Thoroughly Modern Kitchen, Only Warmer

Feeling secure in what you like and willing to go for it means you've conquered 50 percent of the kitchen design challenge, says Rebekah Zaveloff, a kitchen designer in Chicago. "It doesn't matter if it's trendy or in style as long as it's what you want — if it makes you smile when you walk in the room!" she says.

When one of her clients approached her about doing a minimalist kitchen, he exuded confidence and a natural affinity for materials and approaches unlike anything other homeowners would be drawn to. "He knew just what he wanted and his ideas were a study in some things a lot of homeowners find hard to do, like doing without wall cabinets or caring for a white limestone counter," she says. "At the same time, he was willing to entertain ideas for alternative materials and to rethink how he stored things to achieve his goals."

Such decisive thinking made for a beautiful and unusual kitchen, but it also created challenges in installation and a few elements that Rebekah couldn't see working for anyone else. Here, she shares some solutions that made the design live up to its potential, as well as advice for developing your own design taste and confidence.