When architect Chip Chambers and his wife Susan designed a second home on Bella Vista’s Lake Windsor, they envisioned a simple yet functional kitchen with an easy-to-use layout. “We knew we wanted it to be open, bright and cheery,” says Chambers. The end result is a breakfast room positioned to take advantage of stunning lake views, and a kitchen that hosts numerous family functions.

Chambers’ philosophy on remodeling or building a kitchen is simple: “You start with something to hang your hat on, one design element you know you must have.” And whether it’s a specific color or must-have appliance, he recommends designing the rest of the room around it. “The most successful kitchens have no more than two to three main elements that keep things harmonious,” he explains.

He and Susan began the kitchen project by adhering to their motto and choosing their main element, the cabinetry, first. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted crisp, white cabinets with a simple style, so that was our jumping off point,” Chambers notes. The island, the kitchen’s second main element, required experimentation. In an effort to add character and distinction from the surrounding cabinetry, they decided to stain it and sampled a wide variety of colors. They decided on a watery blue shade to complement the home’s lakeside location.

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