Old-fashioned looks, such as the embossed stainless steel above the range and the beaded-board ceiling and island base, form the basis for a warm and inviting intimacy in this period-inspired kitchen. But it's the buttery yellow paint that makes this kitchen a standout .

Instead of replacing the cabinets to get a new look, paint does the trick here. The cabinets were sanded, coated with an oil-base primer, and finished with two coats of semigloss latex enamel. The color brightens the room, and the enamel finish is easy to clean. Open shelves make a perfect spot for displaying ironware. Sheathing the island in white beaded-board paneling makes it a gracious focal point in a warm, homey room .

Despite the presence of an eight-burner range and stainless-steel hood sized to match, this pro-amenity-packed kitchen presents an old-fashioned cheeriness thanks to a yellow-and-white color palette. Upper cabinets are white with yellow interiors (all the better to display contents). Lower cabinets combine white face frames and yellow center panels. Yellow marble sheaths the baking center's countertop, while butcher block adds its own warm glow to work stations elsewhere in the room .

Brilliant yellow cabinets give this classic kitchen a charisma, especially when paired with a backsplash that features tiles with a yellow harlequin pattern that dances from side to side. Upper cabinets boast natural wood construction, with specialty glass inserts that partially obscure the pretty green and white dishes on display. Black granite countertops add drama, while a wide-planked hardwood floor offers an heirloom sensibility to a clearly contemporary room .

Dark wood countertops add a dramatic touch in a kitchen that's sheathed in pale yellow. Almost a neutral, the yellow paint allows the texture of the beaded-board paneling to play a major role in the kitchen's design. Strongly veined marble adds an organic presence to a room ruled by lines. Above the sink, a vibrant painting draws together the room's colors with dabs of red and green that make it a focal point .

Everything in this kitchen says traditional, from the furniture-style cabinets to the toile wallpaper and white ironware on display in open shelves. Yellow paint allows the cabinet details to shine: elaborate crown molding, raised panel doors and drawer fronts, and faux muntins over seeded glass insets. The island, which resembles an antique desk, anchors the room with its rich wood construction. A red-patterned Oriental rug calls attention to the red figures in the toile while offering a splash of color on the floor .

Rich, earthy colors accentuate this kitchen's unfitted English farmhouse feel. Buttery-yellow beveled-brick tiles comprise a backsplash that stretches from countertop to crown molding, creating a warm backdrop for barely gray Shaker-style cabinets. Woven area rugs soften pine floors, while handsome striped fabrics dress the windows. Bright yellow seat cushions pop against a green-painted island topped with zinc; the island makes the large kitchen's work triangle manageable .

This cozy kitchen combines yellow-painted cabinetry, white subway tiles, and a white farm sink to create a charming early-20th-century persona. Mission-style shelves mounted on sturdy corbels work well for displaying colorful vintage pottery, which pops against pale yellow walls .