Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Burrawang, Southern Highlands

Lime Building Group

Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Wollongong with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Lurline Bay House I Part 2

D'Cruz Design Group

Photo of a large contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Calle Del Cerrito

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Spanish Revival Kitchen Renovation
Large mediterranean u-shaped separate kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

When Three Become One

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Photo 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.

Acrylic and Brass at Island with Brass Legs

Boss Design Center

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, beige floor, white benchtop and with island.

Martis Camp Lot 640

Kelly & Stone Architects

Roger Wade Studio
Design ideas for a country u-shaped kitchen in Sacramento with an undermount sink, granite benchtops, grey splashback, limestone splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, shaker cabinets and grey cabinets.

Seamless

Sandra Bird Designs, Inc.

Design ideas for a country u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback and panelled appliances.

Carolina Design Associates, LLC

Design ideas for a traditional u-shaped kitchen in Charlotte with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige splashback and panelled appliances.

Pleasant Valley

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Perimeter cabinets are Sherwin Williams Wool Skein and island is Sherwin Williams Topsail, both with a custom glaze. Bar pendants and lantern are Visual Comfort.

Modern & Natural White Oak Kitchen with Full Height Back Splash

Chervin Kitchen & Bath Inc.

In this modern cottage kitchen, sophistication meets rustic charm with white oak cabinets and a quartzite full-height backsplash. The natural beauty of the quartzite, with its unique veining and texture, adds a touch of elegance to the space. Paired with the clean lines of the white oak cabinets, the kitchen exudes a timeless appeal. The full-height backsplash not only provides a stunning focal point but also offers practical benefits, protecting the walls and making cleaning a breeze. Together, these elements create a space that is both stylish and functional, blending seamlessly into the cottage aesthetic while adding a touch of contemporary luxury.

Warwick Village Renovation

WINN Design+Build

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Cooking Alcove

Great Rooms Building Group

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and white splashback.

Provo Charm

Hebdon Studios

Traditional meets modern in this charming two story tudor home. A spacious floor plan with an emphasis on natural light allows for incredible views from inside the home.

Custom Kitchen Range Hoods

Bauer Metal

Design ideas for a country u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

1300 Rodeo Rd., Arcadia, CA

Mur-Sol Builders Inc

Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

Swedish Modern

Aidan Design

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Acrylic and Brass at Island with Brass Legs

Boss Design Center

Three CB2 Brass vapor Counter Stools sit beneath a white marble countertop accenting a light gray island finished with brass legs and a sink with a polished nickel gooseneck faucet lit by two glass and brass hand blown light pendants. Beside a doorway, a refrigerator is camouflaged behind light gray wood panel doors accented with brushed brass handles and positioned next to stacked light gray shaker cabinets. Steel framed picture windows are partially framed by a white and gray marble slab backsplash and flank a white range hood fixed over a Wolf range.

Redmond Residence

Michelle Dirkse Interior Design

Photo of a mid-sized modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Hanover

Isler Homes

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, terra-cotta floors and with island.

U-shaped Kitchen with Panelled Appliances 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!