The design challenge was clear to me as I pulled into the driveway of my clients seaside home. The home nestled into a wooded lot and beautiful pond looked like it was plucked out of the pacific Northwest. When I was initially interviewed my client was very clear, she and her husband no longer had tuition payments, it was their time to have the kitchen of their dreams. But I had to stick to tight guidelines, it was not an open check book, they did not want to change the footprint of their existing kitchen. They wanted high quality millwork, a great design, and high performing appliances. They wanted their kitchen to reflect a Asian style that was organic, beautiful and most of all functional. The kitchen needed to feel warm and inviting when they came home when it was just the two of them, but also be a true entertaining kitchen. The new kitchen needed to be designed so that both could be prepping and cooking together enjoying ones company, creating, and entering with friends. The appliance wish list was long, double ovens, microwave, a low profile hood, 36” cooktop and a built in refrigerator. The kitchen had to have continuos counters and frame out the views to the outside pond, teahouse and extensive gardens. A tall order....