Anne and John Moss are true renaissance people. When not working at their family-run veterinary clinic or tending the myriad animals on their small Southern Pennsylvania farm, the pair can be found participating in a wide range of eccentric activities. But whether re-enacting a civil war battle, sailing a reproduction pirate ship, fighting a medieval joust, or performing in a traveling circus, food plays a big role in their history- and merry-making.

A recent roundup of kitchens from Apartment Therapy house tours sparked an interesting discussion about trends in kitchen design. While some readers prefer large, entertaining kitchens with distinctive finishes and appliances, others seek more humble setups with minimal visual intrusion. This debate inspired us to dig up some inspiration for homeowners who love to cook, but don't necessarily want an attention-grabbing kitchen.

When I was growing up, meal times weren't exactly sacred. My father worked at night, and my mother (a picky eater) often made separate meals for herself, which she ate alone while watching the evening news. From my point of view, eating together was what families on TV did. Not real people with jobs and chores and homework. So it came as a big surprise when my six-year-old announced the other day that his favorite family activity is Friday night dinner.

We've dabbled in chocolate-flavored tea and delighted in tea-infused hot chocolate, but the merging of chocolate and tea never completely won us over — until now.

Sometimes solving one problem creates another. That's what happened when Cambridge, MA residents Angela Shen-Hsieh and Mark Schindler opened up their previously sub-divided space. While their renovation got rid of the fragmented, boxy feel, it also eliminated most of their kitchen storage. This very sleek and pretty kitchen got a very interesting storage solution — read on to see how it works!

When Ulrika and Mark walked into the cramped, dark kitchen of a 1926 Tudor house in Cambridge, MA, they saw something no one else had: possibility. With open minds and a lot of patience, they transformed this blight into a warm, gracious space that is now the hub – and heart – of their charming historic home.

The advantages of open-plan living are many: increased light, ease of entertaining, and greater household interaction, to name a few. But combining distinct spaces into one fluid, multifunctional whole also presents unique challenges. Over the next few weeks, we'll be featuring three New England kitchens that use creative design solutions to integrate seamlessly with adjacent spaces.