More than ever, the kitchen has become the heart of the home, not just for preparing food, but for eating and entertaining as well. Kitchens are larger and more open than ever before, with everything from more storage to more seating. But while many dream kitchens focus on features like sprawling kitchen islands, professional grade cooking appliances, and custom cabinetry, one of my favorite new k

In recent years, kitchen islands have become more and more popular, especially in large kitchens with open floorplans. But upping the size of your kitchen – and especially introducing a secondary workspace like a kitchen island – means you’ll need more and better lighting. Some kitchen islands are used for prep, some for seating, and some are even designed with built in sinks or

Big, beautiful, fully-equipped kitchen islands are probably the single biggest trending item in 2013 kitchen design. They’ve been gaining in popularity for years, but if you’re planning a kitchen remodel for the coming year, a kitchen island is virtually a must-have. But there are all kinds of kitchen islands out there, from big custom builds to tiny island carts. So even if you’

If you spend any amount of time watching home design shows, it probably seems like everyone and their mother is installing a kitchen island right dab in the middle of their huge, open kitchen. And it’s not without reason – kitchen islands are a great tool for a larger space, and are a great asset when it comes to bringing guests into your kitchen. But before you chalk a custom built ki

Having the right lighting in your kitchen is incredibly important. Especially in a larger kitchen, or one where you do a lot of entertaining, just your standard bank of fluorescent lights probably isn’t going to cut it. Good kitchen lighting comes in layers – that means different types of light different quantities of light, and light in a lot of different areas, not just in the cente