Eclectic ChicTransitional Kitchen, Chicago

Rack ’em Up Next, it’s time to clean the interior racks of your oven. Remove the racks and place them in the sink to take their turn at soaking in the sudsy water. Shiraz suggests letting them soak for at least 20 minutes, if not longer. “This will loosen up the grease and caked-on dirt,” he says. Afterward, use a sponge or dishwashing brush to scrub any remaining residue. “If the racks are ceramic, use a non-abrasive sponge,” he says. For metal racks, Stegner uses a pumice stone on each bar. “It takes a while, but everything comes off,” she says. Finally, rinse and dry.

Go for colored appliances. If your appliances are ready for an upgrade, consider splurging on colored ones. Remember, appliances are big-ticket items, so choose a color you love and don’t see yourself getting sick of for a while. If you’re revamping your entire cooking zone, decide whether you wish to play it safe and dress the rest of your space in classic white or neutral tones, or go all-out and introduce contrasting colors that will complement your new appliances and make them pop.Range: Cluny 1400G in Provence Yellow, Lacanche

Concrete cement countertops not too thick, so less chunky looking on our “lightweight” cabinets