Original photos are dingy and dark. Retouches include staging with props and extreme color changes to every surface of the room. The new versions are cleaner, sharper, and more eyecatching.

A particularly interesting challenge, the original shows a breakfast nook that is blown out and over-bright, while the rest of the room is dark and dingy. The new version brightens the foreground, sharpens the details of the receded nook, and more accurately reflects the colors of the brightly lit kitchen.

Detail of the breakfast nook.

More than a simple vertical stretch, this image had an odd forced perspective that distorted the pendant lights and made the ceiling look very low. In this manipulation, the island and ceiling are shortened, but the wall is enlongated, effectively raising the ceiling. The lights are reshaped. All surfaces are recolored to match the actual look of the room. Staging is added.

Detail shows staging, wood grain in island and floors, sharpening of glass cabinetry.

Previously, the window made the exterior garden the focus of the room. Here, the color is altered to something more muted and complimentary that "gets out of the way" and lets the kitchen design shine. Bottles added to countertop. 

Note the details of the island and floor, as well as the recolored placemats and chairs. Entire image is much sharper.

Detail of island top and sink shows color enhancements, addition of flowers, and distinctly sharper, brighter, cleaner details.

A misshapen cabinet is adjusted for shape and color.

Detail of the cabinet clarifies the lighting, color, and contrast inside.