Black and white kitchen cabinets painted with a triangular pattern add a whimsical touch to this funky kitchen.

The concrete wall mimics the slope of the hill outside as a reference to early Maori structures that were dug into the land. The simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The ceramic works on the built-in seat at right are by Raewyn Atkinson and Robyn Lewis.

@ehrlicharchitects: Cantilevered kitchen - finding inspiration at Dwell on Design.

Choosing a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be nerve-wracking, and we understand why—they can be one of the most expensive aspects of a renovation, with the added responsibility of impacting the aesthetics of a space. Read on as we work our way through the pros and cons of seven of the most common countertop materials.

The large, naturally lit kitchen is the heart of the house. Messmate-clad cupboards and huge expanses of glass dominate the space where Angelucci uses the sink, Gorman works at the kitchen island, and Pepa and Hazel look on. Play in the courtyard between the kitchen and garage is easily supervised and enclosed from the alley behind the house.

Obligatory tourist shot. Gorgeous day in Amsterdam!

Sub-Zero, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, debuts its Wolf Gourmet line, a luxury set of countertop appliances and kitchen tools.

Dacor is hosting live kitchen demonstrations with Jan Datri. Stop by the booth for a chance to win a new Renaissance 30" all gas range.

Grade A Maple “For us, the dinner table is huge,” says Katie. The pair met furniture designer Seth Eshelman—whose Rochester-based company Staach produces what she called “environmentally conscientious furniture”—at a teatasting event, and they felt he shared their “vision and values.” Eshelman’s Cain dining set is made from maple. Now Yukimi “The meditation room is where we get our Japanese ya-yas out,” says Scott. “I wanted yukimi, which means ‘snow-viewing,’ shoji screens because they open from the bottom as well as side to side. Glen Collins, a guy in Oakland, California, is the one American I could find whose company makes them.”

At a home about half an hour from Lake Tahoe, architect Jack Hawkins and interior designer Cheryl Chenault built a house that would support their clients’ unique requirements in a home that would be 8,000 to 10,000 square feet. In the kitchen, two islands, one in the shape of an L and the other a smaller rectangular island, are layered table over one portion create generous space to spread out. Norman Cherner barstools from Design Within Reach line the island in the kitchen, which is crowned by an open loft office. The faucets are from Dornbracht; the countertops are Caesarstone. Hawkins integrated a steel-clad casual eating nook, at left.

Get the whole family involved in the kitchen, whether it be teaching young ones a tried-and-true recipe or exploring a new dish together.

In this kitchen, an exposed brick wall stands out against the milky smoothness of the marble tile floors.

The clients and design team chose to forego an open floor plan in favor of defined, separated spaces. In this scheme, the vertically oriented spaces act as a cinematic "hard-cut" to their horizontal counterparts. The custom hot rolled steel kitchen, one of these vertical transition spaces, receives light from above through a Velux skylight. A GE Profile Induction cooktop and oven and Miele refrigerator complete the space.

Jean-Christophe Aumas’ multihued Paris apartment houses both the highly sought artistic director and the stunning assemblage of furniture he’s brought back from his travels. Aumas designed the kitchen island, which is covered in marble tiles from Carrelages du Marais—the geometric floor tiles are from the same place—and strung the matrix of lights up above it. The barstools by Charlotte Perriand were discovered in a vintage store in Antwerp, Belgium. The green wall is covered in paint from Emery & Cie.

At breakfast, Arthur multitasks while seated at the dining table. He hand-stenciled the pattern on the wall in the background.

Customized with Monogram appliances, the prefab is traveling across the United States, with upcoming stops in Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, and Boston.

“It was a major decision to put the kitchen in the center where everything would revolve around it,” says Lazor. “We did this simply by following what patterns we observed—it was just where people gravitated.” The bar stools are by Blu Dot, and the chairs by Charles and Ray Eames.

An overview of the Dwell Outdoor section, which encompasses over 25,000 square feet and more than 50 exhibitors.

Shades of Green Landscape Architecture designed this striking walkway using climbing vines and metal arches by Terra Trellis.

This fun, modular piece furniture by Drift Studio offers a playful storage solution for kids' rooms.

A highlight of the Outdoor section—always with a line out the door—are the three fully furnished prefab houses, by Livinghomes and Ecofabulous; Sustain Mini-Homes; and Connect Homes, pictured here.

"@dwell cupcakes from LA Tourism #dod2014"

Quench Design, an exhibition showcasing designers from Queensland, Australia, won Best in Show.

Hard Goods's modern Muskoka chair won first place in the very competitive Furniture category.

Best Outdoor Product went to the G Pod.

Via their American headquarters, Lyon-based Fermob will bring their modern take on bistro furniture to the Dwell on Design show floor. Photos by Stephane Rambaud.

Check out all of our 2014 holiday gift guides at a glance, and don't forget to comment here with your best modern gift ideas.

O’Sullivan designed the ceiling “to have a knitted or woven quality like that of wool or silk.” It dives down over the kitchen and dining area, eventually reaching a point at the entry that is low enough to touch. Here, resident Jes Wood leans against the onyx kitchen island while her daughter Ruby hangs out. Replica Jean Prouvé chairs surround the dining table; a vase by Bruce and Estelle Martin for Kamaka Pottery sits on top. The Reel table under the television is by Atelier Oï for B&B Italia.

When it comes to getting your home in tip-top shape for hosting parties this holiday season, or picking out the perfect gift for your favorite foodie, Dwell has you covered. From luxurious cheese knives to truly one-of-a-kind ice cream flavors, are sure to have you and your guests hungry for more.

With nary a necktie in sight, this year's gift guide for men offers something distinctive for every guy on your list, from the sartorialist to the grilling enthusiast to the classic car aficionado and the whisky lover. (We admit, there is a bowtie.)

Our 2012 picks for presents include unique and - we say - downright fun twists on classic gifts for her like jewelry and handbags.

Just because your kitchen is on the smaller side doesn’t mean you can’t make it as efficient and effective as possible.

No whiteware here. In this moody apartment in Berlin, multi-toned charcoal gray subway tiles make up the backsplash, which contrasts with the pop of rosy color on the kitchen cabinets.

A new kitchen at the front of the house completes the trifecta of reworked rooms on the main level. It fits nicely into the notion of balancing new and old elements throughout the house, with oak detailing married to exposed brick, offset by strip lamps. The Hee bar stools are by HAY, the Caravaggio P3 pendants are by Light Years, and the range oven is from Britannia.