House Beautiful Kitchens (Great style series)

The kitchen has always been the center of the home, both literally and figuratively -- the place where we cook, dine, catch up with our family, even congregate when company comes over. Making sure it is the warm, welcoming, practical room of our dreams is not as difficult as it might sound. The editors of House Beautiful have assembled a world of affordable, achievable, ideas for tailoring this room to every design need and decorating style.

Profiles of kitchens throughout the country give us a chance to visit with the designers, architects, and homeowners who tackled a host of design problems on a wide range of budgets. More than 140 beautiful color photographs and floor plans bring every detail to light.

House Beautiful Kitchens begins with a look at three of the most popular kitchen styles: sleek contemporary: country, old and new; and specialty kitchens, customized to unique needs and specific demands. Next come the elements of good kitchen design: basic decisions about layout, appliances, storage, and lighting, as well as the decorative questions of surfaces, finishes, and the all important accents and touches.

From tiny city apartment galley to expansive California family room, House Beautiful Kitchens explores countless ways to put kitchen beauty, comfort, and efficiency within every homeowner's reach.