Rustic Kitchen Photo

This raised bar is for more than just breakfast. It serves as a perfect perch to browse the net or watch TV on the kitchen’s flat-screen monitor, while the warm brown tones of its quartz surface enhance the room’s earthy palette.

Kitchen accessories don’t always need to be on the counter. A built-in coffeemaker saves space and encourages a clean and simple kitchen system.

This large, open kitchens includes both an island and a peninsula. The spaces can be used separately – one for dining and one for meal preparation.

Sleek black countertops contrast light maple cabinetry. The simple design of the Arts-and-Crafts cabinetry allows unique elements such as the copper range hood, tile backsplash and archtop window to jump out at visitors.

Barn beams decorate the ceiling and also were milled to create the chestnut hardwood floor of this rustic kitchen.

Antique stoves or ice chests can be integrated into 21st-century kitchen design. Here, a split-granite alcove houses a true wood-burning cook stove in this 100-year-old home.

Plenty of counter space, such as the maple butcher block on this island, is a key ingredient to good kitchen design. Varying surface heights makes it usable for both short and tall family members.

To improve the kitchen's workflow, consider storing and displaying dishes in a hutch located near both the cooking and seating areas.

To make one area of the kitchen stand out, use different materials and colors to create contrast. The use of stone, light-colored pine molding, a custom range hood and painted cream cabinets sets this Wolf cooktop apart from the rest of the kitchen.

The centerpiece of this kitchen is the stone hearth that encases the range. Task lighting within the alcove brings attention to the cooking area, making it look like a piece of art.