5 Favorite Granites for Gorgeous Kitchen Countertops

Article By: Charmean Neithart 

Selecting a countertop material for your kitchen remodel or new build is a big decision. I often encounter clients with a mental block when it comes to making a decision on the numerous considerations, like color and edge detail. Additionally, once the countertop hurdle is over, then there is cabinet selection. 

I like granite and use it often for its durability and its earthy colors that add great texture to a kitchen. I have a few favorites that I have worked with over the years. These granite selections get my stamp of approval because of color, movement and their flexibility in complementing different cabinet styles. Take a look at these countertop selections and how they seamlessly blend with either painted or stain-grade cabinets to make winning combinations. 

Modern Kitchen by Falls Church General Contractors NVS Remodeling & Design 

1. Bianco Romano

Bianco Romano with painted cabinets. I suggest this granite when I have a homeowner who wants that classic white kitchen. This granite works great with pure white, warm white or beige cabinets. Additionally, nickel or oil-rubbed-bronze hardware works great with all the colors of the stone, which include white, cream, gray and a deep bordeaux.

Modern Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designers Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab 

Bianco Romano with stain-grade cabinets. Due to the warm white, beige and gray palette, this granite works equally as well with stain-grade cabinets. I have seen it work beautifully with walnut and medium oak. 

Traditional Kitchen by Johns Island Design-Build Firms Solaris Inc. 

2. Seafoam Green

Seafoam green with painted cabinets. This granite is just beautiful. The shade of green is earthy, with gray and brown undertones. There are great markings in the stone that look almost geometric to me. This granite works with painted cabinets and satin nickel hardware. I prefer this stone when it is polished. 

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco General Contractors Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Seafoam green with stain-grade cabinets. If you are looking for a rustic or earthy feel for your home, this is a great combination. Add oil-rubbed-bronze or copper fixtures for the perfect lodge experience. 

Traditional Kitchen by San Marino Interior Designers & Decorators Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. 

3. Costa Esmeralda 

Costa Esmeralda with painted cabinets. I first came across this granite when I had a homeowner ask me to create an ocean palette throughout the house. This granite is between green and blue, and of course will vary from batch to batch. The green-blue of the stone blends perfectly with sandy white cabinets and nickel hardware and fixtures. 

Traditional Kitchen by Berkeley General Contractors Camber Construction 

Costa Esmeralda with stain-grade cabinets. It's equally stunning with stain-grade cabinets, for a masculine and warm look. This granite works particularly well in light-filled kitchens; the sunlight highlights the stone's complex coloring. 

Traditional Kitchen by Greenville Interior Designers & Decorators Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home 

4. Absolute Black 

Absolute Black with painted cabinets. This is my idea of a classic kitchen. I love this traditional look of white cabinets and Absolute Black granite, which looks great polished or honed. Painted cabinets in many colors pair perfectly with this granite, and nickel, chrome or oil-rubbed-bronze fixtures and hardware look terrific.

Mediterranean Kitchen by Medford Architects & Designers DSA Architects 

Absolute Black with stain-grade cabinets. Another classic look that can feel rustic or modern. I love Absolute Black with medium oak or walnut. Rift-cut oak also has a great transitional look. 

Traditional Kitchen by Chesterfield Kitchen & Bath Designers Beck/Allen Cabinetry 

5. Typhoon Bordeaux 

Typhoon Bordeaux with painted cabinets. One of my favorite granite selections, Typhoon Bordeaux comes in cream, gray, brown or brick red. It's a perfect choice for a light kitchen that has red undertones in the flooring. This granite really can vary by batch, from subtle brick-red veining to strong waves of brick red. Try it with beige or cream cabinets for a warm, light-filled kitchen. 

Traditional Kitchen by Dc Metro Kitchen & Bath Designers Granite Connection, LLC 

Typhoon Bordeaux with stain-grade cabinets. I'm a sucker for warmth, so this combination really appeals to me. The brick red and browns in this granite pair beautifully with walnut, oak, mahogany and cherry cabinets. It works well in Spanish homes that feature Saltillo floors. The deep red and brown in the granite and the rustic charm of Spanish architecture are a match made in heaven.

8 Top Hardware Styles for Shaker Kitchen Cabinets

Article By: Rebekah Zaveloff

Shaker-style cabinet doors are so flexible stylewise that they can go either traditional or modern depending on what you pair them with. Decorative elements like lighting, tile and hardware can really change the tone and overall style of a kitchen. Cabinet hardware is often referred to as the jewelry of a kitchen, and just like with an outfit, it can really alter the overall look of your space. 

