Functionality and vitality merge in a bustling kitchen that’s always home to a crowd
Jessica and Clay Barber are no strangers to big crowds. As parents to five boys, they—and their kitchen—often play host to large groups. However, when “rubbing elbows,” segued from a playful figure of speech to a literal lack of space, the Barbers turned to Kathryn LeMaster of Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design. With her magnetic charm and sixth sense for space maximization, LeMaster gave the family a full-fledged lifestyle transformation by creating a kitchen with defined spaces for everything from cooking dinner to paying bills.
For starters, LeMaster rethought the space by taking an office nook at the far end of the kitchen and transforming it into a much-needed beverage station and pantry area. She also traded a divisive dining peninsula for banquette window seating, which opened up the room’s traffic flow.
LeMaster also removed an upper-cabinet and relocated the microwave it held to a new waist-high base cabinet just below it. The cabinetry was squared off to allow a wider walking path between this area and a nearby support column. The reconfigured space led to the creation of additional seating in a new bar area, which was a bonus for the busy family. Other space-making features include a smaller, custom-designed island with a built-in waste receptacle along with shelving for storage, as well as the aforementioned banquette, which opens to store larger pots and dishware.
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