Welcome to our site where you will find architecturally desirable U-shaped kitchens. Fun fact, U-shape kitchens are the second most popular kitchen layout in the United States. They are functional and provide ample storage space. Whether you’re a pro-chef or just love to cook, these kitchen designs will inspire you.
Be sure to scroll through our curated interior photos so you can read all about the details of each design. We hope to inspire and ignite creativity on your design journey.
1. Classic Black & White Kitchen
Black lower cabinets combined with white uppers, create a classic U-shaped kitchen design. Gorgeous black framed windows divide the left and right side of kitchen and a glass pendant hangs over the apron front sink. Beautiful herringbone floors contrast well off of the lower cabinets. White marble countertops and brass hardware are the perfect accents to complete this design.
2. Transitional Light & Airy Kitchen
The island pendants are a show stopper in this light and airy U-shaped kitchen. What cabinets dominate with picture frame moulding and brass hardware. Marble countertops and rich wood floors add an elegant touch. The large center island is functional with room for three modern counter-stools and additional storage.
3. Modern Organic Kitchen
This narrow U-shaped kitchen might appear small on space, but has plenty of storage. Quartz white countertops pair well against the walnut finished cabinetry and white ceiling. A beige tile floor contrasts against the walnut wood and small recessed lights in ceiling and under-mount provides proper lighting throughout.
4. Elegant Shaker Kitchen
Elegance and sophistication are key in this U-shaped kitchen. White shaker cabinets are paired with traditional brass hardware and Calcutta marble countertops. Glass and brass lantern style pendants hang from the ceiling and a gorgeous custom range hood in black with brass trim hangs over a matching stove. Glossy ceramic subway tiles adorn the backsplash and woven roman shades cover the window.
- Source: elledecor.com
5. Laid-Back Modern Kitchen
This U-shaped modern kitchen blends natural materials and two-tone cabinets to create a laid-back cool aesthetic. The left side of kitchen has solid oak cabinetry and the center and right side features black uppers and lower cabinets. A mix of brass and black hardware pairs well with the leather and wood counter stools. The herringbone wood floor adds texture to the already layered kitchen.
6. Contemporary Minimal Kitchen
High-gloss upper cabinets and faux dark wood lowers combine to create this contemporary minimal kitchen design. The range hood has a unique stripe design that is simple but cool. Under-mount lighting and a glass pendant hanging over the sink, provides ambient light throughout. The large window that opens to the outside patio also provides natural light to brighten up the space.
7. Cozy Eclectic Kitchen
This cozy and charming U-shaped kitchen has butcher-block countertops paired with light gray shaker cabinets. Wide cabinet drawers are placed at in the middle to create the illusion that the kitchen is larger. An eclectic gallery wall is showcased on the back wall instead of upper cabinets, which is an unusual design choice in a smaller kitchen. Penny tile backsplash on the walls and multi-pendant light options above the sink and flanking the gallery wall.
- Source: folkwayco.com
8. Classic Traditional Kitchen
A large and classic styled U-shaped kitchen features hardwood floors and white shaker cabinets. Black bullnose countertops contrasts nicely against the white cabinets and ceiling. Recessed lights and pendant lighting hangs above the center island. French windows above the sink area allows tons of natural light to stream in and brighten this beautiful space.
9. Sophisticated White Kitchen
This sophisticated U-shaped kitchen is bright and functional. The white shaker cabinets are elegantly paired with satin silver hardware and faucet for the sink area. A large silver cage pendant light hangs over the square island and two adjustable stools sit at the end for in kitchen eating. Gorgeous gray vein marble countertops are paired with large subway tiled backsplash. The moulding around the ceiling of room adds depth and height to the design and the dark wood floors contrast nice against the bright light color tones.
10. French Country-Inspired Kitchen
Large U-shaped French country style kitchen features a large center island with a smooth marble countertop. White shaker cabinets are paired with black countertops along the wall of kitchen area. Silver dome pendant lights hang above the island and carved white and woven stools placed at the end for eating at island. There is plenty of recessed ceiling lights to create a functional work space along with the under-mount lighting on cabinets.
11. White & Brass Modern Kitchen
I love all the brass accents in this light and bright modern U-shaped kitchen. White and brass dome pendants hang above the island along with brass base stools. The cabinets are done in shaker style and paired with white quartz countertops and subway tile backsplash. A herringbone pattern runner is placed on the light wood floors, and a semi-sheer roman shade adorns the window over the sink.
12. Mediterranean Influenced Kitchen
This spacious Mediterranean style U-shaped kitchen, features a large center island with gold-vein marble countertops on rich wood cabinets and upholstered backless stools. The remaining part of the kitchen has white shaker cabinetry and brown countertops with brown subway tile backsplash. Small pendant lights hang above the island and recessed lighting adorns the outside portion of ceiling.
13. Old World-Inspired Classic Kitchen
This beautifully design kitchen has an old-world style using rich textures and finishes. The dark wood island pairs with marble countertops and woven small-back counter stools. Vintage pendant lights hang above the island for task lighting. White shaker cabinets adorn remain part of kitchen with an apron front sink and subway tile backsplash. The corner showcases two small floating shelves to display some cookbooks and tableware and framed art hangs on the wall to left of window with a brass picture light above.
