The Upgrade

Despite tough economic times, people are upgrading their kitchens. The National Kitchen & Bath Assn. says kitchen remodeling sales volume is up 36 percent and prices are up 16 percent from a year ago. Don't be scared off by that price inflation -- spend only on what you need to. "If you're a gourmet cook you don't need much storage, because you are buying and preparing fresh food," says Paul Ochs, principal at New York interior design firm Ochs Design. "If you're good with a knife, you also don't need a lot of newfangled equipment."

Bloomberg Rankings examined the cost of upgrading a kitchen so that it's suitable for a gourmet cook. Note: Data providers are on the final slide. Brand mentions are not endorsements.