These homeowners' kitchen was stuck firmly in the 1990s, with raised panel golden oak cabinets without hardware and dark polished granite countertops that showed every speck and smear. The layout was nothing to write home about either, with a randomly placed window and the range crammed into the corner. A sink in the peninsula had a tendency to splash people in the adjacent seating. Our designer came in to give the space a complete overhaul.

The original galley layout was scrapped and replaced with a G-shaped layout, with the new apron front sink under the window and the new induction cooktop and ventilation hood centered on the rear wall. The homeowners chose additional storage in the peninsula instead of seating. The refrigerator wall features a new, larger refrigerator and wall oven stacked with a microwave, flanking a pullout pantry cabinet. Warm cherry Shaker cabinets in the Boardwalk stain from Mid Continent Cabinetry, accented with black Epoch Edge pulls from Berenson, bring coziness to the kitchen and balance the cool grays of the Atlantic White granite countertops and marble tile backsplash. Plummy-brown walls emphasize the grain of the wood. The central fluorescent light fixture was gladly jettisoned in favor of recessed LED lighting and delicate glass pendants. The new kitchen will be the heart of the home for decades to come.