Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback and ceramic splashback.

Gray and White Kitchen Cabinets with Clay Tile Backsplash

Orren Pickell Building Group

Large gray center island with raised-panel doors topped in 3cm Taj Mahal Quartzite. Backsplash is Transceramica French Clay, 4" x 12", in Automne Glossy.

Silly Little Things

3 Lights Design

The view from the dining room. We looked at several options to make this relatively tight space both functional and spacious. The wife, who is a chef and meticulously organized, had this to say about 3 Lights Design's attention to detail, "I'm so impressed how you heard all the little silly things I was saying and got it into a picture!!!" For us, the "silly little things" are everything. That's how the project's name was born. All photos by Thomas Kuoh Photography.

Country French Magazine

Katie Scott Design

U-shaped separate kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

MACKENZIE FIELDS Kitchen

Eurowood Custom Cabinetry, Inc.

Mid-sized country u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and black benchtop.

San Clemente Pantry

CustomBuilt-ins.com / CFM Company Inc.

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Orange County with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Arts & Crafts Kitchen with Craftsman Door Style

Crown Point Cabinetry

This custom Arts & Crafts Crown Point Cabinetry kitchen and bar area features, Quartersawn White Oak with a Washington Cherry stained finish. The Island and custom Range Hood both feature, Bee’s Wax over Eco Brown stain and Burnished over Maple. The kitchen and bar area cabinetry have a Craftsman style door with Black Walnut pegs, while the island presents an Old Cupboard door style that blends seamlessly. Additionally, the doors and drawers also feature a soft close element. Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry

Craftsman Farm House

Noble Classic Homes

Ariana Miller with ANM Photography. www.anmphoto.com
Large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands and a farmhouse sink.

Worthington, OH Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

NJW Construction

What this Mid-century modern home originally lacked in kitchen appeal it made up for in overall style and unique architectural home appeal. That appeal which reflects back to the turn of the century modernism movement was the driving force for this sleek yet simplistic kitchen design and remodel. Stainless steel aplliances, cabinetry hardware, counter tops and sink/faucet fixtures; removed wall and added peninsula with casual seating; custom cabinetry - horizontal oriented grain with quarter sawn red oak veneer - flat slab - full overlay doors; full height kitchen cabinets; glass tile - installed countertop to ceiling; floating wood shelving; Karli Moore Photography

Skyview

Murray Legge Architecture

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

California Beach Cottage

Maraya Interior Design

Small white painted kitchen in cottage on the beach in California. Natural wood shelves and natural materials with white cabinetry, A small weekend beach resort home for a family of four with two little girls. Remodeled from a funky old house built in the 60's on Oxnard Shores. This little white cottage has the master bedroom, a playroom, guest bedroom and girls' bunk room upstairs, while downstairs there is a 1960s feel family room with an industrial modern style bar for the family's many parties and celebrations. A great room open to the dining area with a zinc dining table and rattan chairs. Fireplace features custom iron doors, and green glass tile surround. New white cabinets and bookshelves flank the real wood burning fire place. Simple clean white cabinetry in the kitchen with x designs on glass cabinet doors and peninsula ends. Durable, beautiful white quartzite counter tops and yes! porcelain planked floors for durability! The girls can run in and out without worrying about the beach sand damage!. White painted planked and beamed ceilings, natural reclaimed woods mixed with rattans and velvets for comfortable, beautiful interiors Project Location: Oxnard, California. Project designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more.

Aspen - Kitchen

David Benners Architecture

Design ideas for a small transitional u-shaped kitchen in Denver with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and turquoise benchtop.

DeMarie-Corona Del Mar

Willard Woodworks, Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, with island, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

NAVAJO

User

Kitchen/Great Room Lance Gerber, Nuvue Interactive, LLC
Design ideas for an expansive midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors and a peninsula.

House, Historic District in Savannah, Ga.

Rena Barclay Interiors

Design ideas for a small transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Oxfordshire with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a peninsula, an undermount sink, white splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Bright California Traditional

MJK Homes, Inc.

Scott Hargis Photo
Inspiration for a country u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island and panelled appliances.

West Cambridge Renovation

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Sean Litchfield Photography Backsplash Tile: "Calcutta Ashlar 3x6" in a polished finish from Tile Showcase Countertops: Soapstone Island: Carrara Marble

Modern White Kitchen Remodel Arnold, MD

Reico Kitchen & Bath

Designed by Reico Kitchen & Bath in Annapolis, MD, this modern kitchen remodel features Executive Cabinets in Super White Paint on the perimeter and Sherwin Williams Web Gray on the island. Countertops feature Cambria in Torquay and Vetrazzo in Palladian Gray. Photos courtesy of BTW Images LLC / www.btwimages.com

Berkeley Kitchen & Bathroom

Levitch Associates, Incorporated

Kitchen with French doors and stacked laundry with hidden door in open position. Photo by Sunny Grewal
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, an undermount sink, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Drawer Feature

Dickinson Cabinetry

Modern, white kitchen with Sierra door style, featuring hidden dovetail drawers for added storage space.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with with island, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

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!