Traditional Kitchen by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators RLH Studio 

1. Traditional Nickel or Steel Knobs and Bin Pulls

Shaker cabinets are known for their simple, clean lines, and often you'll see them paired with simple, unadorned cabinet hardware. Whether your style is vintage or modern, you'll find that a Shaker door is one of the most versatile doors styles available. A vintage-style kitchen with white Shaker cabinets is often seen finished with a combination of timeless cup or bin pulls and knobs.

Traditional Other 

Traditionally you'll see knobs on doors and bin pulls on drawers. For drawers 30 inches and wider, two bin pulls are often used.

What they do for the kitchen: Add retro flair.

What they work well with: Inset cabinetry with exposed hinges, stainless steel, white marble and honed black countertops, industrial-style lighting.

Traditional Other 

On vintage bin pulls, the face screws are functional; on reproductions the face screws may be faux, with the pull attached through the back.

Traditional Kitchen by Portland Architects & Designers Whitten Architects 

2. Vintage Glass or Ceramic Knobs

Vintage-style glass, also referred to as Depression Era glass, is another classic hardware choice for Shaker cabinets. With a stained cabinet finish, it's nice to create some contrast with the hardware by using a white glass knob. 

Putting knobs on drawers is a great vintage touch, though pulls are more user friendly for everyday use. 

This type of knob comes with and without a face screw, as well as in a variety of colors, transparent and opaque, as well as clear. 

Contemporary Other 

What they do for the kitchen: Create a historical feel that can go Victorian, Arts and Crafts or colonial revival.

What they work well with: Glass-front hutch cabinets, stained wood cabinets, butler's pantry or scullery-style cabinets, subway tile, black and white kitchens.

Contemporary Kitchen by Chicago Architects & Designers Searl Lamaster Howe Architects 

3. Vintage Pulls With Exposed Screws

This type of hardware is reminiscent of vintage double-hung window hardware and can add a great vintage or industrial touch to a new kitchen. It looks completely different in a nickel finish than in oil-rubbed bronze or antique brass. 

Traditional Pulls  

Antique Brass Aubrey Pull - $10 »

I love the authenticity of this pull with the exposed screws, and it comes in a bunch of finishes and sizes, so it can work in lots of different applications. I'm quite partial to antique brass these days, especially on darker cabinets, and I love the high contrast of oil-rubbed bronze on white cabinets. 

What they do for the kitchen: Add a utilitarian and industrial feel.

What they work well with: Other humble and hardworking materials, such as subway tile, stainless steel countertops, commercial-style appliances, farm sinks and industrial-style lighting.

Contemporary Kitchen by Charleston Kitchen & Bath Designers Carolina Kitchens

4. Tubular Bar Pulls
A traditional-style kitchen with Shaker cabinets gets a modern touch with nickel or stainless steel tubular bar pulls. This type of hardware is often seen on slab or flat-panel doors, but it works equally well on a Shaker-style door. Tubular bar pulls can be long and dramatic or short and classic.

Modern Pulls

Laurey Stainless Steel Melrose Bar Cabinet Pull - $12 »

Tubular bar pulls are sometimes referred to as barrel pulls and are offered by almost every hardware company. They come in a variety of sizes and finishes, making them a great choice if you're looking to add modern flair to your Shaker-style kitchen cabinets. 

What they do for the kitchen: Modernize it

What they work well with: Long and skinny mosaic tiles, oversize and rectangular tiles,ebony or espresso stained Shaker cabinets, modern pendant lighting.

Traditional Kitchen by Toronto Kitchen & Bath Remodelers BiglarKinyan Design Partnership Inc.

5. Flat Bar Pulls
In this kitchen, the hardware's accentuated length and polished nickel finish add a little modern glamour. In the same way a font choice affects the look of a logo, the decorative hardware of a kitchen can transform the overall experience of the space.

Modern Pulls

Italian Designs Classic Pull - $15.95 »

Flat bar pulls come in multiple lengths and finishes, from sleek stainless steel to hand-forged white bronze. 

What they do for the kitchen: Add a contemporary edge.

What they work well with: White or dark Shaker cabinets, square-edged stone or concrete countertops, full-height glass backsplashes, oversize rectangular tile in a stacked pattern

Traditional Kitchen by Dublin Kitchen & Bath Designers Glenvale Kitchens

Flat bar pulls are a terrific way to modernize a Shaker-style cabinet, complementing it with a linear and squared-off look. As you can see, when run vertically and horizontally, the hardware really creates a focal point in the kitchen.

