This is an example 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.

Norfolk Shaker

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, linoleum floors, a peninsula and grey floor.

Norfolk Shaker

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

Warm brick red on Pender Island

Innovative Modern Design

Warm.Elegant.Inviting. Brick red with white and glass upper cabinets. Here's what our customer has to say about their new kitchen: "Santi and Patricia recently completed our kitchen make-over. The cupboards look fabulous. Well made, terrific attention to detail. Both were very helpful in design and colour advice which was all part of the package. We didn't have to worry about anything and our marriage remained intact. We would recommend IMDesign without hesitation, great product, great people." (Crossley/McKeating, Pender Island, BC)

Horseshoe Trail

Isler Homes

The expanded portion of this home includes the kitchen, family room and master bedroom with raised ceiling. all the existing doorways and openings were also raised and enlarged. The kitchen countertops are SeaPearl Quartzite with an Interceramic brand Interglass backsplash. Faucet by Grohe. Hardware by Haefele, Refrigerator by Subzero, Range by Wolf, Dishwasher by Bosch. Cabinet paint color Sherwin Williams

Modern Meets Casual - Addition & Remodel - Buffet

Urbana Design Studio

Cherry cabinetry mixed with painted Farrow & Ball Cabinetry in the Blue Ground Color
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and no island.

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!

Charleston Crafted James Island

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

pbrickman
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Charleston with shaker cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, a single-bowl sink, white cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and subway tile splashback.

Cardiff Family Kitchen

LJS Design Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized tropical u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors and with island.

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

Old Naples Renovation

Dirk Anderson Design

This is an example of a large beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Kitchen

Fratantoni Luxury Estates Design/Build/Remodeling

We definitely approve of this custom kitchen's wood ceiling, exposed beams, granite countertops and natural stone flooring.
Inspiration for a large mediterranean u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine floors and with island.

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, backsplash 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

Melrose Cottage

Trudel & Co. Interior Design

Matheson Rittenhouse
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Montreal with an undermount sink, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Melrose Cottage

Trudel & Co. Interior Design

Matheson Rittenhouse
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Montreal with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Deborah & Jacob's Kitchen

Bay to Bay Design Center, LLC

This is an example of a large mediterranean u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Tampa with an undermount sink, louvered cabinets, brown cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island and orange floor.

Kitchen

TRAD Design + Build

Photography by Daniel O'Connor Photography www.danieloconnorphoto.com
This is an example of a mid-sized u-shaped separate kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Jed & Renee's Kitchen - Right-hand Side

Matter Design & Make Pty Ltd

Jed and Renee had been living in their first home together for a little over one year until the arrival of their first born child. They had been putting up with their 1990’s era kitchen but quickly realised it wasn’t up to scratch with the new demands for space and functionality that a child brings. Jed and Renee’s old kitchen was dark and imposing, lacked bench space and wasted space with inaccessible cupboards on all walls. After experimenting with a few layouts in our CAD program, our solution was to dedicate one wall for tall and deep storage, then on the adjacent and opposite walls create a long wrap-around bench with base level storage below. The bench intersects a dividing wall with an archway into the dining room, nabbing more precious surface space while ensuring the dining walkway is not hindered by rounding off the end corner. Smart storage such as a Kessebohmer pull-out pantry unit, blind corner baskets and a slide-out appliance shelf accessed by a lift-up door make the most of every nook of this kitchen. Top cupboards housing the rangehood also intersect the kitchen’s dividing wall and continue as open display shelving in the dining room for extra storage and visual balance. Simple black ‘D’ handles are a stylish, functional and affordable hardware choice, as is the grey Bettastone benchtop made from recycled glass. Jed and Renee loved the colour and grain of Blackbutt timber but realised that too much timber could be overbearing as it was in their old kitchen. Our solution was to create a mix of hand-painted light green doors to break up and provide contrast against the Blackbutt veneer panels. The result is a light and airy kitchen that opens up the room and invites you inward.

Schuler Cabinetry: Sugar Creek Maple Harbor Mist Sheer

User

Remodel utilizes an undermount farmhouse sink (Kraus) with a pull down faucet (Giagni) available at Lowe's
Inspiration for a small transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Charlotte with no island, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink and porcelain floors.

Norfolk Shaker

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, linoleum floors, a peninsula and grey floor.

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!