110 Beautiful Kitchens

This sleek, all-white space is spiced up with brass accents and vintage pieces.

The designer wanted guests to feel like they could just walk in and hang out in this space. All of the living areas connect, so to avoid cluttering the open floor plan with too many cabinets, almost everything—from flatware to everyday dishes—is well organized and stowed away in drawers. This also makes it easy for guests of all agest to access kitchen essentials. 

Glass pendant lights over the bar mimic candles resting in huricane holders, an element typically found on outdoor dining tables. 

The woven plastic seats and backs on the barstools by Serena & Lily hold up well against wet bathing suits. 

Decorative touches—like green soapstone counters and tole fronts on the upper cabinets—add color and style to the white kitchen without taking up space. The marble-and-iron table also doubles as an island work surface.

Built around a centuries-old oak tree, this Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, kitchen offers a smart and sleek design created by architect Heather Wilson and designer Luann McCants.

A burst of citrus is a surefire way to add energy. A simple design with pops of green brings out the brighter side of this Arkansas kitchen.

Plenty of wood and old pottery keep this sleek kitchen's vibe down-to-earth. 

After a hurricane flooded architect Wayne Good's 110-year-old Chesapeake Bay cottage, he seized the opportunity to design his dream fish camp-style kitchen in just over 150 square feet. The ceiling features repurposed exterior siding that was flipped to expose the richly worn wood.

• See more of the 2013 SL  Home Awards Best Kitchen Design winner

Typically used for barn roofing, the kitchen's corrugated material adds authentic farmhouse charm for only about $15 per sheet.

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Clean white floors complement the cabinetry and island in this kitchen. A minimal number of upper cabinets keeps the space open. In their place, cantilevered antique chestnut shelves, reminiscent of a ship’s deck, add an organic touch. The shelves display plain white dishware against a wall of deep royal blue tile. The stainless steel appliances and large hanging light fixtures over the island call to mind metal boat fittings.

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To update this kitchen, the homeowner and decorator Phoebe Howard installed hardwoods to match the rest of the house, swapped the dark black granite and tile for Carrara marble counters and backsplash tiles, changed the cabinet hardware, put in a movable island, and painted just about everything. 

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Creamy antique white on the cabinets pairs with a coffee-bean color on the island in this warm kitchen. The matte finish of the deep brown honed granite countertops perpetuates the aged appearance.

This homeowner insisted on finding an old piece of furniture for her kitchen island. Something too new would spoil the cottage effect. On the hunt for the perfect antique, she found a weathered white island with a solid wooden top. With two drawers and an open area below, it increases the room's storage. To keep things warm and cozy, the cabinets are painted slate green and topped with a black glaze for an aged look. The black granite countertops feature a honed finish, a process that eliminates the sheen on the surface. Fabrics with a vintage appearance soften the space and contribute to the homey feel of the room.

The kitchen opens onto the living area so the chef can join in the fun. Open shelving, plentiful drawer space, and a cabinet over the range provide maximum storage in this efficient design. Paprika red barstools inject a punch of color.

This space speaks with a French accent. Exposed ceiling beams, wrought iron, and hand-carved wood accentuate its old-world flair. The designer included many unique features and design ideas that personalize the space. Beautifully adorned with raised carvings, the island houses an under-counter refrigerator, freezer, and warming drawers, as well as abundant storage areas.

The mix of warm colors and texture make this kitchen feel comfortable and cozy. The brick walls add architectural character to the space.

In this casual home, a formal dining area just wouldn't fit. So the kitchen and dining room share one end of the great room. In the kitchen, a large T-shaped island provides a prep area for cooking and a casual dining surface surrounded by stools. The island also houses a dishwasher, sink, wine cooler, and additional storage. To the right of the island, a convenient bar area boasts another sink, room to display glassware, a single-drawer dishwasher, and an icemaker. This separate space allows partygoers to get drinks without crowding the cook.

Nearly wall-to-wall windows on one side of this kitchen provide lots of natural light but posed a challenge for cabinet space. The solution: two pantries with full-extension rollouts for dry goods or dishes, plus a serving area and glass-front upper cabinets. Simple yet elegant features include Shaker-style cabinets and hidden appliances. Beaded board, which appears on the island and behind the serving area, is a unifying element.

Because there's a bevy of surrounding windows that also contain a lot of mullions, upper cabinetry would have competed with this look. Tiers of cantilevered shelves get the job done. For stowing away cookware, a central island provides more storage and separates the kitchen from the adjacent dining room and family room.