Traditional Kitchen by Seattle Kitchen & Bath Designers Kayron Brewer, CKD, CBD / Studio K B 

6. Accented Wire Pulls

This kitchen leans more traditional, with tall crown molding, a decorative hood surround and a bronze faucet, but the cabinet doors are still classic Shaker.

Contemporary Pulls by Provo Building Supplies Rustica Hardware  

Antique Pewter Cabinet Pulls - $5.19 »

These pulls go by different names, but they're basically wire pulls with decorative details. 

What they do for the kitchen: Allow you to add more decorative moldings and traditional elements.

What they work well with: Traditional elements like plate racks, crown molding, bronze accents and decorative hood surrounds.

Contemporary Kitchen by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Su Casa Designs

7. Arced and Footed Bar Pulls

For a more classic look, there are arced and footed pulls. These go by many different names and can also fall into the wire-pull category. These pulls are traditional and just decorative enough without being too fussy for a Shaker door. Mixing finishes on dark and light cabinets helps to create contrast on each and keeps the kitchen from feeling stale.

Contemporary Other by Carle Place Furniture and Accessories MyKnobs 

What they do for the kitchen: Add a more traditional and decorative element.

What they work well with: Stone mosaic tile backsplashes, nickel diamond-mesh cabinet inserts, marble countertops with a decorative ogee edge. 

Eclectic Kitchen 

Go Ahead: Mix Your Finishes
When people say all white kitchens look alike, I can't disagree more. Just changing the finish of the hardware completely changes the look of a kitchen, even when the hardware is exactly the same style.

Depending on the other finishes in your kitchen, you may consider satin nickel, polished chrome or nickel, or oil-rubbed bronze. Don't feel like you have to match the cabinet hardware to the lighting or plumbing fixture finishes. I like to mix finishes by using antique brass light fixtures and polished nickel pulls to give a kitchen a more collected-over-time feel.

Traditional Kitchen by Concord Architects & Designers Battle Associates, Architects 

When using two or more cabinet finishes, as with the stained island and white perimeter cabinets shown in this kitchen, it's perfectly fine to mix up the finishes of the hardware as well! Not everything has to match — the nickel finish wouldn't look as good on the stained island as the antique bronze finish does, for example.

Here's Help for Your Next Appliance Shopping Trip

Article By: Vanessa Brunner

When shopping for new appliances or planning your dream kitchen, the first step is to do some hard thinking about what you really need, how your kitchen is laid out and the way you live and cook. 

What kind of cook are you? Do you want to go ecofriendly? Mix vintage appliances with new? Will multiple generations be using the kitchen? What's the best refrigerator shape and style for your household? Once you've addressed the necessities, consider special features like a warming drawer or wine fridge to make cooking and entertaining easier and more fun. 

There's a lot to consider. Start your planning with these practical guides to selecting appliances, along with plenty of photos to inspire you. 

Tropical Kitchen by Other Metro Architects & Designers Village Architects AIA, Inc. 

Find the right appliance layout. Is the kitchen work triangle dead? To some this kitchen layout plan seems antiquated; to others it's vital. Regardless of your point of view, the work triangle has some important aspects that can help you plan your kitchen appliance layout.  

Contemporary Kitchen by Clarendon Hills Architects & Designers Culligan Abraham Architecture 

Go the ecofriendly route. Stop smacking your head against the wall every time your electricity bill comes. Choosing and using your appliances wisely can help cut down on your bills and your carbon footprint.  

Modern Kitchen by Pasadena Design-Build Firms HartmanBaldwin Design/Build 

Look beyond stainless steel. Many homeowners are looking for a change from stainless steel. Mix things up a bit with warm white. The right finish and applications work well in traditional, vintage and modern kitchens. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Princeton Architects & Designers Knight Architects LLC 

What's old is new again. The charm of vintage and retro appliances can be appreciated by almost everyone. But not everyone finds the work involved in finding, repairing and maintaining these appliances worth it. See if this investment is worth your while. 

Major Kitchen Appliances

Embrace universal design. Design your new kitchen for today and tomorrow. Whether you're living in your "forever" home or want to accommodate special needs right now, these appliances can contribute to a universally designed kitchen that everyone's comfortable in. 

Modern Kitchen by Denver Interior Designers & Decorators Debra Toney, AIA Assoc. 

