The first thing you notice when you walk into Cheyenne's loft in the SOMA District of San Francisco is the light. It floods through skylights and a bank of west-facing windows in this 1920s industrial building turned condo. The ceilings are high, the palate is white with lots of wood and pops of color, and the style is spare and modern, but the overall effect is welcoming and warm. It feels like the sort of place you want to be. 

At the end of a bumpy, red dirt driveway in a small town in southern Lebanon, you'll find the home of farmer Abu Kassem and his family. For about 13 years, they have been growing za'atar, the once-wild herb that plays a starring role in the increasingly popular spice blend of the same name. The path from field to flatbread is simple on this organic farm, but one fueled by dedication and hard work. Take a peek at how they do it — and you may never look at that bottle of supermarket za'atar in the same way again.

Despite having a relatively small space to work with, Sam and Judy have been entertaining and cranking out effortlessly delicious meals from this kitchen for years. The couple, both avid home cooks, moved into their cozy, two-bedroom Cape Cod style house in Northern Virginia in 1981. Though the bones of the kitchen are original to the house, a few features, such as a new kitchen sink and faucet, light fixtures, hardware, and wallpaper, were updated just over a year ago. 

Sarah and Frank planned to remodel the small, eat-in kitchen when they bought their 1920s Dutch Colonial on Seattle's Queen Anne Hill. It was their contractor’s idea, however, to take over an attached back deck. This allowed them to add a lounge area, with couches and shelves for cookbooks, and French doors leading to the backyard. "Now we pretty much live in here," says Sarah. The well-equipped kitchen has become the focal point of their home and a favorite hangout for guests.

Although Rubén wasn’t born or raised in the generally warm and sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia, his years as a college student in this region decisively influenced his cooking style. During that time he managed to learn and prepare almost to perfection what is considered by many to be the quintessential Spanish dish: paella. (His friends even gave him the noble title of The King of Paella!)

Brian Solem and Cyndi Fecher are the co-editors of Graze magazine, "a food-oriented lit mag dedicated to the food on your mind and the thoughts on your plate." The two met in college and lived in the same building in Logan Square for several years. Over time the kitchen has seen many dinner parties between the first and second floor. Cyndi now lives right down the street, but that hasn’t put a stop to their kitchen collaborations.

Architect Arjen lives with his family in a picturesque little corner of Amsterdam, in an imposing 18th century building originally designed as military barracks. Their kitchen is typical Dutch style, with two walls of parallel kitchen units, divided by a narrow passage, which opens out into a wider dining and social area. This kitchen is a cosy, yet open space that combines the old and the new, the wild and the domesticated. 

As soon as I walk in I'm struck by the antique stuffed dear head mounted on the wall just above the KitchenAid, a piece of kitchen equipment that Arjen admits these days he wouldn't be without! This wonderful Dutch kitchen is full of curiosities and otherworldly finds, each one representing a personal story, memorable meal or exotic location. 

When Josh and Sarah moved into their lovely home in the Cherry Hill Historic District of Grand Rapids, they customized every nook and cranny to their impeccable style. Together Josh, a graphic designer, and Sarah run the lifestyle blog When Regarding Ruffles, so it's no surprise their house reflects all of their creativity — especially the kitchen! It's bright and cheery with tons of natural light and stylish white cabinets that contrast well with dark grey countertops.

Julie Morelli and Andy Schwegler are the witty and creative minds behind Chicago based print shop Nourishing Notes and boutique design firm Letterform. Their mission is simple, "We believe there's nothing better than food, family, friends, and laughter." The two met in in design school and have been together for ten years, and married for two. A truly collaborative pair, they share a business, home and love for cooking. I was so excited to be invited to brunch where the couple divided and conquered to cover the table with warm, homemade bread, muesli and a delicious frittata. Our friend designer, Valarie Craig, joined us for a sunny, mid-day meal which truly paid testimony to the company's philosophy.

"I've always wanted a desk in my kitchen," says writer Tara Austen Weaver. "I like the idea of being able to pop up and stir the soup as I work." Instead of putting a table in her eat-in Seattle kitchen, she refinished a small student desk where she could write, cook food from her garden, and photograph the result for her blog, Tea & Cookies. More