This open-plan kitchen was built as part of a major home addition. Black cabinetry on the kitchen island contrasts with the medium brown wood of the wall and base cabinets. The custom stone ventilation, with its arch above the rangetop, creates a rustic hearth look.

Knotty alder cabinets, a beamed ceiling, butcher block counters and a farmhouse sink all give this kitchen a rustic, lodge feel.

Perimeter cabinets finished in antique white with a brown glaze contrast beautifully with a sturdy island finished in a rich brown with black highlights and a black stone countertop. Note the microwave tucked under the counter to preserve the open sightlines of the wall of windows.

Nothing says farmhouse like a huge apron-front sink that stands apart from the kitchen cabinets. Here, a honed absolute black granite sink, counter and backsplash sit on a wooden base that looks like a vanity, with an open shelf on the bottom. A bridge-style faucet in an oil-rubbed bronze finish completes the look.

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 and painted cream cabinets sets this Wolf cooktop apart from the rest of the kitchen.

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

Plenty of counter space is a key ingredient to good kitchen design. Varying surface heights makes it usable for both short and tall family members. This butcher block island has a maple top.

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.

Pendant lighting over the island is a good opportunity to integrate personal style into the kitchen. Barn beams decorate the ceiling and also were milled to create the chestnut hardwood floor.

Sleek black countertops are an ideal contrast to light-colored 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.