Types of Kitchen Layout (with Pictures) | eHow

One-Wall and Galley Kitchens

One-wall kitchens just like they sound: All the appliances, cabinets, sink and countertop align on one wall. This kitchen arrangement is typical in apartments, small homes or houses with open floor plans that incorporate a dining and living room in one space. A variation of the one-wall design incorporates two walls -- the galley kitchen. The galley kitchen includes a wall of cabinets, stove, countertop and sink opposite the wall that contains more cabinets, the refrigerator and more counter space, depending on the design. At one end of a galley kitchen sits the dining room, often with a mudroom or laundry room at its opposite end.

The L-Shaped Kitchen

The L-shaped kitchen offers an alternative to the one-wall kitchen plan by adding a slight leg that juts out into the room a bit or is added to the corner where two walls join. The countertop space, sink and cabinetry fill both walls with appliances placed according to the work triangle. L-shaped kitchens can have an island that runs parallel to one of the walls to make a larger work and food prep area.

U- and G-Shaped Kitchen Layouts

U-Shaped kitchens typically have a countertop, sink, dishwasher and cabinets situated at the bottom of the U-shape, with countertops, cabinets and appliances on either side that run parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base. The G-shaped kitchen presents a slight deviation of the U-shape kitchen with a countertop area that extends from one side of the legs. The countertop usually includes a work area on one side and a breakfast bar on the other.