Kitchen backsplashes have not usually been beautified prior to now, thought of essential only as safety for space above the countertop. Now Cori’s kitchen-its teal cupboards working properly with the rich, natural wooden butcher block counters-is a vibrant place of happiness and pleasure. Give a plain white kitchen an instant update with a wall shade. These shapes present loads of cabinet and countertop area, and you can add a bar-top counter to the island for an immediate eat-in house. Since horizontal space is restricted, assume vertical; stack counters and shelves excessive up on the partitions, and try to find modern storage containers and double-obligation pieces.

Her grisaille palette, with partitions in Benjamin Moore Aura in Pike’s Peak Grey, affords a subtle distinction to vivid colors elsewhere in the house. “Cobalt was a fun option to keep away from the everyday all-white kitchen,” says Mark D. Sikes , who selected Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue for this cheery island; the stools are by Serena & Lily, the Roman shade is in a China Seas fabric and the rugs are from Dash & Albert.

In the Connecticut kitchen of accessories designers Richard Lambertson and John Truex’s Connecticut kitchen, a manufacturing facility stool …