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  1. Kitchen
  2. Layout: U-shape

World-Inspired U-shaped Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Japanese Modern ADU- Tiny House for a Designer
Japanese Modern ADU- Tiny House for a Designer
SBaird DesignSBaird Design
Design ideas for a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Portland with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, no island, grey floors and brown worktops.
Zen Kitchen-Island Style
Zen Kitchen-Island Style
MCYIA Interior Architecture and DesignMCYIA Interior Architecture and Design
The wide cook top counter also doubles as a buffet line. The custom environmentally friendly bamboo cabinets have pull out shelves for ease of use. {Photo Credit: Andy Mattheson}
Essence of Japan, Ealing, London
Essence of Japan, Ealing, London
Yoko Kloeden DesignYoko Kloeden Design
Small world-inspired u-shaped enclosed kitchen in London with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, beige splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, porcelain flooring, no island, grey floors and beige worktops.
Kailua Kona Estate
Kailua Kona Estate
Roy Lambrecht Woodworking, Inc.Roy Lambrecht Woodworking, Inc.
Inspiration for a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Hawaii with a submerged sink, louvered cabinets, medium wood cabinets, an island, beige floors and grey worktops.
Island Chic
Island Chic
Willman Interiors / Gina Willman, ASIDWillman Interiors / Gina Willman, ASID
Photo of a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Hawaii with a submerged sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island, beige floors and grey worktops.
Orchid
Orchid
Blackband DesignBlackband Design
Interior Design: Blackband Design Build: Patterson Custom Homes Architecture: Andrade Architects Photography: Ryan Garvin
Large world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Orange County with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, brown worktops and beige splashback.
Las Palmas
Las Palmas
Holehouse Construction CompanyHolehouse Construction Company
Design ideas for a large world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Santa Barbara with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, green splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain flooring, an island and beige floors.
Halo Bay Retreat
Halo Bay Retreat
Stephanie Brown Inc.Stephanie Brown Inc.
Photography by Living Maui Media
This is an example of a large world-inspired u-shaped open plan kitchen in Hawaii with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, blue splashback, glass tiled splashback, integrated appliances, limestone flooring and an island.
Tansu - Asian Fusion
Tansu - Asian Fusion
Kitchen & Bath Concepts of PittsburghKitchen & Bath Concepts of Pittsburgh
Simone and Associates
Photo of a small world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Other with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, green splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, an island and wood worktops.
HGTV Smart Home 2013
HGTV Smart Home 2013
Glenn Layton HomesGlenn Layton Homes
HGTV Smart Home 2013 by Glenn Layton Homes, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Inspiration for an expansive world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Jacksonville with white cabinets, granite worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, a submerged sink, recessed-panel cabinets, glass tiled splashback, light hardwood flooring and an island.
Kona Renewal
Kona Renewal
Fine Design Interiors, Inc.Fine Design Interiors, Inc.
Ian Lindsey
Design ideas for a large world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Hawaii with flat-panel cabinets, an island, brown floors, a built-in sink, dark wood cabinets, granite worktops, white splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood flooring.
Mid-Century Asian
Mid-Century Asian
Richard Landon DesignRichard Landon Design
Because the refrigerator greeted guests, we softened its appearance by surrounding it with perforated stainless steel as door panels. They, in turn, flowed naturally off the hand-cast glass with a yarn-like texture. The textures continue into the backsplash with the 1"-square mosaic tile. The copper drops are randomly distributed throughout it, just slightly more concentrated behind the cooktop. The Thermador hood pulls out when in use. The crown molding was milled to follow the angle of the sloped ceiling. Roger Turk, Northlight Photography
Tropical Home
Tropical Home
Tervola DesignsTervola Designs
Photo of a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Hawaii with dark wood cabinets.
Asian Modern Kitchen and Dining
Asian Modern Kitchen and Dining
Alina Druga InteriorsAlina Druga Interiors
Eric Rorer
Inspiration for a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in San Francisco with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo flooring, brown floors and white worktops.
Spice Bay Custom Home
Spice Bay Custom Home
Nautilus HomesNautilus Homes
A custom designed and constructed 3,800 sf AC home designed to maximize outdoor livability, with architectural cues from the British west indies style architecture.
Tiny Tea House
Tiny Tea House
Oregon Cottage CompanyOregon Cottage Company
Photo of a world-inspired u-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with a built-in sink, wood worktops, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring and no island.
Traditional Bungalow In Kozhikode / Calicut
Traditional Bungalow In Kozhikode / Calicut
Mrigank Sharma PhotographyMrigank Sharma Photography
Inspiration for a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Other with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, beige splashback, no island, beige floors and white worktops.
Stone Slab Kitchens - Kaua'i
Stone Slab Kitchens - Kaua'i
Signature Homes KauaiSignature Homes Kauai
Contemporary kitchen with stone counter and wall features. Precisely balanced layout with stone flooring.
This is an example of a medium sized world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Hawaii with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite worktops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic flooring, an island, brown floors, beige splashback and beige worktops.
Peet Kitchen & Flooring Remodel
Peet Kitchen & Flooring Remodel
UserUser
Newly remodeled kitchen done at our home design center from a-z, designed and remodeled. photo cred: Bianca Duffield
Design ideas for a large world-inspired u-shaped kitchen/diner in Miami with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite worktops, blue splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and dark hardwood flooring.
259 Red Cedar Miramar Beach, FL
259 Red Cedar Miramar Beach, FL
Emerald Coast Real Estate PhotographyEmerald Coast Real Estate Photography
©Erin Parker, Emerald Coast Real Estate Photography, LLC
Design ideas for a world-inspired u-shaped kitchen in Miami with raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, beige splashback and stainless steel appliances.

World-Inspired U-shaped Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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

What kind of world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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 Moroccan style 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 world-inspired 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 world-inspired 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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