Expert Kitchen Design

Peter Callahan has been a caterer for 26 years and has organized everything from over-the-top engagement parties to U.S. State Department soirees. Even though it's just him, his wife, Josephine, and their daughter, Juliet, 12, in the house, Peter designed his own 1920s Haverford, Pa., kitchen "for fast flow like a commercial kitchen."

The real genius of Peter's room is that, despite its hard-working design, it feels personal and homey. "Our kitchen gives us the opportunity to do things as a family. We cook together, test recipes and have great conversations in-house."

The Callahans designed a 5 1/2-foot-by-6 1/2-foot island at IKEA using the store's premade components, then added stainless hardware. Open shelving at one end holds pots and pans, and cabinetry on the side stores small appliances. There are plenty of drawers to stash flatware, linens, bowls and plates in all sizes.

Peter paired a residential Viking range with a commercial-grade Zephyr hood, which has an extra-powerful exhaust fan. "The best beef and fish dishes need to be seared at a super-high heat to make a delicious crispy crust," he says. "But only the best hoods can handle the amount of smoke that emits."