Traditional Galley Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Step into a sanctuary that dissolves the boundaries between indoors and out. With its vaulted ceilings, panoramic windows and beautifully crafted Tom Howley kitchen, this breathtaking extension has unequivocally become the soul of this historic Perthshire home. Clever storage solutions like the slim pantry and bi-fold drinks bar offer stylish storage and easy access to everyday items as well as your favourite beverages. The large kitchen island allows guests to relax and socialise while the host serves up delicious food. The vaulted ceiling provides a dramatic effect, while the large glass doors at either end of the space flood the room with natural light, making this kitchen the perfect place to relax at any time of day.

Canynge Square Shaker Kitchen

Irving sykes kitchens and fine furniture

Design ideas for a traditional galley kitchen in Other with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and beige worktops.

The Orangery Kitchen

Alison Henry Design Studio

Classic
Design ideas for a large traditional galley kitchen in London with a submerged sink, white cabinets, marble splashback, integrated appliances, white worktops, recessed-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, dark hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.

Topiary - Kitchen and island overview with oak bench.

Thomas Ford & Sons

Design ideas for a large classic galley open plan kitchen in Surrey with a belfast sink, beaded cabinets, green cabinets, marble worktops, brick splashback, black appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, grey worktops, a vaulted ceiling and a feature wall.

Extension in Holmer Green

AG ARCHITECTURE STUDIO

Traditional galley kitchen in Buckinghamshire with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback, black appliances, a breakfast bar, grey floors and white worktops.

Sophisticated Black Bespoke Shaker Kitchen

John Lewis of Hungerford

Bespoke Black Cabinetry complimented with the deep white worktop and Buster &Punch handles. Large island with built in appliances and finished in the fluted cladding.

Grade II listed Islington Georgian Townhouse

Emilie Fournet Interiors

Basement Georgian kitchen with black limestone, yellow shaker cabinets and open and freestanding kitchen island. War and cherry marble, midcentury accents, leading onto a dining room.

West Drive, Porthcawl

Dennis Hellyar Architects

West Drive, Poprthcawl - Kitchen
Photo of a traditional galley kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island and white worktops.

Bourne Manor

Snug Kitchens

Inspiration for a large traditional grey and white galley open plan kitchen in Hampshire with a built-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, beige floors, white worktops and feature lighting.

Clapham Ground Floor Flat

Click London

Design ideas for a medium sized classic galley kitchen/diner in London with a built-in sink, beige splashback, an island, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, engineered stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, beige floors and white worktops.

Bespoke Furniture - Kitchen & Bedroom

ENVIRO Furniture

Superb shaker style kitchen designed around usability and functionality. This kitchen not only looks awesome but it is perfect for how this family cooks and socialise.

Ashbury Road

Todi and Boys

Photo of a large traditional galley open plan kitchen in London with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, white worktops, a vaulted ceiling and feature lighting.

My Project

Hamilford Design

Design ideas for a traditional galley kitchen with a submerged sink, green cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island, grey floors and white worktops.

Fulham Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

The kitchen diner of our Fulham Family Home was painted in Paint & Paper Library Capuchin which felt light & elegant, and we added contrast & texture with a granite worktop, pale green & inky blue Shaker kitchen & an oak herringbone parquet floor. A semi sheer curtain helped to prevent glare and added privacy, while the jute rug, upholstered dining chairs & bronze hardware added warmth.

Kensal Rise Painted Shaker Kitchen

Higham Furniture

We completed this dramatic Kensal Rise project in collaboration with Trevor Brown Architects, the firm responsible for refurbishing and extending our client’s home. The interior was designed with a view to creating a classic yet contemporary space for entertaining. A large roof light extending over the side return, and stylish crittall doors flood the room with natural light. This bright space is the perfect match for Little Greene’s striking, almost black, Obsidian Green hue. From the seating area to the internal doors, the statement monochrome palette brings a luxurious modern edge to our painted shaker furniture.

Crawthew Grove

Plus Rooms

Photo of a traditional galley kitchen/diner in London with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, wood worktops, brown splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and brown worktops.

Stainforth Road

Studio Milne

Photo of a large traditional grey and black galley kitchen/diner in London with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz worktops, grey splashback, granite splashback, black appliances, vinyl flooring, an island, brown floors, grey worktops and feature lighting.

New Kitchen, Classic Style by Mowlem & Co

Mowlem & Co

Has the new year brought a desire - or indeed a pressing need - for a new kitchen? Do you want all the mod cons of ingenious design and hi-tech functionality, but with timelessly classic looks and traditional craftsmanship? Then a bespoke kitchen from Mowlem &Co is your answer!

Dandelion

Unique Homestays

Design ideas for a medium sized traditional galley enclosed kitchen in Gloucestershire with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel worktops, coloured appliances and a breakfast bar.

Project 47

The Main Company

Wine cooler tucked away in the island
Design ideas for a medium sized classic galley kitchen/diner in London with blue cabinets, composite countertops, brown splashback, brick splashback, integrated appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, white worktops, a belfast sink and beaded cabinets.

Traditional Galley Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful traditional kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of traditional 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 classic photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of traditional 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 classic 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 classic 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 traditional kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your classic 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 traditional 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 classic 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 elegant 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 traditional 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 classic 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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