Cue the Color: Kitchens That Rock the Rainbow

No matter how comfortable your living room is, everyone always gathers in the heart of your home: the kitchen. After all, it's where all the action (and food!) is. Red has long been hailed as the hue that stimulates appetites and conversation, making it the perfect color for your kitchen. Cranberry-red cabinets are the real showstopper in this colorful cottage kitchen. The combination of butcher block and Carrara marble countertops balance out the can't-miss-it shade of red, while counter-to-ceiling blue glass tiles make for a subtle yet impactful backsplash.

This kitchen will have you seeing red, but in the best way possible. High-gloss base cabinets in fire-engine red are a noteworthy contrast to the crisp white uppers and soft gray countertops. Red, orange and white mosaic tiles combine for a geometric backsplash that ties the two cabinet colors together. Coordinating drawer pulls take the contemporary kitchen from streamlined sleek to gorgeously glam.

To quote fashion designer Bill Blass, "When in doubt, wear red." As a colorful alternative to stainless steel, black or white appliances, red is a daring yet classic choice. A jolt of the eye-catching shade energizes this mostly neutral space, which mixes an Old-World aesthetic with state-of-the-art modern amenities.

Intense hues can be hard to incorporate without overwhelming a space — balance is key. This modern kitchen is grounded by charcoal gray lower cabinets and tile flooring, allowing the bold orange upper cabinets to steal the show. The flame-inspired hue brings the eye up and invigorates what would have been a one-note color palette.