"Home is where the hearth is." What this saying basically comes down to is that a dwelling is not a home without a kitchen. Since prehistoric times, dwellings were literally built around the hearth--the cooking and heating center of the home.

Nowadays, the kitchen is where meals are prepared, snacks are sneaked, families come together, and homework and other projects are tackled. The "hearth" is still the "heart" of the home.

Here you'll find information on buying kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring, as well as illustrated DIY advice on how to make it all come together in a collaboration of style and function.

For information on dishwashers, refrigerators, and other kitchen appliances, see Appliances.