Sleek Kitchen Makeovers

By Christine Quinlan

A renovation-minded guide to the most beautiful and functional new tiles, faucets, sinks and furniture for a modern kitchen makeover.

Ola20 offers contemporary furniture options for sleek, modern kitchen makeovers.

Courtesy of Snaidero

View the Sleek Kitchen Makeovers Slideshow

Kitchen Makeovers: Furniture for a Streamlined Kitchen

Kitchen Island (right)

An update of a 20-year-old design, Ola20 from Snaidero preserves the trademark curves of the original Ola (the name is Spanish for "wave"); the white lacquer cabinets add a dose of contemporary Italian minimalism. The most striking addition is an oval quartz island countertop that looks as if it's perfectly balanced on a swooping ash base. snaidero-usa.com.

All-In-One Kitchen

Now available in America, Bulthaup's ingenious B2 kitchen set has just three pieces: a workbench for the stove and sink; a pantry for dishes, food and utensils; and a cabinet for appliances. With the doors closed, everything is out of sight; with the doors open, it's all within reach. bulthaup.com.

Workstation

Bornholm Kitchen, named for an island southeast of Sweden, is a company created by a mother-daughter team who make furniture in a Scandinavian style. Pieces like the workstation, with a dishwasher drawer, a sink and lots of storage, are handcrafted to order in the US, in either walnut or oak. bornholmkitchen.com.

Kitchen Makeovers: Tile Upgrades

Curvy

Treble tiles, shown in Coltrane Cream, were inspired by jazz musicians who gave every note a distinctive sound. Curved like sound waves, the glass tiles provide a sense of movement. From $32 per sq ft; artistictile.com.

Trendsetting

A master at spotting trends, Ann Sacks debuts new designs: textured patterns from Vicente Wolf, antiqued mirror tiles and glass mosaics. From $30 per sq ft; annsacks.com.

Textile Inspired

New Ravenna's Loom pattern combines quartz with aquamarine, tanzanite and turquoise glass to create a pattern that resembles woven fabric. From $184 per sq ft; newravenna.com.

Lacy

Caesarstone's new Motivo collection looks like delicate floral lace wallpaper, but it's actually embossed quartz stone that's sturdy enough for the kitchen. $100 per sq ft installed; caesarstone.com.

Kitchen Makeovers: High-Design Faucets

Hidden Sprayer

A button behind the spout releases a retractable hose, otherwise invisible in the Solna faucet from Brizo. From $399; brizo.com.

Touch Technology

The high arc of the Trinsic model from Delta brings a dramatic look to cutting-edge sensor-faucet technology. The spout turns on with a light tap. From $560; deltafaucet.com.

Modern Shape

The Livello faucet has a striking 90-degree curve and an extra-long pull-out sprayer. The 12-inch height makes filling big pots easy. From $790; kwcamerica.com.

Kitchen Makeovers: Smart Sinks

Perfect Fit

Kohler's Whitehaven sink, available with a 7- or 9-inch apron front, was designed to fit most standard cabinets. From $990; kohler.com.

Textured

Waterworks's oversize utility sink (22 inches wide and 16 inches deep) is made from soapstone, which is hand-scored to create a textured pattern. $8,000; waterworks.com.

Sustainable

Lenova uses mature, environmentally friendly bamboo for its durable, undermount double-basin sink. $1,110; lenovasinks.com.

Spacious

In this new sink for Kallista, top kitchen designer Mick De Giulio put the drain in the corner to maximize usable sink space and storage under the cabinet. From $1,895; kallista.com.