Great Kitchen Ideas

Varying finishes give the kitchen and dining room character. “It’s like a math problem: You start with one thing and play off that,” homeowner Dana Marron says. A dark green La Cornue stove contrasts with light, modern oak cabinets; shiny metal chairs offset the rustic chipped-paint dining table. “The irony of having white floors is that you worry less about them. Scratches don’t matter, because that’s the character you’re going for in the end,” adds Marron.

Instead of replacing the unremarkable wood kitchen cabinets, the couple painted them charcoal and added black hardware. By painting the wall and window trim the same color, they put the focus on the floor tile. Moreover, deep charcoal acts as a neutral. Both warm and cool tones pair well with it. Smoked Glass RLUL225; ralphlaurenhome.com

The hexagonal tile makes the room. Two shades of gray relate the tile to the wall color. The blues add shock value. Hexagon 8 tiles in Original Blue, from about $20/sq. ft.; kismettile.com

Designed and built by the family, this vacation home was customized down to every detail. The kitchen features open shelving, so dishware serves as art. “You don’t end up having a lot of stuff just hidden away,” says homeowner Chad Robertson. “All the things you use on a daily basis are right there. And with so many of us running around, nothing can be too precious.”

This modern cabin is full of natural materials and expanses of glass. The kitchen walls slide aside to access the 450-square-foot deck that includes a barbecue station, effectively doubling the room’s square footage. The ipe flooring flows from indoor to out, creating a cohesive look between the spaces. The refrigerator and pantry doors almost disappear into the walls.

Though it has a similar foot­print to the prior kitchen (“low 8-foot ceilings, red cabinets, dismal,” Beall says), the new walk-through space feels bigger thanks to higher ceilings, glass-front cabinets, floating shelves, a pull-out pantry, and bright white surfaces. The recessed energy-efficient LED lights in the kitchen and family room certainly help as well.

But not everything is new –The butcher block counters were salvaged from the former kitchen.

One of the first things you notice about this San Francisco kitchen is the open space and clear countertops. While this family designated their home a technology-free space, the design and function of the kitchen certianly doesn’t suffer. Modern lines and electricity are present in the kitchen, the family opted for simple household products like manual appliances, stove-top coffee, and basic electronic appliances without an LED interface.

Oversize windows and skylights invite in the sunshine. Walls are painted a light-bouncing white, while white ceramic subway tiles brighten the kitchen and baths.

For contrast, the wooden floors are stained in a custom mix of ebony and dark walnut shades; the high-gloss polyurethane top coat reflects even more light.