A Family Kitchen Furnished for Cooks

When Bill and Gloria Hayes purchased their lakeside home after retirement they loved everything about the open floor plan except for the boring, builder grade kitchen.

With an island that was disproportionally small for the size of the kitchen, the layout was completely dysfunctional. "There was no easy fix - only drastic measures," Gloria says.

With room for four grandkids and two cooks, the new kitchen layout works efficiently and is beautiful."I love the idea of having a kitchen where everyone can gather and hang out," says Gloria.

Incorporating the eating area into the kitchen island eliminates the need for a separate kitchen table. The unusual shape compensates for misaligned window placement.