Kitchen Revels in Circus Theme

You know how people say life is a circus? Homeowners Anita Cole and Canice Wu really took that idea to heart when it came time to remodel their kitchen. They were in Las Vegas, eating in a circus-themed restaurant when the inspiration came to them to create their own "greatest show on earth."

When they first moved into their California home a few years ago, the kitchen was small and cramped. They tore down some walls and created this big, bright and bold space that is perfect for boys and girls of all ages.

When it came to the cabinetry, the homeowners managed to blend in virtually every color under the rainbow. They adorned the cabinets with a variety of fun and kitschy pulls and knobs.

The family loves the large and triangular hood over the range; it reminds them of the Tin Man's hat in The Wizard of Oz. The small square windows around the hood let in plenty of natural light to reflect the hood's shiny surface. Even more of a glow comes from the chartreuse, glass backsplash. It was designed through a process called slumping, wherein the glass is heated in a kiln and molded into one-inch-thick blocks. But what really makes the kitchen pop are the countertops that are made from a rare granite material called Sodalite Blue.

If people aren't hanging around the large kitchen island, they can chill out right next door in the family room. The two rooms are connected so the kids can play while the adults cook. If the kids want to watch TV while they wait for dinner, a large projection TV comes down from the ceiling with a touch of a button.

The homeowners also continued the circus theme into the dining area. The base of their custom-made dining table was painted to look like a circus drum. In the center of the square table is an inlaid lazy Susan, which is very convenient for those big family dinners.