There's a certain sameness to kitchen designs. Whether it's because of the typical function, expected layout or needed appliances, even well-designed kitchens can look homogenous. But there are simple ways to add a creative pop to a kitchen. It requires thinking outside of conventional boundaries. "Don't go all fruits and flowers in the kitchen," advises Jenny Rausch, owner of Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath in St. Louis. Here are eight ways to make your kitchen stand out.

1 Glass • Glass is most commonly used in kitchen accessories and tends to get overlooked as a potential building material because of concerns about heat-resistance and durability.

But Karl Desjardins, media coordinator for Quebec-based Thinkglass (thinkglass.com), says their glass countertops are just as durable and heat-resistant as stone. In fact, they are installing several commercial glass counters and bars in night clubs and airports. The artistic and clean look of their painted glass counters would make any kitchen sparkle.

2 Choose an unexpected color for cabinets • Two popular color choices at Karr Bick are both unusual shades. One is a custom-color blend called Revere Pewter by Mouser Custom Cabinetry. It's a creamy gray color that has a French feel and also works in homes with a coastal look.

The other, Pudding Mold (at right), by Martha Stewart is bluish-green with gray undertones.

"It's a unique color that still feels semi-neutral, and it doesn't scream color," Rausch said. "It's hard to tell from a swatch," she said.

Home Depot kitchen designer Eija East showed off the display of faded turquoise cabinets at the Brentwood store (right). She says country singer Brad Paisley recently chose that color for his kitchen.

3 Create movement in the backsplash • Traditionally, the 4-by-4-glazed tile backsplash was common in most kitchens. There has been a resurgence of using different sized tiles, as well as mixing materials such as stone, glass and porcelain, East said. She suggested creating a staggered pattern by alternating the materials, which is commonly seen with subway tile. Or consider the texture of the material. One example is split-face tile (right). It has more of a rugged appearance, with high and low areas all in the same piece. This creates a movement within the wall, East explained.

4 Consider unexpected storage areas • Just because your mother stored glasses to the right of the sink doesn't mean that's the only place you can store them.

"There's no reason to store things in one place just because everyone's always stored it there," Rausch said.

Oftentimes, plastic cups are kept way up high, where they aren't accessible to the children in the home who need them.

Consider moving plates and frequently used cups to lower pull-out drawers.

5 Rethink the vent hood • One way to reinvent a kitchen is by changing the traditional vent hood.

"We are used to seeing the same old vent cap or the circular wall vent or even the over-the-range microwave," East said. In the past few years, newer vent hoods have a chimney style and have also evolved to include custom shelving or decorative niches. East says emerging trends include a pop-up vent, which allows for a clean look, especially over a peninsula or island when a customer does not want a large hood hanging down. European manufacturer Elica released a vent hood called the Star (left), which resembles decorative light more than traditional vent. ($3,750 at elica.com)

6. Don't use typical kitchen lighting fixtures.

Rather than picking standard kitchen lighting, which can look overly sterile or cold, Rausch recommends choosing from exterior chandeliers or hall lighting. Think of the lighting in the adjoining rooms, especially when working with an open floor plan.

"People like to feel at home in their space. It feels more like a cozy room," she said.

7. Mix your metal finishes • Most people pick one metal finish and stay married to it for an entire house. But brushed nickel fixtures have gold undertones, and various metals can play off each other's color. Using metal finishes that complement one another looks more complex.

"It shouldn't look like the client opened a catalogue and ordered everything in the same line," Rausch said.

8. Think in a different direction • Seeing a pattern or design idea from an alternative perspective can change the entire feel of a space. For example, using subway tiles for a backsplash in a vertical direction rather than horizontally creates an unexpected line.

"All of a sudden you have warm, contemporary look simply by turning the tiles," Rausch said. Especially in older, more traditionally built homes, there needs to be balance between contemporary design elements and the layout of the space. A warmer contemporary style doesn't compete with the pre-existing structure.