Design by Lauren Levant, Photography by Bob Narod, for Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath 2013 Kitchen + Bath Business Kitchen of the Year, Third Place
Eat-in kitchen - traditional u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in DC Metro with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash and stone tile backsplash

Fremont

Heidi Caillier Design

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized farmhouse u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and quartzite countertops

Large Walk-In Kitchen Pantry with Custom Baking Racks in Royersford, PA

Victory Closets

Large walk-in kitchen pantry with rounded corner shelves in 2 far corners. Installed to replace existing builder-grade wire shelving. Custom baking rack for pans. Wall-mounted system with extended height panels and custom trim work for floor-mount look. Open shelving with spacing designed around accommodating client's clear labeled storage bins and other serving items and cookware.

Garden Song Drive Kitchen, Hooksett

Granite State Cabinetry

Example of a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Boston with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Triple T: Timeless, Tailored & Traditional

Kelsey Leigh Design Co.

Elegant u-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen photo in Oklahoma City with light wood cabinets, gray backsplash, an island and white countertops

Kitchen (34), Harleysville, PA

Danken Corp.

Example of a large transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Philadelphia with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Shoal Creek Addition

Jameson Design Group

By moving the exterior wall to the patio out two feet, we were able to create an open kitchen/dining/living space in perfect proportion for this mid-century style home. This extra space allowed us to transform the existing galley kitchen into a U-shape with a peninsula bar. The blue base cabinets pack a punch of color, while the white uppers and backsplash create a light and airy space that looks bigger than the actual square footage.

Transitional Kitchen Renovation with Island

Sea Pointe Design & Remodel

This kitchen island serves as a storage space, dining seating, as well as a station to prepare meals and bring the family together for inclusive interactions.

Wild Dunes

Jill Frey Kitchen Design

William Quarles
Example of a mid-sized classic u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Charleston with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, stone slab backsplash, an island, quartzite countertops and recessed-panel cabinets

Parkview

Warmington & North

Custom cabinetry by Warmington & North Architect: Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Photography: Haris Kenjar
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped kitchen pantry remodel in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops and white backsplash

Hermitage

User

Vibra Stainless Steel Countertop and Backsplash with Integral Stainless Steel Sink by FourSeasons MetalWorks. Kitchen Design and Cabinets by Hermitage Kitchen Design Gallery in Nashville, TN

New York Residence

User

Sheila Bridges Design, Inc
Enclosed kitchen - small transitional u-shaped enclosed kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, no island and turquoise cabinets

Rosenwald House

Flavin Architects

This remodel of a mid century gem is located in the town of Lincoln, MA a hot bed of modernist homes inspired by Gropius’ own house built nearby in the 1940’s. By the time the house was built, modernism had evolved from the Gropius era, to incorporate the rural vibe of Lincoln with spectacular exposed wooden beams and deep overhangs. The design rejects the traditional New England house with its enclosing wall and inward posture. The low pitched roofs, open floor plan, and large windows openings connect the house to nature to make the most of its rural setting. Photo by: Nat Rae Photography

Kitchen Design - Piedmont, CA

Story & Space Interior Design

Example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

San Benito Designer Kitchen Remodel

W. B. Jordan, Inc.

Example of a transitional u-shaped dark wood floor kitchen design in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops and porcelain backsplash

Valerio Residence

Hayley Bridges Design

Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Santa Barbara with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Kitchen

ODS Architecture

Open kitchen has great views to the beautiful back yard through new Fleetwood aluminum windows and doors. The large glass door at left fully pockets into the wall. Cabinets are a combination of natural walnut and lacquer painted uppers with Caesarstone countertops and backsplashes. Duda bar stools by Sossego in walnut neatly fit into the new island. To reduce costs the new kitchen was designed around the owners existing appliances.

West Cambridge Renovation

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Sean Litchfield Photography Backsplash Tile: "Calcutta Ashlar 3x6" in a polished finish from Tile Showcase Countertops: Soapstone Island: Carrara Marble

French Chateau Kitchen with antique island, Skylights, Wood Millwork Refrigerato

MILLER + MILLER Architectural Photography

French Chateau Kitchen with antique island, Skylights, Wood Millwork Hidden Refrigerator, La Cornue Stove and Coffered Ceiling. Miller + Miller Architectural Photography

rift cut walnut Kitchen cabinets

Thomas Development

Custom walnut cabinetry and floating shelves. Jenn Air JJW2830WS double convection oven EPCO aluminum drawer pulls, Quartz countertops from ONE Quartz SIMPLY WHITE NQ76. Minimal backsplash with simple a 1" quartz curb. Flooring is European oak in a UV oil finish by Amazon wood flooring - Modani series

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 291,808 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Granite State Cabinetry and Heidi Caillier Design. 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.