For Approval: Dacor

Their creative confections may ruin our diets, but we’re happy to be their taste testers anytime.

Top designers give their advice about how to choose a stylish, functional faucet and what it will cost. Hint: it’s more than you may think.

Laminated-MDF cabinetry helps to hide clutter in the kitchen.

“You can stand in one space and reach everything,” explains Colin of the precise kitchen layout with its custom-made stainless steel countertop, cantilevered cupboards, and integrated cooktop and oven. The cupboards’ shallow shelves were specially made to take up minimal space and to fit Muji storage jars.

Pros: Concrete countertops are durable, resistant to heat, and can be less expensive than natural stone, especially when completed as a DIY project. Cons: Concrete must be sealed before being used; otherwise, its porous nature means that it will stain very easily.

If the idea of a plain white backsplash doesn't appeal to you, but you still want a neutral backsplash, consider handmade tiles or a material that comes in a range of colors and tones. Here, a cream-colored backsplash made of traditional Moroccan tiles and available through Emory & Cie line the backsplash of the kitchen.

The search for a 13-foot-long island to fit their kitchen led them to marry Calacatta Miele and stainless steel to make one giant counter. Marble, they discovered, was available only in 10-foot slabs, due to the dimensions of shipping containers.

High-performance materials like Dekton by Cosentino are new alternatives for granite. The surface is scratch-resistant and easier to clean than stone.

The interiors are outfitted with beech floors and ceilings. Custom laminate cabinets in varying colors create storage throughout the home.

In a 1960s house in Overland Park, Kansas, Forward Design | Architecture remodeled a kitchen, family room, and mudroom. Walnut cabinets integrate the appliances to create a seamless look.

Located in the Pacific Palisades, this home had been virtually untouched for over 40 years as it remained in the hands of the original ownership. Architect Kevin Southerland renovated it with an eye for preserving its "good bones" and gently updating it with eco-friendly materials. A new layer of painted cement board now coats the exterior, lending it long-term durability and resistance to decay. "By removing a few interior walls, reconfiguring a couple of others and opening up the kitchen/living/dining areas, we were left with a wonderfully livable floor plan with a great balance of public and private space," says Southerland. A large, open, galley-style kitchen and mirrored planes of wall paneling visually expand the home's interior perspective.

The new galley kitchen features a slim Corian countertop and backsplash over a deep walnut cabinetry. In the pantry and bathroom areas beyond, white terrazzo flooring replaces wood. The wall at the back of the shower is clad in large format Blue de Savoie stone tiles.

Having spent his childhood in Tel Aviv, Brunn grew up surrounded by Bauhaus architecture, and its principles of form following functionality is evident in his designs.

Leo counter stools

The new open kitchen features maple, quartz, steel + concrete finishes, as well as a custom slatted maple and plywood island.

The oversized kitchen island utilizes a structure of aluminum spacers at maple slats to support the plywood and stainless steel top.

Glass Farmhouse | Olson Kundig

Interior spaces are simple and understated. Natural timber in light tones contrasts with white walls, lit by washes of sunlight.