L-Shaped Kitchen with Sage Green Cabinets

Both the counter and the backsplash are terrazzo, the white base scattered with black chips. Running the same material up the wall and across the top makes the work zone look like one continuous surface rather than a counter with a separate splash. The speckle is practical too, since it hides crumbs and the odd stain far better than a plain white stone. It pairs cleanly with the green cabinets without adding another strong colour.

The cooking wall has a black gas hob under a matching chimney, with glass-front cabinets on either side. The tall run holds a built-in oven at eye level and a large side-by-side refrigerator beside it. There is a double-bowl sink with a brass tap set under the window. Placing the oven in the tall unit saves bending, and keeping the fridge in the same run leaves the main counter clear for prep.

It follows an L-shape, turning around one corner. The hob and chimney sit on the main wall, and the sink runs under the window on the return, so washing up comes with a view and some daylight. A separate tall bank of units along another wall takes the oven, pantry storage and fridge. An L-plan like this keeps the cook within a short move of hob, sink and fridge without a walkway cutting through the middle.

Light works on two levels here. Recessed downlights in the ceiling cover the floor and walkway, while a strip of under-cabinet lighting throws a clean light straight onto the counter where the work happens. The window over the sink brings in daylight and a green outdoor view. Lighting the worktop from under the wall units matters in a kitchen, because overhead lights alone leave your own shadow on the chopping board.

The look carries down easily. You can keep the two-tone green and white on a single straight run if there is no room to turn a corner, and drop the tall bank to one pantry unit with the fridge alongside. Terrazzo and handleless fronts work at any size. The part to protect is the worktop between hob and sink, since a cramped kitchen struggles most when there is nowhere to set things down while cooking.

They keep a clean, flat look, but they do ask for a little routine. Matte green shows fingerprints and grease near the hob, so it wants a regular wipe with a soft cloth. The handleless grooves that replace knobs collect grime over time and need cleaning out now and then. Most people find the tidy face worth it, though a busy cooking family that wipes down daily will keep it looking its best.

The cabinetry and the stone lead the budget. A full set of tall units, wall cabinets and base cabinets is a lot of carpentry, and terrazzo across the counter and backsplash adds to it. The built-in oven, chimney and side-by-side fridge are the next big items. You can bring the figure down by shortening the tall run or choosing a simpler backsplash, so it helps to price the joinery, the stone and the appliances separately before deciding.