The answers are as varied as the cooks who use them. Some would reply that it’s the built-in Sub-Zero wine refrigerator or the Miele warming drawers. For others it’s the way the morning sunlight falls across the counter, or always having fresh flowers and a plate of cookies to welcome guests. But most would agree that a fabulous kitchen is about finding the perfect marriage between form and function.

Whether compact and efficient, or spacious and grand, the recipe for such a kitchen successfully combines beautiful materials, great lighting, and hard-working appliances with unique style and character. A memorable kitchen expresses the personality of the owners, and provides the workspace and tools needed to create everything from an elaborate feast to a simple midnight snack.

Steve and Linda Rosso were inspired by their love of cooking and their Italian heritage to create a wonderful kitchen in their Brookside home. This rustic, yet elegant Tuscan-styled space incorporates chiseled granite, a 6-burner commercial range, and a built-in cappuccino maker. But what makes it truly special is the wood fire pizza oven imported from Italy. Linda loves to gather a varied mix of guests around the island to join in the meal preparation. After spending time together rolling dough, topping it with sauce and an array of fresh ingredients, and popping it into the brick oven, people who may have arrived as strangers leave as friends. It is a perfect example of how thoughtful kitchen planning can help create many happy memories.

A modern kitchen with a vintage feel was what Ryan and Angela McShane were after when they recently remodeled their Pine Street home, built in 1930. The resulting beautiful, light-filled space with period details melds seamlessly with the old architecture.

These parents of three young boys combined a former butler’s pantry, maid’s quarters and the old, cramped kitchen to create a spacious and functional workspace designed around a large central island. Furniture-style cabinetry and counters clad in softly honed Crema del Oro marble are finished with classic crystal knobs and a crackled subway tile backsplash.

A large farmhouse sink works equally well for washing up large stockpots and bathing the baby. Practical elements include two dishwashers, a television cleverly disguised above the microwave, and below-counter refrigerator drawers that allow the boys to grab a snack on their own. The careful attention to detail has created a timeless and stylish kitchen that functions well for both family living and large-scale entertaining.

Our mild climate here in the San Joaquin Valley affords us the ability to have fabulous kitchens outdoors as well as in. Bill and Susan Filios enjoy the flexibility offered by their outdoor kitchen spaces overlooking the Calaveras River. The couple entertain year-round thanks to the amenities included in their outdoor cooking areas, including a wood-burning fireplace and overhead heaters. They can gather a crowd to watch a football game on the outdoor television or host a poolside barbeque with equal ease. Comfortable seating areas and outdoor speakers make these areas a wonderful addition to their home.

Preparing and sharing meals with family and friends is one of life’s greatest pleasures, made even better in a fabulous, well-designed kitchen.