Play with proportion. Designed for a bachelor who lives in Victoria, British Columbia, this kitchen features textured Italian laminates in a faux-wood design, offset with stainless steel accents. "The laminates are a good contrast with the area's ever-so-popular oak flooring," Hanl says. "I played with proportion by using a balance of horizontal and vertical directions in the wood grains and an accent cabinet in a mushroom lacquer."The curved tall unit on the left has stainless steel edging that accentuates the shape's dynamics. It hides a structural post but also serves as a display unit and a place for keys. "He asked for a hint of blue, which we brought in with the quartz countertop as well as in the tile backsplash at the sink," Hanl elaborates. "The three-dimensional wave-shaped glass mosaic, which covers the entire window wall, combines all the colors I used in the kitchen."