Our clients knew it was time for a kitchen update because virtually nothing about their old kitchen was working for them — not the cabinets, not the storage (or lack thereof), not the traffic flow, and not the minimal counter space. They asked us to open the kitchen up to the adjacent den, and they told us that more counter space was essential for baking and food prep. They also wanted some storage with a more furniture-like, built-in look, and they leaned towards a vintage feel. We checked off the items on their wish list by removing a wall, designing a layout that included a peninsula and a buffet with butcher block top, keeping their bead board ceiling, and selecting finishes with vintage style.