Kitchens are on my mind a lot these days. I’m hoping to renovate mine within the next year. Consequently, I have been hauling home many of the kitchen design books from the collection to help me with the planning. Here are my current favourites.

House Beautiful Kitchens offers a great selection of classic design. Think white cupboards, marble counters, subway tiles and stainless steel combined with a centre island painted grey or black.

It’s a winning combination shown with many variations on the theme. Occasionally punched with colour, their classic combo might feature a cobalt blue backsplash or spindle chairs painted Moroccan red. When they paint, they identify the source. If you love the colour and want to make it your own, you’ll be very glad that they did. (Moroccan red is Benjamin Moore.)

Country Living Kitchens are more relaxed and family friendly with interesting open shelving. I am attracted to a kitchen where a sturdy shelf is mounted across a long stretch of windows.

In the Kitchens book from This Old House, the use of colour is the main event. Not just splashes against a neutral background, but colour lavished on cupboards and walls. The colour is often combined with very contemporary design and feels fresh and invigorating.

So many great possibilities and so many, many decisions.

- Jane