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.

LA BRISE

BCOZ! Architecture d'intérieur

Photo of a small contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, exposed beam, beige floor and brown benchtop.

Lancaster Modern Cottage

Barefoot Dwelling

Phase 2 of our Modern Cottage project was the complete renovation of a small, impractical kitchen and dining nook. The client asked for a fresh, bright kitchen with natural light, a pop of color, and clean modern lines. The resulting kitchen features all of the above and incorporates fun details such as a scallop tile backsplash behind the range and artisan touches such as a custom walnut island and floating shelves and a custom metal range hood. This kitchen is all that the client asked for and more!

Oasis Tiny Home Exposed Wooden Beams

Paradise Tiny Homes LLC

A beautiful mix of clean stainless steel and warm mango wood creates a stylish and practical kitchen space. This coastal, contemporary Tiny Home features a warm yet industrial style kitchen with stainless steel counters and husky tool drawers with black cabinets. the silver metal counters are complimented by grey subway tiling as a backsplash against the warmth of the locally sourced curly mango wood windowsill ledge. I mango wood windowsill also acts as a pass-through window to an outdoor bar and seating area on the deck. Entertaining guests right from the kitchen essentially makes this a wet-bar. LED track lighting adds the right amount of accent lighting and brightness to the area. The window is actually a french door that is mirrored on the opposite side of the kitchen. This kitchen has 7-foot long stainless steel counters on either end. There are stainless steel outlet covers to match the industrial look. There are stained exposed beams adding a cozy and stylish feeling to the room. To the back end of the kitchen is a frosted glass pocket door leading to the bathroom. All shelving is made of Hawaiian locally sourced curly mango wood. A stainless steel fridge matches the rest of the style and is built-in to the staircase of this tiny home. Dish drying racks are hung on the wall to conserve space and reduce clutter.

CENTRAL PARK STUNNER

KE Interior Solutions

Note the large scale tile juxtaposed against the quilt style tile on the oven wall. This large and simple toned grey field allows the other area to stand out, yet this window wall detail also serves a purpose of showing how every area can be unique, but not glaring in contrast.

Updated Classic Home

Neff Designs

Photo of a small transitional u-shaped kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, white benchtop and brown floor.

Dream Cottage

Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen, with all appliances under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Haywood House Renovation

Always by Design ARCHITECTURE

The kitchen features abundant natural lighting and a cathedral ceiling and serves as the hub of the home, open to the exterior, the dining room, the living room (with an eating bar) and the studio. A serving counter flanks the dining room, with a see-through overhead glassware cabinet that can be accessed from both sides.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

Kelly Martin Interiors

This remodel was located in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Rénovation d'un appartement qui chante le sud - Projet Phillipe

Mon Concept Habitation

Le charme du Sud à Paris. Un projet de rénovation assez atypique...car il a été mené par des étudiants architectes ! Notre cliente, qui travaille dans la mode, avait beaucoup de goût et s’est fortement impliquée dans le projet. Un résultat chiadé au charme méditerranéen.

Retro Kitchen Remodel

McKean's Floor to Ceiling

Retro Kitchen Makeover! Flipped the layout and added Brookside Collection by Omega Cabinets, Quartz countertops with a stainless steel undermount sink, with new cabinet hardware by Berenson and a Moen Arbor faucet. 3x12 white wall tiles installed on the backsplash with a light grey grout and Hickory Cherry 6x36" wood-look tile on the floor.

Sunny Yellow Kitchen

Fireclay Tile

DESIGN: Hatch Works Austin // PHOTOS: Robert Gomez Photography
Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, yellow cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop, shaker cabinets and a peninsula.

Pleasant Valley Remodel

Jon Callahan Construction

This is an example of a beach style kitchen in Little Rock with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, white benchtop, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Clyde & Joy's Kitchen & Fireplace Remodel

Sterling Construction, Inc.

These wonderful new clients found us on houzz.com. We removed the column and walls to create an open, inviting kitchen. The cabinets are a light grey, perfect if your tired of white! We introduced the customer to Caseta by Lutron to automate their lighting. We installed undercabinet LED lights that also connected to the home automation. I'm pretty sure Clyde likes this feature the most out of the entire remodel!

Thermador

Gerhard's Appliances

Inspiration for a large traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, a peninsula, white floor and white benchtop.

Northcote Workers Cottage

Olivia van Dijk Architecture

Home of Emily Wright of Nancybird. Timber open shelving and cabinets in the kitchen. Hand made sky blue ceramic tiles line the cooktop splash back. Stand alone cooktop. Carrara Marble benchtop, timber floor boards, hand made tiles, timber kitchen, open shelving, blackboard, walk-in pantry, stainless steel appliances

East Aurora Kitchen

Bens Appliance Kitchens and Bath

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel | Kimball Starr Interior Design

Kimball Starr Interior Design

Modern farmhouse kitchen design and remodel for a traditional San Francisco home include simple organic shapes, light colors, and clean details. Our farmhouse style incorporates walnut end-grain butcher block, floating walnut shelving, vintage Wolf range, and curvaceous handmade ceramic tile. Contemporary kitchen elements modernize the farmhouse style with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertop, and cork flooring.

марсель

Вячеслав Вазюля

автор проекта Инесса Москвичева
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Moscow with raised-panel cabinets, ceramic splashback, ceramic floors, grey cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, white appliances and a peninsula.

Kitchen with Ceramic Splashback and a Peninsula 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!