The Room Where the Night Begins

With its sweeping, piano-inspired island, moody color palette, and bar built for self-service, Sara Malek Barney's kitchen is less about cranking out dinner and more about setting the stage for evenings that don't have an end time. Her utility rooms put the fun in functional.

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"The island's curves make it conversational. It encourages people to look at each other, not just face forward," Barney says of this unconventional design. Cabinet paint: Roycroft Bronze Green, Sherwin-Williams. Appliances: Samsung. Fixtures: Brizo. Lighting: Visual Comfort & Co. Stools: Four Hands. Runner: Fibreworks.