High visibility and use put kitchens in the spotlight

Beautiful and efficient kitchens take center stage in today's open-style home designs.

No longer walled away out of sight, today's kitchens welcome family and friends into an entire living area where everything is open and on display. Because the kitchen has become a more public space, homeowners want it to shine with style and class.

Creating a beautiful space starts at the hand of the architect who, with a great design and a functional work triangle, eases cooking, serving and cleanup.

And with more people cooking and entertaining at home, a well-equipped kitchen with modern conveniences is a must for preparing both typical family meals and gourmet cooking for serving up a crowd.

Buyers still want high-end features such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors, said Jennifer Arndt, marketing director for Rock Creek Homes.

Other ingredients for the kitchen includes a pleasing palette, custom cabinetry (the most dominant feature in the room) and plenty of seating that often includes a table and chairs as well as one or two islands with bar stools.

Under-cabinet lighting and glamorous chandeliers, along with natural light, add to the room's ambience while decorative backsplashes, plants, artwork and other touches finish off the space.

Of course, homes are becoming smarter and more energy efficient every year with home automation systems. When you run out of milk, you can even get an alert, said Kim Meier, president of KLM Builders.

Here are some of the beautiful kitchens that area builders showcase in their model homes.

Thousand Oaks

KLM Builders, Spring Grove

The Brentwood model at Thousand Oaks showcases a beautiful Tuscan kitchen with multiple high-end appliances that will make life a dream for buyers who love to cook and entertain.

They will welcome the two built-in ovens, one on either side of the kitchen, and a built-in microwave drawer with a touch sensor that slides out like a drawer.

For those who entertain a crowd and generate more soiled dinnerware, dual dishwashers will make cleanup easy. Glassware and delicate pieces might go in one dishwasher while the heavy-duty stuff loads up the other.

The paneled refrigerator has a furniture look and gives the space an uncluttered and consistent feel. It matches the cabinetry, which also looks like a piece of furniture with two-piece crown molding and a toe kick around the base.

The room features earth tones with faux finish on the walls and two different colors of granite countertops on the perimeter cabinetry and the island.

Other luxury features include a nice tumbled marble backsplash, pot filler over the cooktop, center island and butler pantry.

"This space pretty much has everything," Meier said.

Lexington Hills

Lexington Homes, Palatine

The Summit model at Lexington Hills showcases the wide variety of high-end options and features available at the luxury townhouse community, said Jeff Benach, co-principal of Lexington Homes.

A wonderful feature that pulls the whole living space together is the flat molding on the fireplace wall that creates a geometric pattern and gives the home a custom look. The wall treatment also adorns the wall in the dining/kitchen area for a nice consistency.

In the beautiful kitchen, elegance reigns with stainless steel appliances, cream glazed cabinetry with 42-inch uppers and quartz countertops. A dark gray subway tile backsplash is a bold contrast with the lighter colors.

Homeowners can entertain with ease with a wall-to-wall, built-in buffet counter and informal counter seating where bar stools bring in a modern industrial look.

The main level features 9-foot ceilings and wide-plank hardwood flooring with a dark espresso stain that gives the space a rich look.

Benach says the plans at Lexington Hills were new designs created specifically for this community, and so far buyer response has been fantastic.

Mayfair

M/I Homes, Naperville

A standout feature in the kitchen in the Columbus model at Mayfair is the stunning wall of white cabinetry that extends into the breakfast area. The cabinetry shows open shelving and cubbies that display dishware and store wine while closed cabinets below offer more storage space. In this open plan, the wall helps make the whole living space look much more connected.

The popular open shelving and glass-fronted cabinets are more interesting than a solid wall of wood cabinets. They're lighter, have a more decorative look and allow the owners to show off pretty dishware as well as their personalities.

The solid dark wood floors look beautiful against the white cabinetry and add natural warmth to the kitchen. An added bonus is that wood floors are much easier on your feet and back than tile.

The kitchen also features stainless steel appliances, a round wood table in the breakfast nook and a breakfast bar with seating. Sliding glass doors lead to the balcony.

The white cabinets are also a wonderful look with the model's fresh vibrant colors of pale blues, corals and greens and clean furniture lines.

Henning Estates

Rock Creek Homes, Huntley

Arndt refers to the kitchen in the new Regent model as a "great chef's kitchen" that appeals to people who spend a lot of time at home and like to entertain.

A focal point in this open plan with vaulted ceilings is the gorgeous double-sided stone fireplace that defines the kitchen and great room.

"This is a unique architectural feature that separates the kitchen and breakfast nook from the living space, but it's not like a wall that closes the spaces off from each other," Arndt said. "When working in the kitchen, you can see out the back windows and into the great room and still be in on the action."

The kitchen also features staggered maple cabinetry providing visual interest, especially with a vaulted ceiling. One island accommodates three bar stools while another small island sits behind it. A large pantry helps the cook stay organized and cuts down on clutter

Neutral creamy countertops contrast with the dark hardwood floors and oil rubbed bronze fixtures.

The largest ranch plan offered at Henning Estates, the Regent design functions perfectly for buyers who aren't ready to downsize but want to live in a well-designed home on one level.