Specific Appliances

Ovens. Gone are the days when ovens had to be placed right under the range. Today oven arrangements have more to do with the confines of a kitchen and with individual cooking styles than with appliance limitations.  

Contemporary Kitchen by Richmond Tile, Stone & Countertops Charles Luck Stone Center 

Cooktops. Finding the right cooktop isn't just about looks — even if you love those big gas ranges, they could actually hinder your kitchen's potential. What's right for you? Take a look at this guide — you might be surprised.

Asian Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA 

Hood fans. Fans are often left until last when shopping for kitchen appliances. Even if they're not as fun to look at as a colorful new fridge, they're just as important. Learn the lingo and get ventilation that suits your style and budget.  

Contemporary Kitchen by Dublin Kitchen & Bath Designers Glenvale Kitchens 

Stovetops. The stovetop tends to be one of the most expensive appliances in your kitchen, so make sure your investment is worthwhile. Yes, function and style are important, but you also want to make sure the stovetop fits with your preexisting cooking space, counter height and cabinetry.

Traditional Kitchen by Berwyn Architects & Designers Peter Zimmerman Architects 

Ranges. When chosen and installed correctly, a range can act as much like a piece of art as an appliance. Take a look at some of the most popular range colors, materials and styles on the market.

Modern Kitchen by Seattle Architects & Designers ROM architecture studio

Small-appliance storage. Who doesn't love kitchen gadgets? Waffle makers, mixers, coffee machines, food processors and ice cream makers are part of what makes cooking fun. But all tof hese single-purpose appliances can pile up fast, taking up tons of counter space. Keep these goodies tucked away neatly with a few smart storage ideas.

Contemporary Kitchen by Tyrone Kitchen & Bath Designers Teri Turan 

Microwaves. Microwaves certainly aren't the prettiest of kitchen appliances, but they're a necessity for most homes. Make the most of yours — you'd be surprised what a difference the right output and installation can make.  

Contemporary Kitchen 

Refrigerators. There's quite a range in refrigerator prices — several thousand dollars depending on brand, size and style — so make sure every dollar you spend is worthwhile. How much space do you need? What accessories will make your life easier? This guide can help you narrow down the choices.  

Traditional Kitchen by Mechanicsburg Design-Build Firms Farinelli Construction Inc

Warming drawers. Keep your food piping hot, warm plates and even slow cook some foods with one of today's most popular small appliances: a warming drawer.  

Eclectic Kitchen by Pasadena Design-Build Firms HartmanBaldwin Design/Build 

Microwave drawers.Most of the time, a microwave gets installed somewhere hard to reach — above the refrigerator, on a top shelf or right above the stove. Installed just below the countertop, microwave drawers make it even easier to warm up your food. 

Traditional Kitchen by Boston Kitchen & Bath Designers Venegas and Company 

Wine refrigerators. Most wine lovers don't have the room for a wine cellar, but that doesn't mean they can't keep favorite bottles at hand. A wine fridge is easy to install and takes up hardly any room — perfect for smaller spaces like apartment kitchens. 

Kitchen Storage Solutions for Every Nook

Article By: Nicole White Quinn

Today's clever kitchen designers have storage solutions to fill every nook and cranny in all sorts of kitchens. These handy helpers can help you take advantage of every square inch. 

Kitchen by Wilmette Kitchen & Bath Designers de Giulio Kitchen Design 

When you're grappling with backsplash material decisions, consider something that can help you snag some extra storage, too. This stunning kitchen has a secret that amps up the storage possibilities without taking away from its clean look. 

Kitchen by Wilmette Kitchen & Bath Designers de Giulio Kitchen Design 

The designers installed sliding doors in the marble backsplash behind the stove and put extra shelving behind them. The beauty of this technique is that you can achieve the best of both worlds — a beautiful backsplash and storage. 

Tip: You'll need to have enough space within your walls to make this work, which means you'll need to have this discussion very early on with your contractor.

Traditional Kitchen by Dublin Kitchen & Bath Designers Glenvale Kitchens 

Corner drawers are a great alternative to the lazy Susan. Cut on a diagonal, they simply pull out like standard drawers to make use of an otherwise hard-to-reach corner space. 

Tip: Have your drawers made in varying sizes to keep things organized. Pot lids and smaller items can go in the smaller drawers, and plastic containers and pots and pans in the larger drawers.

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco General Contractors Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co. 

If you prefer a cabinet door in the corner of a base cabinet, and you don't like lazy Susans, rotating and sliding shelves can help you access corners with ease. 

