Sitting open to the dining room and living room, the user-friendly kitchen includes ample storage, lots of workspace and a strong contrast between the beauty of natural wood and a rich ebony finish.

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn says this urban kitchen’s almost 10-foot-long center island was designed to be a spot for food prep and working, with bookshelves incorporated in front of the island that offer a chance to add your own personality to the space. “There’s not enough width here to sit and then also be able to access the door to the basement,” he explains.

The oversized fixed window that overlooks a lush green area in the side yard above the range brings lots of natural light inside this open space designed for preparing meals and modern entertaining.

This side view of the kitchen looking toward the living room shows how the island was placed to allow good traffic flow in and out of the space. A wide aisle between the range and the sink in the island makes it easy to move between the kitchen’s work zones.