When my clients, a young professional husband and wife, bought their home, they knew it needed a lot of work. But the first night the wife spent there, she was so daunted by the spaces that needed renovating, she cried. She was pregnant with twins and I knew we needed to get them a fantastic, new kitchen as soon as possible. The original space was a cramped galley right off the front door—a wall visually cut off the view from the entrance to the rest of the house and felt unwelcoming. The kitchen barely had any counter space—or any space for that matter—and was in desperate need of a remodel. So we removed the oppressive wall and opened up the kitchen to the family room and the cozy adjacent fireplace. Then we expanded the new kitchen into the tiny eat-in nook that the former owners used as a dining room. The result is a spacious kitchen full of light and life. Light cabinetry bounces light while the wood toned island grounds the space. Just in time for two adorable and hungry bundles!

Cabinetry: Medallion Cabinetry with Shaker doors. Perimeter cabinetry finish: Divinity. Island cabinetry finish: Ginger Snap. Island counter top: White Spring granite. Perimeter counter top: Caesarstone in Emperadoro. Door and drawer hardware: Rustic series by Barz. Backsplash: white field tile by Ceramica Antique, Mesnie series in Morgana Matt by Richards and Sterling. Backsplash deco: Tileshop, Berkeley CA. Island pendant lights: the Topo fixture by Tech Lighting. Fireplace stacked stone: Contemporary Classic Blend by Sydney Peak Stone. Custom mantel: Yates Woodworking, Scotts Valley CA. Walls: SW7012 Creamy by Sherwin Williams. Appliances: Whirlpool.