Kitchens Decorating Gallery

A wall dividing the kitchen and breakfast area was removed, uniting the two spaces and making both brighter and more open. The new eating area features an L-shaped banquette, with storage under the benches and room for additional chairs at the table.

Classic lines and materials, an open floor plan, and a light-inviting cathedral ceiling make this hardworking family kitchen graceful yet comfortable. The backsplash evokes country charm with its quiltlike pattern. A range hood was built into the custom cabinet to add character.

Translucent glass panels and slender pulls enhance the sleek maple cabinetry in this high-rise kitchen. Bar stools are positioned under a curved countertop in granite to take full advantage of the condominium's fabulous city view.

This kitchen honors the home's Craftsman style with hardwood floors and matching cabinets. The center island has a hanging upper cabinet to help define this as a separate space from the adjoining family room.

From top to bottom, this kitchen works double duty. Up high, a display shelf with attached stemware rack is a low-cost window treatment. Down low is a light and happy tongue-and-groove floor. Affordable ceramic tiles in brilliant blue and warm terra-cotta provide a simple counterpoint to the crisply painted cabinetry.

A dash of color is a welcome surprise in this kitchen, where the cabinets are offset by soothing aqua walls and cool stainless-steel counters. Maple floors tie this room to the rest of the apartment.

Unlike a modern great-room, the spaces in this breakfast area and sitting room are defined -- yet family and friends feel connected to everything. A two-sided fireplace warms both spaces and serves as a physical separation between the rooms.

The kitchen cabinetry is a freestyle gathering of recycled pieces, blended under and over a stone-look countertop. The salvaged store display case is home to a changing display of china and collectibles. It has been raised on furniture feet to normal counter height.

Near the sink, an angled dishwasher forms a mini peninsula, introducing a welcome diagonal into the long narrow kitchen space. To maintain the granite's visual flow, the homeowners chose a drop-in cooktop rather than a slide-in range.

This family kitchen displays it all: storage, organization, convenience, vintage charm, warmth, and a clean fresh look. The customized architectural details contribute to the beauty of this efficient workspace.

It took more moxie than money to give this kitchen its color and cost-conscious character. Most of the budget went to stainless-steel appliances. Working with other existing elements kept the budget in check.

Shallow ceiling beams add intimacy and warmth to this kitchen. Buttery-yellow beaded-board cabinets provide plenty of storage, including a spice drawer, a foldaway mixer stand, and large shelves for pots. Traditional soapstone countertops complement the cabinets' warm hue.

Natural wood cabinets and a painted floor achieve a timeless look in this kitchen that is reminiscent of an Amish country farmhouse. An island and tall cupboards demarcate the working half of the kitchen from the dining half.