While style usually succumbs to overall function in a busy kitchen space, there is no reason -- as these homes prove -- that style can't share a plate with storage.

The kitchen of this California beach house has countertops made of formica; the homeowners specifically picked this material because of its durability. The Thos. Moser stools are comfortable enough for hours of sitting.

Not all our supplies need to be hidden away. In this Hudson Valley, New York kitchen, objects such as pottery and vases are arranged by color and material, which makes the collection look organized. Less display-worthy items are stowed behind the curtain.

In this Brooklyn brownstone, what's now the kitchen used to be a formal parlor. The homeowners retrofitted the space by turning former closets into cabinets for appliances and dishes and adding a custom marble-top island. The room has become the family's go-to hang-out spot.

The kitchen in this American colonial has mahogany counters, a table on casters, and chairs designed by by Arne Jacobsen.

The owners of this Westchester, New York, ranch home updated the kitchen to include a marble-topped island and three Thonet bentwood stools. It now makes a comfortable hub for quick meals or homework.

To achieve a feeling of openness, the owner of this Chicago townhouse washed the kitchen in a clean, pale palette.

This Santa Barbara, California, home's kitchen fireplace is a magnet for everyone in the house, including the family dog.

An editor's tiny apartment still manages big style. The original outmoded cabinetry is turned modern: The cabinet doors were removed and then painted white. The backs of the shelves were painted the same blue as the walls. Removing the doors made the kitchen feel more open. Food is stored in the white canisters on the shelves and the large storage boxes above hold platters and holiday decorations.

The sink came with the house (a foursquare early-19th-century cottage on four acres), and a cabinet holds a collection of Napoleon Ivy Wedgewood china, the pattern used by the French commander.

The 1941 ranch house is a mix of modern and vintage touches located in Austin, Texas. In the retro-style kitchen, an orange theme was an easy choice because it makes the owner, Tosca, happy. Her go-to hue effectively sets the tone for the room, from the citrus-printed Roman shade to the tangerine espresso maker. The motif peaks in the room's border, a series of Tosca's pictures of kids eating fruit hung above the cabinets.

This 1852 Charleston house mixes modern touches with the traditional South Carolina architecture. This light-filled kitchen is the hub of the home's activity. The trestle table's white polished marble top was honed to give it the timeworn appearance of a European cafe table. Surrounded by old church chairs with hymnal pockets. The antiqued table anchors the contemporary room and serves myriad purposes.

A rustic and refined barn home features crafted pendant light fixtures in the kitchen from old metal shades and gas-pipe fittings. The island counter is a 3-inch-thick piece of maple; it is so heavy, it had to be brought into the house in two pieces and then glued together.

A beach bungalow in Greenport, New York, features an ocean-inspired painted floor and walls painted with layers of yellow, white, and spring-green until this radiant result was achieved.

The kitchen in this relaxed, elegant townhouse boasts matching limed-oak cabinets, which warm the palette in the garden-floor space. The gently reflective stainless-steel countertop and backsplash also brighten the room; the dents and dings that come with use actually improve their looks. The painting propped up behind the clock is a Paris flea market find. Black-iron stools are covered in a green vinyl that's tough enough for the after-school crowd.

In a Manhattan apartment, space is tight everywhere. This owner of this kitchen wanted to keep the counters as clear as possible. Cabinets, therefore, were designed to conceal appliances while keeping them handy; electrical outlets are hidden under the upper cabinets.

In this downtown loft space, a rolling ladder, which slides between the open kitchen and the living area, allows access to shelves holding serving pieces and books.

In this Pelham, New York, home, the owners went for a subdued palette. Cabinets from a laboratory supply company hold white tableware and an array of glass compotes and cake plates. The island is topped with a practical butcher block.

For a city apartment kitchen that gets a lot of use, color and function are both on display. Aside from many clever storage spaces, a collection of cafe au lait bowls adds a bright and whimsical focal point.

In this contemporary L.A. home, owners added sleek Bertoia bar stools for the family meals that often take place at the expansive kitchen counter.

In a historic 1920s house in Malibu, California, the kitchen's geometric tile patterns have been described as Pueblo Deco.

The streamlined kitchen of this home -- just outside the Chicago area -- offers plenty of hidden storage; the island, built of red cedar and marble, houses the owner's collection of classic Heath Ceramics "Coupe" tableware.

This bare-bones kitchen in a summer guesthouse has no stove, just a refrigerator and sink -- but remains a lovely spot for light meals.

An iron garden table is painted an irrepressible orange -- perfect for waking up at the breakfast table with orange juice, cantaloupe, and marmalade. Window seats are made cozy with cushions covered in mocha-colored canvas and piping in another fresh orange.