Sophisticated, Not Stark
An Asian influence gives this kitchen its personality and informs its materials choices. Recycled glass mosaic tiles, grid-back stools, and cabinets faced with alder veneer show this is no cookie-cutter design scheme, despite the popular granite countertop and stainless-steel appliances .
A Playful Palette
Sleek lines and neutral wood tones clear the way for fruit-basket shades of yellow, orange, and green in this kitchen's fun and functional decor . Mismatched chairs surround a lowered surface ideal for snacks or homework. Modern white pendants keep the mood -- and atmosphere -- bright.
Show Your Stuff
Collections of pottery and teapots find a home in this kitchen's open shelves and glass-door, ceiling-height hutch. Favorite items are close at hand but don't disturb the serene tones of wood, steel, and stone. Factory-style light fixtures create conversation-starter illumination.
Sunny Outlook
A clever window/backsplash (with a Zen garden view) makes this a pleasant place to cook in the daytime. Soft yellow cabinet fronts and display shelves extend the welcome after dark. Gleaming stainless steel -- an iconic material in most contemporary kitchens -- reflects light anytime.
Out of the Blue
A surprising blue stain softens the simple lines of some cabinets in this eclectic kitchen . Frosted-glass pass-through panels are framed in wood tones like those in the floor and curving island. Retro seating and funky lighting add more character.
Family-Friendly Design
Clean-lined but comfortable, this kitchen contains a balance of wood and metal, warm and cool. Guests seated at the island and matching dark-stained dining table can visit with the cook or watch the wall-mount TV. Upholstered dining chairs encourage relaxed entertaining. Sculptural objects line the stark white countertops.
Texture Message
Earthy slate tile makes a mottled statement on this kitchen's floor and walls . The flat-front maple cabinets pick up the theme; most wear a natural stain, but a few doors and drawers sport a darker finish.
Open Wide
Once claustrophobic, this Pacific Northwest kitchen now feels fresh and bright, thanks to major surgery. Most wall cabinets were removed, and the new windows are 6 inches taller than the ones they replaced. Aqua paint, a suspended range hood, and a custom zebrawood island with "stiletto heel" legs match the airy design.
In the Woods
A central work table -- not an island -- gives this kitchen a casual, almost nostalgic attitude. To warm up the white walls , the designer created wall panels and an under-soffit "bridge" of wood to match the cabinet finish.
Hello, Yellow
A sunny hue brightens lacquered wall cabinets as well as molded counter stools in this 1960s-inspired kitchen . Warm wood cabinets and bamboo flooring team with the stainless steel of the appliances , drawer pulls, and overhead light panel. A mosaic backsplash ties everything together.
Past Meets Present
Vintage architecture can accommodate modern function. For example, century-old brick provides texture, color , and contrast in a kitchen with otherwise sleek and seamless surfaces. The black granite countertop climbs the wall to become a backsplash and display ledge for the homeowner's art .
Cookie-Jar Chic
Collectible pottery and contemporary furnishings make an unlikely pair in this kitchen -- but it works. Because it's open to other rooms, the space blurs the line between cooking and entertaining. Whimsical industrial-style lighting gives the large island a sense of drama.
Colorful Condo
In a small, open-plan living space, it's even more important that every view be pleasing. Space enhancers here include the glass island top and bamboo flooring laid on the diagonal. The palette pairs neutral gray with planes of butter yellow and tomato red.
Storage with Style
Subway tile, stainless-steel appliances, and a floating glass countertop are staples of contemporary kitchens , but this space adds furniture-style touches for warmth and comfort. The wall of cabinets, the display niches, and the television would look at home in a living room or home office .
Rustic References
A modern kitchen in a mountain cabin? Here's how it's done. To balance its pro-grade appliances and dark wood cabinets, this kitchen plays up its natural setting with refinished pine floors, a spruce-green tile backsplash , and granite countertops, honed for a subdued look.
A Place for Everything
Appliances are major elements in any kitchen , but there are ways to disguise them. Custom cabinet panels are one way to go. Another option is to enclose or frame them with storage units like these. The mix of glass doors, shallow and deep drawers, and a pullout pantry shows careful planning and an efficient use of space.
Case by Case
This floor-to-ceiling display unit merges kitchen equipment with department-store visibility. The vanilla finish is softer than pure white, and the slightly obscure glass hides minor clutter. Stainless-steel bar pulls appear on all of the room's storage pieces.
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