Tour 10 Amazing Kitchens

Built-in conveniences are top priority in this high-gloss modern kitchen: a docking station for electronics and a built-in dog-feeding station are just the beginning. Two islands — one with a programmable backsplash that changes colors — are equipped with two dishwashers, three appliance garages and a trash compactor. So where's the food? Inside all those maple cabinets. Built-ins within the maple cabinets include a coffeemaker, a second oven and a microwave with crisping pan, which will crisp french fries and even bake chocolate chip cookies.

The kitchen island is complete with a Wolf five-burner glass stovetop, oven, warming drawer, deep drawers for pots and pans, and a CaesarStone countertop. It's also used as a bar area for guests. The lighting system is connected to Lutron's Homeworks, which allows the homeowner to control everything from a laptop. Audio and visual are also wired throughout the kitchen, so someone working in the kitchen can watch and listen in if a movie is being played in the home's oversized entertainment room.

This kitchen, designer Amy Finley's own, is all about commonsense. The kitchen is the gathering place for her five children and for weekly dinners with extended family. Things stay hot in this minimalist kitchen with custom La Cornue appliances, radiant-heated limestone floors, a stainless steel meat counter and hidden warming drawers. The ceiling centerpiece, commissioned metal artwork by a famous artist from Venice, Italy, was specifically designed to diffuse the bright San Diego sunlight from the skylight.

Who needs wall art when you have 1,900 pounds of onyx countertops illuminated from within by 1,600 LED lights? Beyond this bright island is an espresso bar, directly under a set of display shelves for porcelain coffee cups and saucers. Designer Amy Finley says, "It's a rule that everyone has to be involved in cooking the food, which is never a problem with all the countertop space, sinks and smart design. Everyone loves to cook in my kitchen when they come over. I feel really spoiled — I get to live in it every day." This kitchen is proof that less is definitely more.