DESIGN STATEMENT THE CLIENTS: A family with two school-aged children. They love to entertain their large extended family. The house is a charming Arts and Crafts bungalow with high ceilings and the original stained woodwork. The kitchen had been "modernized" in the 1950's and was literally falling apart. THE CHALLENGE: Match the character of the rest of the house Replace kitchen table with an island and stools Maximize counter and storage space. Provide a message center and a place for the children's shoes and books Although I tried, it proved impossible to fit a practical island with seating into this kitchen. We decided instead to include a small island and open up the wall to the dining room allowing the inclusion of a breakfast bar. This visually enlarged both rooms while bringing light into the kitchen. A walk-in pantry was created in what had been the entry to the demolished porch. French-doors were installed in the dining room to provide access to the patio. To get a convenient kitchen layout, the existing off-center kitchen window was replaced with two narrower, taller windows. Wall cabinets sitting on the countertop provide maximum storage for dishes and glassware and a lighted display area. Cabinets next to the refrigerator house the microwave and warming drawer, while retractable doors conceal the coffee pot and toaster. The message center is concealed in a decorative hutch at the dining room end of this run. The tall cabinet at the other end opens toward the entry to hold the children's shoes and books. To compliment the architecture of the house we chose warm medium-toned Cherry on a simple 5-piece door. Period accents include beadboard, spice drawers, simply-styled posts, corbels and crown mould. Countertops are warm brown quartz set off by a backsplash of brick-shaped distressed marble. This kitchen won second place in the National Kitchen & Bath Association's design competition and is soon to be featured in Better Homes & Gardens: Kitchen & Bath Ideas Magazine. Back to kitchens...