this stunning kitchen fuses two exotic wood veneers – a light English Sycamore and a dark Bird’s Eye Maple border – to set a delicate yet natural balance. The contemporary look is enhanced by a Thermador refrigerator and GE microwave, as well as an oven, cooktop, dishwasher and ventilation from Bosch Home Appliances.

 In drastic need of more storage, this redesigned kitchen by Earl Lawson of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based V6B Design Group borrows space from the adjacent living/dining area. Dramatically contrasting materials, such as Juparana White granite, stainless steel countertops and a textured glass and stainless steel backsplash, help to create a more updated look. Custom cabinetry from V6B Design Group with glass cabinet doors and a GE range complete the bold look.

Built to be consistent with the home’s architecture, this kitchen, designed by Richard Landon, CMKBD, of Richard Landon Design in Bellevue, WA, features a unique I-beam structure that cantilevers the kitchen above the terrazzo floor, out four feet in front of a window and five feet into the room. The kitchen features cabinetry from Aristocratic Cabinets, custom countertops by Decorative Concrete Design and Glassworks and a refrigerator/freezer from Sub-Zero. Lighting from Tech Lighting, as well as ample natural light, accentuates the unusual design.

Gerard Ciccarello, CMKBD, of Westbrook, CT-based Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc., integrated modern function with a Cape Cod-inspired look in this galley kitchen. The space is highlighted by bird’s egg blue cabinetry from Superior Woodcraft Cabinetry, white appliances – such as a dual-fuel range from Viking Range Corp. and a Bosch dishwasher – and soapstone countertops. The look is punctuated by cherry-stained fir flooring, which provides orange tones to offset the cabinetry’s blue-gray tones.

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