Today's kitchen has been changed from a simple food-preparation galley to the command and distribution center of a dynamic great-room. Without careful arrangement, however, this type of multipurpose kitchen can be a great disappointment. Kitchen and family-room colors may clash, cooking odors and messes may intrude on relaxation, and the free-flowing space can be a free-for-all of noise if electronics, appliances, and gabbing guests all compete.

One mistake we see in kitchens is a little too much openness. When you sit down to a gourmet dinner, you don't want to be looking at dirty pots and pans stacked up in the sink.

Setting it apart

Each activity area of the great-room should have its own identity while still fitting into the whole. A skylight over a reading spot or a large bank of windows in the family area will give these spaces a special atmosphere. Put table and floor lamps in an informal area, a chandelier in the dining spot. Shine floodlights on specific areas; use down-lights and can lights to illuminate a piece of artwork or an interesting architectural feature. If the lighting for each area is controlled separately, the lights can be dimmed in the unused areas to keep attention turned to the area in use.

Changes in ceiling height and floor level give areas immediate distinction.

Although colors throughout the great-room should be complementary, accent colors can set the mood and define individual areas.

Control traffic flow with partial walls, columns, peninsulas, islands, and furniture placement.

Pulling it together

Now that you have activity areas planned, remember that the primary focus remains cooking and serving food. How do you keep that process from being interrupted? Stools at a kitchen island or peninsula invite guests to draw close, but keep them out of the cook's way. Locate doors so traffic is diverted from the kitchen work area. Accommodate the after-school crowd at a separate snack spot at the fringe of the main work area. Control noise with pocket or bifold doors. Purchase quiet appliances and run the dishwasher after guests have left.

A good ventilation system of fans and windows can help curtail odors, but choose a less-pungent menu if guests will linger nearby. Kitchen messes can be hidden by strategically placed wall- or ceiling-hung cabinets. A raised countertop or a partial wall can keep soiled pots and plates out of view.

Topping it off

The decorating scheme for an open kitchen is different from that for a standard one. Remember that kitchen canisters and a countertop blender aren't just accessories for the kitchen: They will be seen from the dining and living areas as well. So how do you keep the work core working hard yet looking nice? Storage garages for appliances reduce countertop clutter. Easy-clean surfaces, such as laminate countertops and wood or vinyl floors, make it easier to keep the kitchen clean. Furniture-style cabinets or hutches and china closets can blur the line between kitchen and living room.

A neutral color scheme is most adaptable to change. Whites and off-whites complement most new design elements you bring in without forcing a full makeover of color. Bolder colors can be brought out in easily changed accessories, art, and trim.

The kitchen is the center of any home and you want your kitchen to be one that invites everybody to come, gather together, and pitch in. This is the motive that you want your kitchen to shine above all other rooms in your home though. The kitchen should radiate affection and home to everyone who enters.