Clutter-free Crossroads

The 5- by 9-foot family entry at the Palo Alto, California, home provides order with a targeted hit of color. Just inside the door from the garage, this alcove at the rear of the kitchen includes a low shoe bench, mail slots, and an outlet for recharging cell phones and digital cameras. Stained plywood turns the cabinetry into a geometric composition. The open shelving is left natural; horizontal bands of red-orange tie the two halves of the arrangement together.

Design: Stoltz Kau Architects, Eastsound, WA (stoltzkau.com or 360/376-7521)