Contractor: Stonik Services

Sailfish Gulf Suites Renovation on Holmes Beach

Orange Moon Interiors

Open kitchen complete with rope lighting fixtures and open shelf concept.
Photo of a small beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Tampa with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, white floor, white benchtop and wood.

All Ceiling Designs Kitchen with Blue Splashback 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!