Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and no island.

Frazier Peters Remodel

Titus Built, LLC

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

M.K in Pelham

RAJ Kitchen and Bath, LLC

This space had the potential for greatness but was stuck in the 1980's era. We were able to transform and re-design this kitchen that now enables it to be called not just a "dream Kitchen", but also holds the award for "Best Kitchen in Westchester for 2016 by Westchester Home Magazine". Features in the kitchen are as follows: Inset cabinet construction, Maple Wood, Onyx finish, Raised Panel Door, sliding ladder, huge Island with seating, pull out drawers for big pots and baking pans, pullout storage under sink, mini bar, overhead television, builtin microwave in Island, massive stainless steel range and hood, Office area, Quartz counter top.

Seaborne Breeze-Monarch Beach

Jodi Fleming Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, granite benchtops, brick splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor and flat-panel cabinets.

Transitional Grey Kitchen Design in Livingston, NJ

Kuche+Cucina

Transitional Grey Kitchen Design in Belair, Livingston, NJ Grey cabinets, with Statuary white marble counters and backsplash. Ken Lauben
Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Newark with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and white splashback.

Kitchens

WORKS by Jesse DeBenedictis, LLC

Kitchen renovation on Boston's North Shore. Photo: Corey Nickerson
This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, white cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, shaker cabinets and grey floor.

Breaking Beautiful White Kitchen

House of L

A 1927 colonial home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, received a breathtaking renovation that required extensive work, transforming it from a tucked away, utilitarian space, to an all-purpose gathering room, a role that most kitchens embrace in a home today. The scope of work changed over the course of the project, starting more minimalistically and then quickly becoming the main focus of the house's remodeling, resulting in a staircase being relocated and walls being torn down to create an inviting focal point to the home where family and friends could connect. The focus of the functionality was to allow for multiple prep areas with the inclusion of two islands and sinks, two eating areas (one for impromptu snacking and small meals of younger family members and friends on island no. two and a built-in bench seat for everyday meals in the immediate family). The kitchen was equipped with all Subzero and Wolf appliances, including a 48" range top with a 12" griddle, two double ovens, a 42" built-in side by side refrigerator and freezer, a microwave drawer on island no. one and a beverage center and icemaker in island no. two. The aesthetic feeling embraces the architectural feel of the home while adding a modern sensibility with the revamped layout and graphic elements that tie the color palette of whites, chocolate and charcoal. The cabinets were custom made and outfitted with beaded inset doors with a Shaker panel frame and finished in Benjamin Moore's OC-17 White Dove, a soft white that allowed for the kitchen to feel warm while still maintaining its brightness. Accents of walnut were added to create a sense of warmth, including a custom premium grade walnut countertop on island no. one from Brooks Custom and a TV cabinet with a doggie feeding station beneath. Bringing the cabinet line to the 8'6" ceiling height helps the room feel taller and bold light fixtures at the islands and eating area add detail to an otherwise simpler ceiling detail. The 1 1/4" countertops feature Calacatta Gold Marble with an ogee edge detail. Special touches on the interiors include secret storage panels, an appliance garage, breadbox, pull-out drawers behind the cabinet doors and all soft-close hinges and drawer glides. A kneading area was made as a part of island no. one for the homeowners' love of baking, complete with a stone top allowing for dough to stay cool. Baskets beneath store kitchen essentials that need air circulation. The room adjacent to the kitchen was converted to a hearth room (from a formal dining room) to extend the kitchen's living space and allow for a natural spillover for family and guests to spill into. Jason Miller, Pixelate

Luxury London Kitchen

User

Modern mix of natural wood and laminate finish for kitchen diner. Appliances include wall mounted angled extractor and built-in ovens.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in London with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Warm Contemporary

Glen Alspaugh Kitchens and Baths

Alise O'Brien Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in St Louis with with island, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, medium hardwood floors and green splashback.

RedHouse

Misiaszek Turpin pllc

The 800 square-foot guest cottage is located on the footprint of a slightly smaller original cottage that was built three generations ago. With a failing structural system, the existing cottage had a very low sloping roof, did not provide for a lot of natural light and was not energy efficient. Utilizing high performing windows, doors and insulation, a total transformation of the structure occurred. A combination of clapboard and shingle siding, with standout touches of modern elegance, welcomes guests to their cozy retreat. The cottage consists of the main living area, a small galley style kitchen, master bedroom, bathroom and sleeping loft above. The loft construction was a timber frame system utilizing recycled timbers from the Balsams Resort in northern New Hampshire. The stones for the front steps and hearth of the fireplace came from the existing cottage’s granite chimney. Stylistically, the design is a mix of both a “Cottage” style of architecture with some clean and simple “Tech” style features, such as the air-craft cable and metal railing system. The color red was used as a highlight feature, accentuated on the shed dormer window exterior frames, the vintage looking range, the sliding doors and other interior elements. Photographer: John Hession

Custom Transitional Kitchen - St. Charles, IL

Drury Design

In order to create a balanced feel to the room, a coffee station sits between a 27” Subzero paneled refrigerator on the one side and a 27” Subzero paneled freezer on the other. For additional cold storage, integrated refrigerator drawers were installed in the base cabinet below this coffee station to hold an assortment of beverages. The white inset cabinetry continues into a mud-room area complete with cubbies and lockers for each member of the family. A GE spacesaver stainless microwave was installed in the island and a 36” six-burner Wolfe range was added to this top-of-the-line appliance list allowing for a professional experience while cooking in this kitchen.

Kitchens

Morningstar Stone & Tile

Photo of a traditional u-shaped kitchen in Portland Maine with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, dark hardwood floors, with island and marble splashback.

Dexter Residence

Stuart Sampley Architect

Casey Dunn
Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Mt. Tabor Kitchen

Celeste Lewis Architecture

Sally Painter
This is an example of an arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Harvard/Yale

The Fox Group

Transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Salt Lake City with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances and marble benchtops.

American Tudor

Donald Lococo Architects

Traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops and white splashback.

Modern Country Kitchen

Mark Williams Design

Erica George Dines
This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, with island, marble benchtops and ceramic floors.

Corona Del Mar Beach Bungalow

By Design

The kitchen is a mix of exquisite detail and simple design solutions. Cabinetry is installed with a 1" shadow line to create the illusion that it is floating beneath the counters. Fully integrated appliance panels add to the minimalist feel of the space and allow the range to be the focal center of the space. Dave Adams Photography

Modern Kitchen

Large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and an undermount sink.

Hoegger Lake House Kitchen

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

This beautiful lake house kitchen design was created by Kim D. Hoegger at Kim Hoegger Home in Rockwell, Texas mixing two-tones of Dura Supreme Cabinetry. Designer Kim Hoegger chose a rustic Knotty Alder wood species with a dark patina stain for the lower base cabinets and kitchen island and contrasted it with a Classic White painted finish for the wall cabinetry above. This unique and eclectic design brings bright light and character to the home. Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure Packet: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Learn more about Kim Hoegger Home at: http://www.houzz.com/pro/kdhoegger/kim-d-hoegger

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!