Stainless Steel Appliance in White Contemporary U-Shaped Kitchen

While open-concept kitchens seem to be all the rage, these days. This kitchen proves that you can have a U-shaped kitchen that is also modern, functional, and beautiful. This kitchen doesn’t have a large footprint, but the combination of material choice and use of space help make it a great place to cook and entertain in. The cabinets are a white painted shaker, classic and clean, and while the maple elements on the island and window frames and the blue tile add some interest without overwhelming the space. The white built-out range hood and maple open shelving also help to make the upper level of cabinets seem light and easy on the eyes. The large maple-wrapped beam separating the kitchen from the living room perfectly ties the kitchen into the rest of the living space. Some of the functional elements that help bring this space together are the cabinet accessories and the island with built-in storage. One of the issues with U-shaped kitchens is that the layout often creates two blind corner base cabinets which usually become black pits for kitchen items to get lost in. By installing a magic corner in one and a lazy susan in the other, we were able to maximize this kitchen’s functionality. Other features, like a built-in trash pullout and integrate LED lights throughout, help make this kitchen the perfect blend of form and function.

Kitchen

Bosanac Builders

Los Altos Asian Modern

Cathie Hong Interiors

Isle of Wight Holiday Home

Imperfect Interiors

We added tongue and groove cladding to the ceiling, a built in window seat, chik blinds and wall lights to the kitchen diner extension of the Isle of Wight project

Rift White Oak Cabinetry in Kitchen with Grey Countertops

MAK Design + Build Inc.

Nocona Barndominium

First Choice Custom Builders

Rustic finishes on this custom barndo kitchen. Rustic beams, faux finish cabinets and concrete floors.

Lakehouse Project - British Columbia

ZWADA home

Interior Design : ZWADA home Interiors & Design Architectural Design : Bronson Design Builder: Kellton Contracting Ltd. Photography: Paul Grdina

The tall 10’ high wall of storage in carbon gray super matte lacquer (BONDI line) provides a strong contrast to the white glossy lower units, ample household, and pantry storage, as well as hosting the fridge and oven appliances. Unique patterned corner open shelved unit on the left profile for presentation space and add lightne3ss tot he massive floor-to-ceiling volume.

Mid Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Well Appointed Interiors

Poplar - Modern MCM

Melinamade - Residential Design + Interiors

The kitchen that opens to a small family and dining room in a Mid Century modern home built by a student of Eichler. This Eichler inspired home was completely renovated and restored to meet current structural, electrical, and energy efficiency codes as it was in serious disrepair when purchased as well as numerous and various design elements being inconsistent with the original architectural intent of the house from subsequent remodels.

Long Beach Cottage

EL Design Studio

Generationenhaus Oberland

Küchenwerkstatt wohnen & leben

Cheshire Luxury Victorian house

Diane Berry Kitchens

Executive Kitchen Re-do - Countertops, Appliances, Paint, Tile

The Remodel Place

Kitchen facelift with new countertops, paint, tile backsplash, appliances, etc.

Pool side ADU construction in Studio City

Metropolis Drafting and Construction Inc

An ADU that will be mostly used as a pool house. Large French doors with a good-sized awning window to act as a serving point from the interior kitchenette to the pool side. A slick modern concrete floor finish interior is ready to withstand the heavy traffic of kids playing and dragging in water from the pool. Vaulted ceilings with whitewashed cross beams provide a sensation of space. An oversized shower with a good size vanity will make sure any guest staying over will be able to enjoy a comfort of a 5-star hotel.

Council Street

VMD Interiors

Fallen Leaf Rd, South Lake Tahoe, California

K. Donavan

Henrietta Residence

9x30 Design, Architecture

Thyme & Place Design Take on Modern Farmhouse

Thyme & Place Design LLC

A large framed pantry closet uses French doors to lighten the open feel of the kitchen

Kitchen with Grey Floor and Vaulted 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!