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A large chopping block containing a precut opening is set into the marble countertop under one window. Blue appliances provide the ultimate in cooking convenience, and wooden cabinets feature a gray patina finish and glass-front doors. The marble countertop and backsplash complement these hues. An oversize island, complete with a cooktop and additional storage, encourages casual dining.

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This room is separated from the family room by a large island. Perfectly proportioned, this is a cook's kitchen with no wasted space. Constructed of rich wood to resemble a table with sufficient overhang on three sides, the island negates the need for a separate breakfast room.

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With hidden storage solutions and great ideas galore, this kitchen seems too serene to also be hardworking―but it is.
This space is anchored by three elements―the floor-to-ceiling pantry on the far left, a similar bank of side cabinets that conceals the fridge and freezer, and an island. Another plus: The table nestled into the island can be pulled out easily because of sleek casters on the legs.

High on these homeowners’ list was natural light, which meant windows―and lots of them. Instead of filling the kitchen’s end and side walls with upper cabinetry, the couple installed a series of double-hung windows.

This homeowner made great finish choices, from an aged stucco treatment on the walls to alder wood cabinets and porcelain floors.

Wide pine boards, nailed horizontally and painted white, give character to these kitchen walls. High-gloss white porch paint brightens the wood floor and makes it look like an enclosed porch.

The neutral color palette in this kitchen helps to highlight the detailing in the cabinets, furniture, and light fixtures.

Filled with every amenity needed for daily cooking, this kitchen also opens to the grilling deck for easy entertaining.

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Heart-pine flooring salvaged from an old home is repurposed here as countertops. The color of the cabinetry is a take on Williamsburg green, which was wildly popular during the restoration frenzy of the mid-20th century. It was tweaked with a touch of gray to soften the contrast with the white walls. The walls themselves are plain horizontal boards.

These homeowners created an island that has everything you need, including the kitchen sink. At one end, a countertop-height rectangle of granite offers plenty of prep space. One side boasts a wine rack and cabinet storage while the other holds trash, recycling, and the dishwasher. At the end, an attached round granite tabletop, supported by a pedestal stained to match the island, steps down to table height.

The island was inspired by a catalog find that the homeowner loved; the original design needed some improvements. She incorporated electrical outlets in the legs to make the large work surface more functional. She dispensed with cabinet doors on the island to maintain a more open feel. The piece is topped with a rich cherry wood. The large central island incorporates open shelving underneath to allow easy access to trays and serving pieces. The burlap drum shades and cherry island top impart a sense of warmth to the dining area.

A kitchen island is the perfect way to visually divide the kitchen from the rest of the room. This homeowner thought about how she works in the kitchen and had the essentials installed accordingly. She chose to have the sink rather than the cooktop on the island so she could look out over the room. A small pine table and Windsor chairs tucked next to the island are a surprising--and more comfortable--alternative to barstools.

Cooking and eating areas merge in this space, while an open island makes it all the more breezy.

This kitchen’s original wood floors and plank walls and ceiling set the stage for simple elements. The designer suggested the homeowners install open shelves--simple and boxy--above the countertops and along one wall. One of the owners built the shelves himself in a matter of days.

Layered in wood from floor to ceiling, this kitchen would convert even the most ardent city slicker into a lover of all things handmade and hewn. Most of the wood for the kitchen cabinetry, as well as other built-ins in the house, was fashioned from salvaged, old-growth heart pine. The source for this sought-after material came about when the homeowner dismantled a nearby collapsing farmhouse. In the process, he also milled the lumber and then handed it over to his cabinetmaker to use during construction.

The inset cabinets and bin pulls add to the old-house aesthetic of the room. The homeowners decided to splurge on details in the kitchen and family room because they knew that they would spend most of their time in that area.

This kitchen isn’t married to a single style. Industrial style light fixtures and stools are mixed with traditional elements like Windsor chairs to create a unique and personalized look.

Two features in particular steal the show in this kitchen: the oversized hood above the cooktop and the dining table on casters. Even though some storage is lost by using an oversize hood, it creates a bold statement. The table is veneered in the same wood as the island and cabinetry, and it easily rolls out for dinner parties.

This homeowner chose simple cabinets and pendant lights from IKEA and painted the walls a soft white to get an airy look. The antique rug adds a sense of history to the brand-new room.

