We addressed "too narrow" by using a beaten copper trough sink, wall-mounted faucet, and an 8'-long, 12"-deep, solid walnut counter. The room also lacked a window. We, therefore, backlit brass mesh to suffuse the room with warm "sunlight." (Seagull Lighting Ambiance low-voltage lighting) The same brass mesh was fashioned into sliding doors to screen the shelf under the slope of the stairs. This wrapped the warm light around two sides of the room.