What I did: met with the client and took detailed measurements. The space had a narrow entrance from the dining room and was very closed off to the rest of the house. The clients wanted a more family friendly space to prep meals with their young twins nearby, and better flow from the dining room for entertaining.
The solution: a vintage aluminum garden window makes "sense" now that the 5 foot area has been separated from the main kitchen prep space by a wide archway. This space can function as a spot to serve a buffet or a place to prop a laptop and do some work. Custom cabinets store office supplies under the window. On the opposite wall, the refrigerator and a small landing spot counter can serve as a small bar area when entertaining. Through the wide archway to the main kitchen area is a peninsula sized just right for the young twins' casual meals. Double wall ovens and hidden microwave and additional storage add to the main range to create a workhorse of a kitchen in a small space. Everything is within reach, yet the cook will never feel crowded as the traffic flow is outside the main prep and clean up space. A subtle color scheme of creamy white upper cabinets and walls pair with soft gray base cabinets and Carrara marble. A soft element of surprise is the pale aqua ceiling and strip of glass mosaic.
