Design ideas for a small contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop, an undermount sink and grey cabinets.

English Holly Kitchen

22 Design House

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Oak Knoll Renovation

Vertical Interior Design Studio

In the kitchen we exposed the previously hidden original brick walls by eliminating the upper storage and swapping with chunky shelves that wrap the brick. Additional lighting onto the texture of the exposed brick brings the architecture back into the space and provides a nice contrast to the sleek slab doors. We created placement for dish storage by adding a wall of shallow drawers underneath with peg organizers. We extended the island to provide additional seating and more space for baking.

Belterra Project- Furnishings, Lighting Fixtures & Interior Design

Haven Design and Construction

This black, gray and gold urban farmhouse kitchen is the hub of the home for this busy family. Our team changed out the existing plain kitchen hood for this showstopper custom stainless hood with gold strapping and rivets. This provided a much needed focal point for this lovely kitchen. In addition, we changed out the 36" refrigerator to a roomier 42" refrigerator and built-in a matching paneled refrigerator cabinet. We also added the antique gold linear hardware and black and gold lighting to give it a streamlined look. Touches of black tie the kitchen design into the rest of the home's mostly black and white color scheme. The woven counter stools give the space a touch of casual elegance. A new champagne gold kitchen faucet and potfiller add additional style, while greenery and wood accessories add a touch of warmth.

Northern MN Lakeside Home

Lenox House Design

This custom support kitchen is a gem. The scalloping at the top of the cabinets was patterned directly from the cottage on the property to compliment the windows that were used as the upper cabinet doors. The original pine finish shown on the front was actually inside of the cottage but when you open them they are blue, since the exterior of the cottage was white and blue. The blue and white tile coordinates with the antique hand painted dishware collected by the home owner. Butcher block countertops, a cast iron undermount sink, a bridge faucet and dutch door painted in Showstopper Red to match the front door helps complement this space.

Ghent Pond House

Amy Krane Color Consulting

This large l-shaped kitchen warms up the house with its light tan cabinets and dark gray quartz counters. The black hardware and pendant lights dress it up and create a modern farmhouse vibe with the white shiplap paneling, and natural wood open shelving.

A Charming Californian Bungalow Transformed

Tennille Joy Interiors

Tennille Joy Interiors Custom Laundry with herringbone tiled splashback and shaker style cabinets.
Photo of a large transitional single-wall kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, matchstick tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Aging in Place

Kitchen Design Partners, Inc.

Photo Credit: Dennis Jourdan
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, multi-coloured floor and grey benchtop.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Creating a space to entertain was the top priority in this Mukwonago kitchen remodel. The homeowners wanted seating and counter space for hosting parties and watching sports. By opening the dining room wall, we extended the kitchen area. We added an island and custom designed furniture-style bar cabinet with retractable pocket doors. A new awning window overlooks the backyard and brings in natural light. Many in-cabinet storage features keep this kitchen neat and organized. Bar Cabinet The furniture-style bar cabinet has retractable pocket doors and a drop-in quartz counter. The homeowners can entertain in style, leaving the doors open during parties. Guests can grab a glass of wine or make a cocktail right in the cabinet. Outlet Strips Outlet strips on the island and peninsula keeps the end panels of the island and peninsula clean. The outlet strips also gives them options for plugging in appliances during parties. Modern Farmhouse Design The design of this kitchen is modern farmhouse. The materials, patterns, color and texture define this space. We used shades of golds and grays in the cabinetry, backsplash and hardware. The chevron backsplash and shiplap island adds visual interest. Custom Cabinetry This kitchen features frameless custom cabinets with light rail molding. It’s designed to hide the under cabinet lighting and angled plug molding. Putting the outlets under the cabinets keeps the backsplash uninterrupted. Storage Features Efficient storage and organization was important to these homeowners. We opted for deep drawers to allow for easy access to stacks of dishes and bowls. Under the cooktop, we used custom drawer heights to meet the homeowners’ storage needs. A third drawer was added next to the spice drawer rollout. Narrow pullout cabinets on either side of the cooktop for spices and oils. The pantry rollout by the double oven rotates 90 degrees. Other Updates Staircase – We updated the staircase with a barn wood newel post and matte black balusters Fireplace – We whitewashed the fireplace and added a barn wood mantel and pilasters.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

Transitional Green Serenity Kitchen

CairnsCraft Design & Remodel

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Black & White Kitchen with Accents of Gold

Amazing Spaces

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

The Elevated Cottage

Kelsey Leigh Design Co.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Oklahoma City with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Modern Living in Downtown Birmingham

Stalburg Design

Today's pantries are functional and gorgeous! Our custom pantry creates ample space for every day appliances to be kept out of sight, with easy access to bins and storage containers. Undercounter LED lighting allows for easy night-time use as well.

Weston Kitchen and Dining Remodel

Mint Development Group

That waterfall counter! Oversize kitchen island features gorgeous Calacatta Gold engineered quarts backsplash and counters. White and blue cabinets with gold hardware, stainless steel appliances, and midcentury modern touches.

Sherwood Eclectic Farmhouse

Northland Design & Build

This is an example of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands and white benchtop.

All about Sophistication & Textures

GJ Morgan Kitchens

Muse Photography
Large contemporary galley kitchen in Newcastle - Maitland with quartz benchtops, stone slab splashback, concrete floors, with island, an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Concealed Butler's Pantry

Taylor Made Cabinets, Leominster MA

This Butler's Pantry Cabinet & Door was made to look like the adjacent Pantry!
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Transitional with a Twist Kitchen

Robinwood Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Open and Airy Highland House

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, white benchtop, quartz benchtops, shaker cabinets, grey splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances and no island.

Kitchen with Stainless Steel Benchtops and Quartz Benchtops 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!