A Cook's Kitchen with Coastal Design

When Christina Moore purchased her 1958 single-story ranch house she wanted an efficient, coastal-inspired kitchen. In her new kitchen she created a peninsula with an island in the center, double wall-mounted ovens just off the sink, a freestanding range next to the island, and a refrigerator that is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling cabinetry.

In its existing state, Christina's kitchen hadn't been updated since the house was first built in 1958. Determined to turn it into a gourmet space to cook healthy meals with mom, Liliane, for kids Madeline and Dylan, and husband Jason, she decided to have the walls that separated the kitchen from the great room torn out.

The peninsula shape of the kitchen allows the counter space to function as an eat-in kitchen. A pair of polished nickel pendants keeps the dining area lit from above. To keep the dining space kid-friendly, Christina opted for barstools made of woven wicker in a forgiving grey tone. In addition to maximizing space for eat-in kitchen dining, the back wall of the kitchen is packed with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, an integrated pantry and a stainless steel refrigerator.

Christina found polished granite countertops too glossy and honed granite too dull. An excellent alternative was a leather finish that has just a few hints of sheen in an otherwise matte-style finish.