This is an example of a small eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback and porcelain floors.

Craftsman Kitchen

Small arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors, no island and recycled glass benchtops.

20th Ave Kitchen

SunHouse Designs

Diane Moorhouse
Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Vancouver with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and a peninsula.

Scituate Kitchen

'g' Green Design Center

Rich Texture of Stone Backsplash Sets the Tone for a Kitchen of Color and Character - We created this transitional style kitchen for a client who loves color and texture. When she came to ‘g’ she had already chosen to use the large stone wall behind her stove and selected her appliances, which were all high end and therefore guided us in the direction of creating a real cooks kitchen. The two tiered island plays a major roll in the design since the client also had the Charisma Blue Vetrazzo already selected. This tops the top tier of the island and helped us to establish a color palette throughout. Other important features include the appliance garage and the pantry, as well as bar area. The hand scraped bamboo floors also reflect the highly textured approach to this family gathering place as they extend to adjacent rooms. Dan Cutrona Photography

Contemporary White Kitchen

BGI Design

An airy and light feeling inhabits this kitchen from the white walls to the white cabinets to the bamboo countertop and to the contemporary glass pendant lighting. Glass subway tile serves as the backsplash with an accent of organic leaf shaped glass tile over the cooktop. The island is a two part system that has one stationary piece closes to the window shown here and a movable piece running parallel to the dining room on the left. The movable piece may be moved around for different uses or a breakfast table can take its place instead. LED lighting is placed under the cabinets at the toe kick for a night light effect. White leather counter stools are housed under the island for convenient seating. Michael Hunter Photography

Dual Trash and Vetrazzo Details

Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC

Trash and recyclables are managed here in an out of site heavy duty pull out rack. The lovely Vetrazzo Recycled counter features shells and glass in shades of blue, teal and aqua. Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC

Warm Modern - Upper Northwest DC

Amicus Green Building Center

Credit: Amicus Green Building Center Cabinets: Birdseye Maple with no added formaldehyde, no VOCs, Greenguard for Schools certified
This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, cork floors and no island.

Curava Savaii

Galaxy Stone Works, Inc.

Photo of a modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, recycled glass benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula.

Charming, Inviting and Sustainable - Los Gatos Kitchen & Bath Remodel

Urbana Design Studio

This charming kitchen includes sustainable bamboo cabinetry, Eurostone Countertops, and recycled glass tile from Oceanside tile. Photo by Paul Schraub Photography

Conroe Lake House Kitchen

Duckworth Interiors

Design ideas for a large beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Houston with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, multiple islands and multi-coloured benchtop.

Seattle Green Custom Home

H2D Architecture + Design

Light and airy dining room and kitchen open to the outdoor space beyond. A large sliding Nanawall and window system give the homeowner the capability to open the entire wall to enjoy the connection to the outdoors. The kitchen features recycled, locally sourced glass content countertops and contemporary maple cabinetry. Green design - new custom home in Seattle by H2D Architecture + Design. Built by Thomas Jacobson Construction. Photos by Sean Balko, Filmworks Studio

Green Living - Los Gatos Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel

Shannon Demma

Beautiful kitchen remodel that includes bamboo cabinets, recycled glass countertops, recycled glass tile backsplash, and many wonderful amenities for organizing.

Kitchen view from deck

Thomas Jacobson Construction, Inc

Featured on the Northwest Eco Building Guild Tour, this sustainably-built modern four bedroom home features decks on all levels, seamlessly extending the living space to the outdoors. The green roof adds visual interest, while increasing the insulating value, and help achieve the site’s storm water retention requirements. Sean Balko Photography

Scituate Kitchen

'g' Green Design Center

Textured Stone Backsplash - We created this transitional style kitchen for a client who loves color and texture. When she came to ‘g’ she had already chosen to use the large stone wall behind her stove and selected her appliances, which were all high end and therefore guided us in the direction of creating a real cooks kitchen. The two tiered island plays a major roll in the design since the client also had the Charisma Blue Vetrazzo already selected. This tops the top tier of the island and helped us to establish a color palette throughout. Other important features include the appliance garage and the pantry, as well as bar area. The hand scraped bamboo floors also reflect the highly textured approach to this family gathering place as they extend to adjacent rooms. Dan Cutrona Photography

Coral + Jade Kitchen Remodel

Howells Architecture + Design

This renovation was inspired by the owner's love of color, and by the 1940s vintage of the cottage--specifically, the colors of classic American dishware of that era, such as Fiesta and Jadeite. In the new space, handmade coral tile and green cabinets provide a splash of tropical color to help counteract the gray Pacific Northwest climate outside. A fresh green tile fireplace surround unifies the living and dining spaces. Photos: Anna M Campbell

Project 3414-1 Ericsson Neighborhood South Minneapolis Kitchen + Bath Remodel

Castle Building & Remodeling

This 1907 home in the Ericsson neighborhood of South Minneapolis needed some love. A tiny, nearly unfunctional kitchen and leaking bathroom were ready for updates. The homeowners wanted to embrace their heritage, and also have a simple and sustainable space for their family to grow. The new spaces meld the home’s traditional elements with Traditional Scandinavian design influences. In the kitchen, a wall was opened to the dining room for natural light to carry between rooms and to create the appearance of space. Traditional Shaker style/flush inset custom white cabinetry with paneled front appliances were designed for a clean aesthetic. Custom recycled glass countertops, white subway tile, Kohler sink and faucet, beadboard ceilings, and refinished existing hardwood floors complete the kitchen after all new electrical and plumbing. In the bathroom, we were limited by space! After discussing the homeowners’ use of space, the decision was made to eliminate the existing tub for a new walk-in shower. By installing a curbless shower drain, floating sink and shelving, and wall-hung toilet; Castle was able to maximize floor space! White cabinetry, Kohler fixtures, and custom recycled glass countertops were carried upstairs to connect to the main floor remodel. White and black porcelain hex floors, marble accents, and oversized white tile on the walls perfect the space for a clean and minimal look, without losing its traditional roots! We love the black accents in the bathroom, including black edge on the shower niche and pops of black hex on the floors. Tour this project in person, September 28 – 29, during the 2019 Castle Home Tour!

Charming, Inviting and Sustainable - Los Gatos Kitchen & Bath Remodel

Urbana Design Studio

This charming kitchen remodel was designed to create a beautiful, functional and efficient space. We used sustainable bamboo cabinetry, Eurostone Countertops, recycled glass tile from Oceanside tile. Photo by Paul Schraub Photography

Concrete Recycled Counter

Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC

Recycled glass and concrete counters sparkle in an arched shape on this generous island. Vetrazzo with shades of blue, aqua, teal and green exudes a beachy vibe. There are shell shards and sandy flecks... all the ingredients for sparkling seashore splendor. The perimeter counters are natural granite in a polished finish. Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC

West 190th St.

KBR Design & Build

Kitchen Remodel in Upper Manhattan. Blue tiled floor and light wood cabinets with recycled glass counter tops. KBR Design & Build
Small mediterranean u-shaped separate kitchen in New York with raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, recycled glass benchtops, porcelain floors and an undermount sink.

Green House Kitchen

Intertwine House Plans

This is an example of a mid-sized beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, turquoise cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

U-shaped Kitchen with Recycled Glass 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!