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1. Be bold with a broad swath of yellow. For a spacious and bright gallery-like setting, start with a neutral colour scheme—like the smart white cabinetry and grey concrete floors seen here—and have fun with a contrasting colour to enliven the room.

2. Try a tower for smart storage. With slide-out drawers hidden behind tall doors, these cabinets pair a sleek exterior with efficient storage design. (You’ll never dig around at the back of a shelf again!) They’re also perfect for camouflaging appliances.

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3. Go green with recycled counters and cabinets. These striking yellow towers are more than just pretty faces—they were created with zero emissions, using 100-percent-recycled (and recyclable) wood.

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4. Create a sunny glow with the right finish on the cabinets. This space is flooded with natural light from a wall of windows—but, if you aren’t so lucky, a matte satin finish on the glass cabinets will pick up ambient light and create a soft, glowing effect. For a small space, use a glossy finish to add depth to the room.

5. Get high tech on the counter. Nikron, a new quartz-resin composite, is easily crafted into a 17-foot-long countertop without joints—and it’s stainproof and tough as nails. “You’d need a diamond to scratch it,” says Drinovac.