Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation - Abbotsford

Using all available space for storage is key, allowing the design not only to look stunning, but also functional.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, orange splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances and black benchtop.

A perfect retreat in Houston, Texas

By Design Interiors, Inc.

This Kitchen was renovated into an open concept space with a large island and custom cabinets - that provide ample storage including a wine fridge and coffee station. The details in this space reflect the client's fun personalities! With a punch of blue on the island, that coordinates with the patterned tile above the range. The funky bar stools are as comfortable as they are fabulous. Lastly, the mini fan cools off the space while industrial pendants illuminate the island seating. Maintenance was also at the forefront of this design when specifying quartz counter-tops, porcelain flooring, ceramic backsplash, and granite composite sinks. These all contribute to easy living. Builder: Wamhoff Design Build Photographer: Daniel Angulo

Labarre Residence

Acadia Craft

Photo Credits: JOHN GRANEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Design ideas for a mid-sized country u-shaped kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, grey floor, white benchtop, white splashback, a peninsula, quartz benchtops, subway tile splashback and porcelain floors.

Saint Paul Craftsman

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: Karen Melvin
This is an example of an arts and crafts u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Cape Cod

Smith Brothers

White kitchen with stainless steel appliances and handcrafted kitchen island in the middle. The dark wood floors are a wonderful contrast to the white cabinets. This home is located in Del Mar, California and was built in 2008 by Smith Brothers. Additional Credits: Architect: Richard Bokal Interior Designer: Doug Dolezal Additional Credits: Architect: Richard Bokal Interior Designer Doug Dolezal

Music Barn

Birdseye Design

Design ideas for a country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and shaker cabinets.

Fabulous and Functional

Renovisions

This client requested that we design her new kitchen space to look and function with her and her family’s usage in mind. She was not happy with her existing kitchen due to builder-grade ceramic flooring, lack of countertop space, poor lighting, inadequate and unorganized storage and the closed off feel of the area. Renovisions resolved all of these issues by designing and building an impressive, transitional styled kitchen; delivering a beautifully well thought-out space that provides a multi-functional approach and meets the needs of this busy and dynamic household. Typically, we encounter challenges in every project, and this was no different. The upstairs bathroom plumbing ran across the entire length of the kitchen sink wall and it was necessary to work with it by moving the plumbing as far up as possible and then building a soffit to hide it. Creating a space that has a more open feel was top of mind for our client. Installing a new wood floor that matched the existing dining room floor helped with this and in addition, warmed up the room. By relocating the refrigerator to the opposite wall and adding a bar area at the end toward the family room, the flow of traffic for family members and guests became more managed. The open floor plan allowed for additional island cabinets to accommodate smart storage and better functionality when prepping meals, sitting to eat or gathering with friends and family. We believe having ample countertop surface space is a critical improvement in any renovation and this particular project now boasts a large countertop area with a stunning wide vein pattern that accentuates the design instead of overpowering it. The soft look of the Blanco Arabescato quartz enhances the space and looks lovely with the white inset styled cabinetry. Beauty and function go hand-in-hand in this kitchen with several exceptional elements such as under-cabinet lighting with dimmers to control the mood light. Glass doors were added to the wall cabinets which flank the wine rack for displaying their decorative glassware and a beverage cooler below provided added convenience and access to cold beverages. The GE Café line of appliances in ‘Slate’ and ‘Stainless Steel’ finishes are a stunning contrast here. The sensational looking decorative marble 6”x6” backsplash tile over the gas range and in the bar area creates nice focal points by creating a unique look for her that family and guests love. Convenient and functional elements were added such as a blind corner pull-out for easier pot/pan storage, a sweep-o-vac under cabinet vacuum system for those constant quick clean-ups, a pull-out caddy under the sink base for storage of cleaning products and a protective mat to collect potential spills. Our client let us know it was time for a change and we listened. She shared a few pictures she loved from a home magazine, we shared our insight and then designed/built the kitchen of her dreams! … A fabulous and functional space.

Vaycay

Kehoe Wilson Design LLC

Michael Hunter
This is an example of a large mediterranean u-shaped open plan kitchen in Houston with open cabinets, green cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island, red floor, an undermount sink and tile benchtops.

Schuster - Farmhouse

Round Top Home Builders

Design ideas for a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Geddes Ravine Residence

Beechwood Building & Design

Contemporary styling and a large, welcoming island insure that this kitchen will be the place to be for many family gatherings and nights of entertaining. Jeff Garland Photogrpahy

Kitchen Remodel Upper St. Clair

Evalia Design, LLC.

It's all about the details...with the custom edge shown on Calacutta Quartzite! Check out our website's gallery to see the rest of this project and others! Third Shift Photography

Whole Home Remodel for Wheelchair Bound Veteran

Accessibility by Design, Inc.

Rev-a-shelf pantry insert in a remodeled kitchen.
Photo of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in New Orleans with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and brown floor.

White Shaker Contemporary Kitchen

TaylorPro Design and Remodeling, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen pantry in Tampa with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and no island.

Michigan Residence

Hamilton Snowber Architects

David Reeve Architectural Photography; This vacation home is located within a narrow lot which extends from the street to the lake shore. Taking advantage of the lot's depth, the design consists of a main house and an accesory building to answer the programmatic needs of a family of four. The modest, yet open and connected living spaces are oriented towards the water. Since the main house sits towards the water, a street entry sequence is created via a covered porch and pergola. A private yard is created between the buildings, sheltered from both the street and lake. A covered lakeside porch provides shaded waterfront views.

Rustic Charmer

Kitchen Choreography

Jason Hulet Photography
Large country u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, red splashback, with island, a farmhouse sink, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors and travertine splashback.

When Three Become One

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
This is an example of an expansive transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and blue benchtop.

Lilydale Kitchen & Pantry 2

The Kitchen Design Centre

Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Branbury Drive Designed by Janis Manacsa

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

Photography by Treve Johnson Photography
Large contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, no island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Scandinavian Style Kitchen

Focus Kitchens & Bathrooms

Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, a peninsula, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Interior Chalmersgatan, Gothenburg

papac media AB

© Christian Johansson / papac
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian u-shaped separate kitchen in Gothenburg with a drop-in sink, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and no island.

Orange U-shaped Kitchen 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!