For open kitchen layouts that blend into the entertaining and living areas (say, in a loft, for example) this idea seamlessly integrates the two: a kitchen island that's kitchen-ey on one side, and home design-focused on the other! 

Last week we asked you, our readers, to share the one kitchen item you'd recommend splurging on. The response was overwhelming, but right on in our view. If you've ever wondered what's worth the money in the kitchen, read on for some valuable insight: More

Here's a question: if you had a friend come to you and say that she's setting up her kitchen on a budget, but she's put aside a little money to buy one really terrific thing for her kitchen, what would you tell her to invest in? We're not talking about appliances, like refrigerators, stoves, or anything that requires serious manpower or a renovation. We're talking about something accessible and portable, the one product or tool that could make a serious difference for either her cooking, her kitchen's functionality, her peace of mind, or all of the above! What would you recommend? More

Seven years ago Kathleen bought a derelict century-old carriage house, gutted it, and transformed it into a warm and wonderful home. The Eastern design aesthetic of the renovated space filters into Katherine's kitchen as well. It's easy to imagine what joy this kitchen brings to Kathleen. She can cook, host, share, and celebrate all in one glorious spot!

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If you like the no-fuss functionality of restaurant equipment, you'll probably love this stainless steel wall-mounted dish rack from French design company Tsé & Tsé. It's advertised as a dish drainer (all the shelves have holes in them) to be hung over the sink, but I honestly think it'd work better as a dishware cabinet in a small kitchen, don't you? You could even get a couple and hang them side by side for a wall of open cabinetry. More

What makes a $2,000 kitchen renovation different from a $62,000 renovation? That may sound like a ridiculous question, but the premise is intriguing: take a tiny rental kitchen in Brooklyn, bring in a few expert opinions, and get three different renovation proposals that run the gamut on price. That's what one NYT writer did, and it's such an interesting look at the why and how of small kitchen renovations. More

Last week I was in Portland and got to visit one of my favorite stores, Canoe, for the first time. Since I was on vacation, I splurged and bought myself a Health Ceramic mug ($34). Like many of my other favorite home and kitchen stores (Brook Farm General Store, Kaufmann Mercantile, Herriott Grace, to name a few), I found myself eyeing far more than I could afford to buy at that time. Which has me wondering: how do you determine whether or not a kitchen tool or accessory is worth the price? How important is the item's aesthetic appeal and backstory? More

Who: Strato
What We Noticed: Here's one more EuroCucina peek that I saved for Wine Week: A standalone wine "room" by luxury Italian kitchen designer Strato. This beautiful hunk of wood is a modern, luxurious way to store a lot of wine. Not terribly practical (no built-in climate control, for instance, and it would take up a lot of space!) but wouldn't it be nice to see it all filled up with wine bottles? More

Who: Marchi Group
What We Noticed: Most of the kitchen design at EuroCucina fell into one of two buckets: Sleek and minimalist, or over-the-top rococo luxury. So this showroom from Italian Marchi Group felt very different. These kitchens are like fantasy ideals of American and British kitchens, with casual details like chalkboard walls, faux-industrial pendants, and zinc tabletops. This showroom was absolutely packed with crowds every time I walked by! More

Who: MK, Italian kitchen design
What We Noticed: I don't think of myself as a minimalist, but this hood and sleek wood island with integrated cooktop literally stopped me in my tracks at EuroCucina. In context it felt serene and quiet, unfussy and very functional. The white almost blends in to the ceiling, and the woods keeps it feeling warm. Nothing here is trying too hard.
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