Tip: Unlike corner drawers, these pullouts can be installed in both upper and lower cabinets. 

Contemporary Kitchen by San Jose General Contractors Chris Donatelli Builders 

Even the toe kick area, once wasted space, can be used for storage when you add a very shallow drawer for small items. 

Traditional Kitchen by Plano Interior Designers & Decorators Gibson Gimpel Interior Design 

Tip: You'll have to bend a lot to access a toe kick space, so consider storing items here that you'll need to access just once or twice a year — such as serving dishes, chargers and holiday napkins. 

Traditional Kitchen by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs 

Open shelving is often the most budget-friendly way to deal with the small space left at the ends of most upper and lower cabinets. If custom cabinets are in your budget, closing those shelves with a curved door is a great way to keep things neat and tidy without installing two separate doors to cover the corner. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Southfield Kitchen & Bath Designers Al Williams 

Go beyond basic shelving for your base cabinetry. Today's kitchen organization additions come in every kind imaginable to help you sort and store your belongings. Use a mix of slide-out shelving and drawers to access heavy items, and custom pullouts to house mixers, spices, cutting boards and baking sheets. 

Traditional Kitchen by Chilliwack Kitchen & Bath Designers Starline Cabinets 

The end cabinets in a kitchen layout typically get fitted with a door facing for a polished look. Here the homeowner has found a clever space for keys, a pegboard and a dry erase board for notes and to-do lists, and installed slats for magazines and cookbooks. 

10 Tiny Kitchens Whose Usefulness You Won't Believe

Article By: Vanessa Brunner

From unfolding apartments to clever remodels to creative rentals, these 10 tiny kitchens show that their owners and designers haven't just learned to deal with small spaces — they've embraced them. With solutions including cutting boards on drawers for extra counter space, affordable alternatives to wallpaper and innovative storage, these small kitchens can't help but inspire. 

Traditional Kitchen by Piedmont Architects & Designers robert kelly 

1. Pocket-Size Vintage-Style Kitchen
Homeowner: Robert Kelly of Piedmont, California

Robert Kelly's vintage-style kitchen is only about 145 square feet, but he doesn't need much more space — even with kids and pets around. Kelly's home was built in the 1920s, and preserving the original style was a big priority. Each appliance and finish was chosen to complement the house as a whole. The beautiful vintage stove was given to him by a friend.

Kitchen by Piedmont Architects & Designers robert kelly 

The most difficult part of Kelly's renovation was planning the kitchen in relation to the rest of the house. The traffic flow had to be arranged with emphasis on one side of the space, leaving more space for cabinets and counters on the other. Relocating the interior stairs, the exterior stairs and the windows helped achieve this but presented some complications.  

Contemporary Kitchen by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Justrich Design 

2. Clean, Modern and Efficient Kitchen
Homeowner: Steve Justrich of San Francisco

Designer Steve Justrich's renovated 1912 kitchen was carefully designed to make the most of its 90 square feet. Justrich relied on simple tricks — placing the refrigerator flush to the wall in an old doorway and purchasing small European appliances — to save on space. Open shelving instead of upper cabinetry and a turquoise Venetian plaster ceiling create the illusion of more space.

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Justrich Design 

A tiny dishwasher is all Justrich needs for a day's worth of dishes. A built-in cutting board and a strainer for the sink expand counter and prep space. Colorful artwork and Heath pottery add cheer to the simply designed space.  

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Media and Bloggers Apt 2B Baking Co. 

3. A Tiny, Makeshift Bakery
Homeowner: Yossy Arefi-Afshar of New York City

Yossy Arefi-Afshar loves to bake, and refuses to let her tiny New York kitchen stop her. Although she's learned some hard lessons about planning along the way ("I'll never forget the time I got too ambitious with my menu and ended up doing dishes in the bathtub the next day," she says), she's learned to work with what she's got.

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Media and Bloggers Apt 2B Baking Co. 

When Arefi-Afshar is working on a big baking project, she simply clears everything off the counters and moves it to another part of the apartment. For some extra surface area, she'll pull out a drawer or two and place a sheet pan or cutting board on top.

Modern Kitchen by Other Metro Photographers Churreria Photography

4. Space-Saving Spanish Kitchen
Homeowner: Christian Schallert of Barcelona, Spain

This cleverly designed 260-square-foot Barcelona apartment functions in different modes — each appliance and piece of furniture tucks into a hidden panel. Panels made of Viroc and wood pop open with a simple push, revealing refrigerators, seating and a bed. 

