1. Don't overcrowd your kitchen counter “One common mistake when styling countertops, is to overcrowd them,” says Sarah Brady, founder and principal designer of Salt Design Company.

Cabinets in Farrow & Ball Picture Gallery Red (No. 42) complement the Rojo Alicante marble from Spain that graces the countertop in this space by Brooklyn-based design studio Workstead.

Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama are no strangers to the light cabinetry and dark countertop combo — they even used the same design combination in their own kitchen. In a home tour they did for HGTV ...

“We recently sold a four-year-old display for $8,000. If a customer were to purchase those same cabinets today, the cost would be $17,000 to $18,000,” he says.