This kitchen has an interplay of neutral and blue tones. The cabinetry, marble countertops, and backsplash create an off-white backdrop for bowls, trays, and dishware. The homeowners didn’t want the use of blue to be too heavy-handed or expected. Nautical-style lighting above the island helps carry the coastal look into this space.

To avoid the expense of relocating the plumbing, the homeowner kept the room’s original footprint but updated the cabinetry, appliances, and fixtures. He replaced the dated wood cabinets, which hung near the ceiling and were difficult to reach, with easy-to-access open shelving and Shaker-style lower cabinets—all painted crisp white. A ceramic subway-tile backsplash and sleek marble countertops complete the monochromatic look. Open shelving holds everyday basics; lower cabinets store pots and pans.
 

A pair of hay rakes fits the rural flavor of the stone fireplace, but there’s nothing rustic about twin oven units, which combine for a versatile collection of cooking surfaces from griddle to grill. Along a bank of cabinets a stainless steel side-by-side refrigerator works to maintain the freshness of food.
The cabinets include a handy flip-up door which conceals the microwave, keeping it convenient but out of sight. A tumbled marble, ceramic, and carved-tile backsplash contrasts with the wooden cabinetry, which has basket-weave doors and drawers.

Some of the best treasures in this kitchen are found objects. The homeowners used old ship lights for a chandelier in the kitchen. Shrimpers’ rope accents the edge of the countertop that is supported by columns found at another old house.

This kitchen achieves a clean, crisp look with Shaker-style cabinets, a tile backsplash, granite countertops, chrome hardware, and stainless appliances.

A white shade allows light to stream into the small but efficient cooking space. In the cooking area, cream-colored countertops and tiles blend beautifully with the white cabinetry. Open space above the cabinets increases the sense of height. Metal hardware on cabinets adds a punch that is repeated on the stainless steel refrigerator and stove.

This homeowner cleared the back wall of the kitchen and created an opening into the dining room. All white walls, cabinets, and countertops also make the space seem bigger. To keep the room from feeling too flat, she added color and texture with accessories such as curtains and a jute rug. She reinforced the vintage look of the house with a new tongue-and-groove wood-plank ceiling and a trio of oversize globe lights, a splurge item.

A window-filled alcove functions like a dining room with a casual table, two slipcovered end chairs, and a pillow-topped banquette. The built-in bench and wall of windows make this small space seem much larger. Two vintage light fixtures, hung with nautical rope instead of standard chains, illuminate the space.

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The industrial, prefab nature of the Quonset hut home prompted the homeowners to use corrugated metal panels (available in most building-supply stores) on the kitchen island and surrounding cabinetry, but the sleek room is anything but aloof.

In this eco-friendly kitchen, the homeowner crafted shelves for the kitchen from lumber and stainless steel rods. They allow light in while providing storage.

Toile fabric in bright hues on these kitchen chairs partners stylishly with a contemporary table from the inexpensive retailer IKEA. The kitchen’s white cabinets and backsplash allow the homeowner’s fabric choices in the breakfast area to really shine.

The sage green kitchen cabinetry has generous space for dinnerware and pantry items, and a fossilized countertop surface adds a sense of history to the space.

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This small, 1930s kitchen returns to its retro roots without sacrificing modern space and functionality. The center island replaces enough counterspace to fit a clothes washer and dryer in the room. Details like the farmhouse sink and green glass tile add throwback style.

Every aspect of the kitchen is designed to enhance family life. The large center island, topped with wood, resembles a farmhouse-style table and invites dining. For a timeless appeal, the kitchen's informal cabinetry is done in dark wood tones and a rich cream color.
Two sinks and two dishwashers (hidden by wood panels) make cleanup efficient. An under-counter refrigerator at one end is perfect for keeping drinks cold. Stainless steel appliances give a modern edge to the traditional style. Glass shelves mounted on the window above one sink hold houseplants and glassware.

The owners transformed their ranch-style house into a cottage, with this family room-turned-kitchen as the star. The counters and island are topped with an African wood called iroko, which is highly resistant to moisture and easy to maintain.

This homeowner took a simplified approach to decorating. She chose fabrics, colors, and furniture with a decidedly Swedish influence. Muted gray cabinetry with a distressed finish and open shelves reinforce the room’s openness. The stainless steel appliances and sink add a sleek, metallic luster. Even the honed travertine marble countertops have a lightness.
Her flooring choice—pine boards covered in a thin coat of watered-down paint—contributes to the ambience.