Modern Kitchen by Other Metro Photographers Churreria Photography

The kitchen panels are all on the same side of the house. A fridge, an electric stovetop, a sink, a freezer, a microwave and a dishwasher all fit into this one wall. After meals, everything simply gets tucked back into its hidden panel.  

Spaces by New York Media and Bloggers nat the fat rat

5. Eclectic and Personal New York Kitchen
Homeowner: Natalie Holbrook of Manhattan, New York

Natalie Holbrook's new apartment was an upgrade in size and style from her previous tiny, prewar home. While the kitchen was a step up, it was still small and lacked any unique style. When she first moved in, Holbrook wanted to cover this wall in wallpaper, but the potentially messy installation and expensive price tag dissuaded her.

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Media and Bloggers nat the fat rat

Instead, she came up with an impromptu, stylish and inexpensive collage made of Polaroids, Instagram prints and other photos. Including the tape, the whole thing cost less than $35.  

Traditional Kitchen by New York Media and Bloggers Big Girls Small Kitchen

6. A Food Blogger's Brooklyn Rental
Homeowner: Cara Eisenpress of Brooklyn, New York

A rental kitchen isn't just limited in size, it's limited in style too. Food blogger Cara Eisenpress uses cute art and her prettiest canning experiments to add color and interest to her tiny Brooklyn kitchen. 

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Media and Bloggers Big Girls Small Kitchen

A huge part of keeping a small kitchen tidy is prioritizing belongings. Not everything could fit in her kitchen at first, so the most used items were kept on hand. On the other side of the kitchen, a wall-mounted wine rack and tall bookshelves take advantage of wall space for storage. A small setup seats four people for a casual meal.

Modern Living Room by New York Architects & Designers Normal Projects

7. Luxe Appliances in a Small Space
Homeowner: A Manhattanite who loves to cook

The owner of this 400-square-foot New York City apartment loves to cook and knew that his lack of square footage didn't have to be an inhibitor. Together, the client and designers Michael Chen and Kari Anderson came up with a unique "unfolding" concept — a built-in cabinet that holds a closet, a desk and a bed, and divides the apartment into zones. 

Modern Kitchen by New York Architects & Designers Normal Projects

This unfolding cabinet solved the issue in the great room, but the dilapidated kitchen still had some problems. The designers found a tiny Viking range to install at the end of the narrow kitchen space. Two undercounter units replaced a full-size fridge, and walnut and stainless steel open shelving provided functional and attractive storage.  

Traditional Spaces by Other Metro Architects & Designers Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

8. Ecofriendly Bare Essentials 
Homeowner: Jay Shafer of North Carolina

This movable 7- by 16-foot home is combined with an equally tiny home next door for a total of 620 square feet of living space. Jay Shafer, founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, calls this home (along with his wife and young son). This energy efficient and ecofriendly housing solution relies on the basics, including a bare-bones kitchen. The front door of the house opens into its small kitchen and dining space. A sink, a prep surface, a portable electric range and a small fridge serve the family's basic needs. A shelf above the sink holds most of the dishes and other kitchen essentials. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Other Metro Architects & Designers Gut Gut

9. Colorful and Custom European Kitchen
Homeowner: Lukas Kordik of Bratislava, Slovakia

This space-saving customized kitchen is full of smart storage solutions. The bright blue kitchen cabinetry provides plenty of color while taking up minimal space. An electric stove top, an oven set flush into the cabinetry and integrated drawer handles keep things simple. Having the main kitchen unit in a single block saves space and keeps the kitchen open. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Other Metro Architects & Designers Gut Gut

Designer and homeowner Lukas Kordik created an impressive unit of floor-to-ceiling shelving to hold essentials and decorative items.  

Contemporary Kitchen by Other Metro Photographers Kimberley Hasselbrink

10. Cheerful San Francisco Rental 

Homeowner: Kimberly Hasselbrink of San Francisco

Food photographer Kimberly Hasselbrink loves her San Francisco apartment, but her kitchen is seriously lacking in space and natural light. She hasn't gotten the go-ahead to make any changes to it, so for now she's dressed up her space with thrift store accessories and one-of-a-kind art. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Other Metro Photographers Kimberley Hasselbrink

Hasselbrink keeps the space neat and clean by using hidden storage. She doesn't like to keep anything out unless it's useful and attractive, instead adding color and visual interest through easy-to-change decor, like these prints fromJon Holcomb and Wendy MacNaughton.