Photography by Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen remodel in New York with marble countertops, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, paneled appliances, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash and an island

Classic White Kitchen

House of L

In the design stages many details were incorporated in this classic kitchen to give it dimension since the surround cabinets, counters and backsplash were white. Polished nickel plumbing, hardware and custom grilles on feature cabinets along with the island pendants add shine, while finer details such as inset doors, furniture kicks on non-working areas and lofty crown details add a layering effect in the millwork. Surround counters as well as 3" x 6" backsplash tile are Calacutta Gold stone, while island counter surface is walnut. Conveniences include a 60" Wolf range, a 36" Subzero refrigerator and freezer and two farmhouse sinks by Kallista. The kitchen also boasts two dishwashers (one in the island and one to the right of the sink cabinet under the window) and a coffee bar area with a built-in Miele. Photo by Pete Maric.

Kitchen Pantry

Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Kitchen Storage Pantry in Bay Area European Style Cabinetry made in our artisanal cabinet shop with a wonderful Hafele Gourmet Pantry for kitchen storage.

Palmetto Bluff - Private Residence

Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

This lovely home sits in one of the most pristine and preserved places in the country - Palmetto Bluff, in Bluffton, SC. The natural beauty and richness of this area create an exceptional place to call home or to visit. The house lies along the river and fits in perfectly with its surroundings. 4,000 square feet - four bedrooms, four and one-half baths All photos taken by Rachael Boling Photography

Kitchen

Old World Kitchens & Custom Cabinets

Cabinetry: Old World Kitchens (oldworldkitchens.com) Photography: Bob Young (bobyoungphoto.com)
Kitchen - transitional u-shaped kitchen idea in Vancouver with stainless steel appliances, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash and white countertops

Rancho Santa Fe, California

Intimate Living Interiors

Brevin Blach
Kitchen - mediterranean u-shaped kitchen idea in San Diego with white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash and white countertops

Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc

Jennifer Brouwer (Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc)

Custom kitchen cabinetry with integrated hood. Island with bench seats. This project is 5+ years old. Most items shown are custom (eg. millwork, upholstered furniture, drapery). Most goods are no longer available. Benjamin Moore paint.

Gabriel Builders

Gabriel Builders Inc.

Beautiful Kitchen overlooks pool and cabana in back yard. Custom cabinets, granite tops, and state of the art appliances fill the room.
Example of a large classic u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design in Other with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash, travertine backsplash and an island

A kitchen for entertaining

neillerner

The island incorporates a wine storage unit, microwave and a combination of shallow and full-depth units, with an overhang at the end to serve as a breakfast bar

Concord Farm

Battle Associates, Architects

This project was a complete kitchen remodel of a 1980’s kitchen that maintained the current floor plan while redefining the relationship between the kitchen and family room. The cabinetry includes high glass cupboards to house special curios and allows for an easy, elegant transition into the contiguous family room. Surfaces such as the soap stone counter surrounding the farm sink and the wooden dining bar, were selected to accommodate the preferences of an active cook.

Wide Open Spaces

Design Harmony

Cory Holland
Transitional u-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen pantry photo in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, brick backsplash and no island

Carolina Design Associates, LLC

Example of a classic u-shaped kitchen design in Charlotte with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige backsplash and paneled appliances

Thurman Street

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

photo: www.shawnstpeter.com
Example of an ornate u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design in Portland with a farmhouse sink, green cabinets, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, ceramic backsplash and an island

Paton Terrace Kitchen

Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

D&M Images
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped kitchen remodel in Other with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash and matchstick tile backsplash

Seamless

Sandra Bird Designs, Inc.

Cottage u-shaped kitchen photo in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Urban Farmhouse Kitchen

Lisa Gabrielson Design

Suburban kitchen remodel for a crisp urban farmhouse look. Photo: Lauren Rubinstein
Example of a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen design in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops

Grey Classic Kitchen

Standard Tile

Chris Veith
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Harbor Point

Renaissance Design Studio

Photo courtesy of Murray Homes, Inc. Kitchen ~ custom cabinetry by Brookhaven Designer: Missi Bart
Mid-sized elegant u-shaped light wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen photo in Tampa with glass-front cabinets, an undermount sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

Shades of Gray

SV Design

This once modest beach cottage was slowly transformed over the years into a grand estate on one of the North Shore's best beaches. Siemasko + Verbridge designed a modest addition while reworking the entire floor plan to meet the needs of a large family. Photo Credit: Michael Rixon

New Look for An Exclusive Coastal Residence

GDC Construction

The wood used in the cabinets throughout the kitchen was distressed to match the reclaimed stone and marble.
Example of a large tuscan u-shaped travertine floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, distressed cabinets, paneled appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white backsplash, marble backsplash, marble countertops and an island

U-Shaped Kitchen Ideas

U-shaped kitchens are ideal for large homes or simply for home cooks who like lots of counter space. This type of kitchen layout consists of three adjacent segments that form a wrap-around shape, but can vary widely in shape and size. While you browse our extensive collection of photos below, consider the following U-shaped kitchen ideas and how you might incorporate them into your home.

U-Shaped Kitchen Layout Ideas

There are a number of ways you can approach a U-shaped kitchen layout, and the best solution will depend on the size of your home and how you’ll use the space. Typically, a U-shaped kitchen will have some sort of work triangle, in which your oven and stovetop are on one side, your sink and dishwasher on another side and your refrigerator on yet another side. If you’re taking on a remodel, think about the layout that will make the most sense while cooking. For example, you don’t want to have to walk a long ways from a prep zone to the stove.

In terms of dimensions, there are countless possible variations on the U-shape. You can have short tails and a long mid-section, and the tails needn’t be the same size. Especially if you’re looking for U-shaped kitchen ideas for a small space, you could install a short peninsula in an L-shaped kitchen for just a bit of extra counter space. If you have a galley kitchen that connects to a wall, you can turn it into a U-shape by installing an appliance or countertop on one side. Putting your oven or refrigerator between the two counters is a smart choice to optimize your prep space.

On the other hand, if you’ve got a large U-shaped kitchen, make use of the extra space by putting an island in the center of it. You may even be able to add bar stool seating around the island for casual eating and entertaining. If you’d like to keep the kitchen as a cooking-only zone, you can also add seating to a peninsula countertop that doesn’t back up to a wall.

U-Shaped Kitchen Design Ideas

In a U-shaped kitchen, lighting is important to keep the space feeling open and inviting. If you’re remodeling and you have the option, try to position a large window on the middle wall of the kitchen to let the light in. You can also install a bold pendant light in the middle of the space for a striking focal point. In general, U-shaped kitchens are prone to feeling cramped or overbearing, so you’ll want to find ways to lead the eye through the space. Open-shelving can actually work very well in a U-shaped kitchen to make the space feel lighter.

With all of the counter space in a U-shaped kitchen, you might also consider segmenting different sections for particular tasks. You could install butcher block on one side of the kitchen for a prep station, cool marble for a baking zone and granite or tile elsewhere. And you might even have room to install a wine fridge or a second oven within your wrap-around cabinet space.

Whether you want inspiration for planning an u-shaped kitchen renovation or are building a designer kitchen from scratch, Houzz has 293,744 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home and Old World Kitchens & Custom Cabinets. Look through kitchen pictures in different colors and styles and when you find an u-shaped kitchen design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful u-shaped kitchen photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.