Design solutions: Victorian decor and condo kitchen questions

Q I live in a typical big-city, small-space condo in which the kitchen is integrated into the rest of the living space. I'm installing new kitchen cabinetry and really like the "unfitted" look. What do you think of mixing in a few black glass-front cabinets with antiqued painted white cabinets? Maryann Mulveney, via e-mail

A In a small-space condo, I wouldn't mix two different colours of upper cabinets. I think the result could be a choppy, cluttered look. Instead, you could try one of these schemes for a fresh take on kitchen design.

1 Choose all uppers in one colour, all lowers in another, check out the Septmber 2007 issue of on page 94 for a great example.

TIP The darker colour should be on the bottom units to ground the space.

2 Forgo the upper cabinets altogether and instead install a few sleek open shelves.