A Kitchen in Vibrant Red

In this kitchen, there was no need to replace the perimeter cabinets since they were good quality and in excellent condition. Instead, homeowners decided to warm up the room with red.

When new homeowners moved into this house, nearly everything in the kitchen was white: walls, trim, cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, and fixtures. The fix? Some surface and appliance updates along with lots of vibrant color.

To make the sink area feel less confining, homeowners replaced a few solid upper-cabinet doors with decorative glass versions. Keeping the countertops and walls light and placing the island farther away from the refrigerator also help the space feel more open.

To make existing cabinets more interesting, three new leaded-glass doors were installed on the cabinets adjacent to the new refrigerator. Glass shelving, freshly painted interiors, and interior cabinet lighting transform the once-plain boxes into fine showcases for collectibles.

Shiny white tile countertops and backsplashes were the first things to go, replaced with the texture and warmth of a tumbled marble backsplash and affordable 14-inch-square porcelain tiles on the countertops. Only the narrowest of grout lines separate the porcelain tiles, so the finished surface is almost as smooth as a stone slab.

Two coats of red paint followed by a black glaze and a varnish coat give the cabinets a durable, colorful finish. New cabinet pulls mimic the lines of the leaded-glass door inserts.

The new kitchen island was built with cherry wood and dressed up with purchased corbels. Behind the island, the countertop was raised to a height of 36 inches to make room for a new wine cooler and a handy bank of drawers. Older appliances were replaced with a double wall oven and a microwave oven that was placed in one end of the island opposite the refrigerator -- a convenient location for kids.

The egg-and-dart countertop edging is made from a composite material. It adds a stylish flair to the new countertop, which is shaped in interesting angles and curves. Carved corbels below add detail and interest to plain cabinetry.