14. Coastal Two-Tone Kitchen
This two-tone color U-shaped kitchen has an airy coastal feel. Blue base island is paired with white countertops and natural wood and metal stools. The remaining part of kitchen features white inset shaker cabinets with silver hardware and subway tile for backsplash. Two black cage lantern pendants hang above the island and that appears to be the only lighting I can see in this space.
15. Craftsman Style Kitchen
This gorgeous Craftsman style U-shaped kitchen has lots of natural elements in the design. I love the terrazzo tile floors and green tiled backsplash, it really compliments the rich teak wood cabinets. Floating wood shelves are featured in place of upper cabinets and display their collection of dishes and bowls. Black light sconces hang above the large window and woven pendant lights hang above the peninsula island.
Source: houzz.com
16. Mid-Century Modern Kitchen
This mid-century modern style U-shaped kitchen features a functional and cozy dining nook. The nook features a custom blue cushion paired with an orange top table and white pendant light hanging above. The main part of kitchen features rich maple cabinets and quartz countertops with small white dome pendants hanging over the narrow island. Tons of light streams in through the multiple windows throughout which creates a bright and cheerful design.
- Source: Kentfield Re
17. Contemporary Minimalist Kitchen
This modern minimalist U-shaped kitchen has a moody vibe with soft overhead lighting and no recessed lights in ceiling. White plain-front cabinets with no hardware provides ample and hidden storage of all kitchen appliances and accessories except for the dual ovens. Instead of an island, there is a dining table and chairs placed in the center of kitchen where guests can gather while you cook.
- Designed by: Dot Partners
18. Classic Open-Shelf Kitchen
Open shelving and modern cabinets, are the main style in this classic U-shaped kitchen. Gray-vein marble backsplash is installed behind the range stove and along the wall, while black countertops cover remaining cabinets. Floating shelves flank the range hood wall to display glass and pottery collections. A large peninsula island features blue counter stools, for a pop of color, and you can sit and converse with the cook as they prepare the meal.
- Designed by: JGB Custom Homes
19. Elegant Craftsman Kitchen
This spacious U-shaped kitchen has some craftsman touches in the moulding and lighting choices. The kitchen features white shaker cabinets with marble countertops and a tray ceiling that creates depth. The large center island is painted a lovely taupe color paired with black cone pendants that hang above and there are adjustable wood stools for an eat-in kitchen.
- Source: Zillow Digs
20. Modern Industrial-Inspired Kitchen
This modern-industrial U-shaped kitchen is spacious and has ample storage which is great for entertaining guests. A massive industrial sized fridge is featured across the entire south wall of the kitchen. There is a long island with plenty of seating for guests and a metal hanging shelf is placed over the island to display glasses. Large windows adorn the opposite side of fridge which brings in tons of light to create a bright space for cooking.
- Source: Trulia
21. Palm Springs Inspired Kitchen
This cool modern kitchen looks like it belongs in a home in Palm Springs with it’s nod to mid-centurydesign. The U-shaped kitchen is functional featuring a large island with metal counter stools for an eat-in kitchen. Rich wood cabinets throughout with solid white countertops and a shed style roof creates cool dimensions in the design.
- Source: Zillow Digs
22. Vintage Inspired Kitchen
This vintage inspired U-shaped kitchen has lovely and unique details throughout. Butcher block countertops adorn the black narrow island which also boasts a hanging pot rack and sink. Brass hardware compliments the black cabinetry through the rest of the kitchen cabinets and an apron front sink adds to that classic charm. A stunning brass range hood hovers over the antique stove. Some open shelving flanking the right side of stove brings in a natural elements along with the woven roman shade on the sink window.
Source:Zillow Digs
23. Artsy Black & White Kitchen
You almost feel like you are part of an art exhibit looking at this modern U-shaped kitchen. Black and white stripes are dominant throughout the design, paired with marble flooring and white plain-front cabinets. A black and white marble island is center in the room which provides additional space to prepare meals.
About U-Shape Kitchens
The U shape kitchen is the second most popular kitchen according to our survey, accounting for 36% of respondents. U shape kitchens can work in either small or large space and tend to be heavy on appliances and amenities, which can leave them feeling a bit cluttered. Generally, U-shaped kitchens provide lots of storage and work surface and they are functional with through traffic.
The Kitchen Corner
The U-shape kitchen can become a light-trap if you’re not careful with your lighting conditions, which is why artificial lighting is typically the way to go. The material of the countertop and cabinets can change the dynamic of a U shape kitchen entirely, but either way, you’ll typically be working facing away from the rest of the house, so you may as well have your workspace to be well lit.
U shape kitchens vary drastically in the amount of free counter space that they have to work with. Sometimes a few appliances can cut down a seemingly endless amount of space into a clutter once cooking gets going.
The position of the sink and the position of the range are areas where U shape kitchens can meet their downfall. The sink doesn’t necessarily need to be centrally located and may do more harm than good if it is. If the range is in the very center of the U, does that make prep work harder? These are the questions that should run through the mind of every U shape kitchen aspirant.
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