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  1. Kitchen
  2. Layout: U-shape

Contemporary U-shaped Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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White Shaker Kitchen with Contrasting Dark Gray Island in Gaithersburg, MD
White Shaker Kitchen with Contrasting Dark Gray Island in Gaithersburg, MD
Kitchen SaverKitchen Saver
The simple shaker cabinets are the perfect backdrop for the striking mixed tile backsplash and contemporary hardware. Flat matte dark gray painted cabinets on the island balance the shiny rough cut granite top. Bright white cabinets and a dark gray island blend beautifully with the gray tile floor and walls.
Modern Classic in Denver
Modern Classic in Denver
Laura Medicus InteriorsLaura Medicus Interiors
This home was built in the early 2000’s. We completely reconfigured the kitchen, updated the breakfast room, added a bar to the living room, updated a powder room, a staircase and several fireplaces. Interior Styling by Kristy Oatman. Photographs by Jordan Katz. FEATURED IN Colorado Nest
Wild Rose - Aliso
Wild Rose - Aliso
Well Done Building & DesignWell Done Building & Design
Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, engineered quartz splashback, integrated appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
Red Bud
Red Bud
Soledad Builders, LLCSoledad Builders, LLC
Sleek MCM kitchen with walnut cabinets and gorgeous white Quartzite countertops.
Photo of a medium sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain flooring, an island, white floors and white worktops.
Project Simpson | Kitchen Renovation
Project Simpson | Kitchen Renovation
Inhabitat InteriorsInhabitat Interiors
New Kitchen Layout, removed corner pantry, flipped fridge & bench to avoid fridge blocking flow, inbuilt microwave area, stainless steel appliances, shaker profile joinery, tiled splashback.
Rodeo Road
Rodeo Road
Feng Xiao ArchitectFeng Xiao Architect
Contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, integrated appliances, an island, beige floors and multicoloured worktops.
ALLEE DES NOISETIER
ALLEE DES NOISETIER
Nadia USAI InterieursNadia USAI Interieurs
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Paris with laminate countertops.
Macapa Drive
Macapa Drive
LOPEZ ARCHITECTS AIALOPEZ ARCHITECTS AIA
Medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Los Angeles with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl flooring, an island, grey floors and white worktops.
Streeterville Residence
Streeterville Residence
Phillip Harrison InteriorsPhillip Harrison Interiors
Large contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Chicago with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
Contemporain Cuisine
Contemporain Cuisine
Photo of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Marseille with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
Rutt Cabinetry - Bold Styled Kitchen - Drury Design
Rutt Cabinetry - Bold Styled Kitchen - Drury Design
Rutt Quality CabinetryRutt Quality Cabinetry
"This beautiful design started with a clean open slate and lots of design opportunities. The homeowner was looking for a large oversized spacious kitchen designed for easy meal prep for multiple cooks and room for entertaining a large oversized family. The architect’s plans had a single island with large windows on both main walls. The one window overlooked the unattractive side of a neighbor’s house while the other was not large enough to see the beautiful large back yard. The kitchen entry location made the mudroom extremely small and left only a few design options for the kitchen layout. The almost 14’ high ceilings also gave lots of opportunities for a unique design, but care had to be taken to still make the space feel warm and cozy. After drawing four design options, one was chosen that relocated the entry from the mudroom, making the mudroom a lot more accessible. A prep island across from the range and an entertaining island were included. The entertaining island included a beverage refrigerator for guests to congregate around and to help them stay out of the kitchen work areas. The small island appeared to be floating on legs and incorporates a sink and single dishwasher drawer for easy clean up of pots and pans. The end result was a stunning spacious room for this large extended family to enjoy." - Drury Design Features cabinetry from Rutt
Okura
Okura
LaBella Kitchens Ltd.LaBella Kitchens Ltd.
Photo of a small contemporary u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Auckland with a single-bowl sink, beaded cabinets, black cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood flooring, no island, brown floors, multicoloured worktops and a timber clad ceiling.
Floor to Ceiling Maple Book Matched Cabinets in White Quartz Kitchen
Floor to Ceiling Maple Book Matched Cabinets in White Quartz Kitchen
MAK Design + Build Inc.MAK Design + Build Inc.
This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Sacramento with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement flooring, an island, grey floors, white worktops and exposed beams.
Apartment in Dnipro
Apartment in Dnipro
DezestDezest
Expansive contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Other with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, integrated appliances, a breakfast bar, grey floors and white worktops.
"O.A.R" Contemporary
"O.A.R" Contemporary
Brownhouse Design, Los Altos, CABrownhouse Design, Los Altos, CA
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, beige floors and white worktops.
Birdseye Contemporary Maple Kitchen
Birdseye Contemporary Maple Kitchen
Kitchens & Baths UnlimitedKitchens & Baths Unlimited
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Chicago with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, yellow floors and white worktops.
Wellborn Cabinet 2020
Wellborn Cabinet 2020
Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.
Door Style: Amelia Finish: Aqua
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Birmingham with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
Küche
Küche
Heerwagen Design ConsultingHeerwagen Design Consulting
Küche
Medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Munich with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, porcelain flooring, a breakfast bar, beige floors and white worktops.
Appartement / Caroline
Appartement / Caroline
DahDah studio / Architecture d'intérieurDahDah studio / Architecture d'intérieur
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Strasbourg with an integrated sink, white cabinets, composite countertops, white splashback, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring and white worktops.
Contemporary Flare
Contemporary Flare
Ispiri Design-BuildIspiri Design-Build
Design ideas for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, a breakfast bar, grey floors and multicoloured worktops.

Contemporary U-shaped Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful contemporary kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of contemporary kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of contemporary photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of contemporary kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own contemporary kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your contemporary kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small contemporary kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some contemporary kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What contemporary kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your contemporary kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small contemporary spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and contemporary kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and contemporary accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of contemporary kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your contemporary kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

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