Zen and the Art of Kitchen Design, Before and Afters

Every now and then I get a client who knows exactly what they want. As much as I enjoy guiding the aesthetics it's always a joy to have decisions come easily. This is such a project. My main input was in the layout and cabinet selection.  We removed the peninsula with a sink and added an island. Sink moved to the wall and island has room for 2 seats. Before the clients never used the table on the other side of peninsula and 1/3 of the kitchen wasn't being used, pity. We doubled the pantry space and got rid of a deep, hard to reach corner with a tall pantry. Better lighting and a new spot for the TV. Now this space is really getting used !
Cabinets: Reginato Designs, Bellmont Cabinet Co.  1600 and 1900 lines, alabaster paint on Index door style. Construction and lighting layout : David Cattarusa, Cattarusa Builders.
Granite: Arizona Tile " White Ice " .Flooring from : Floors on First, Benicia. Tile: Western Tile, Concord. Appliances, Neel Patel at Freidmans.  Plus Lola, the Havanese

BEFORE> Seating area, not used much. 

BEFORE< Peninsula sink area, cut off flow of room. Feels crowded. 

BEFORE > narrow feel to kitchen, wall cabinets lined up without much interest. 

BEFORE> Peninsula cut off flow of room. Isolated table area. Not user friendly . 

BEFORE > Crowded feeling to space. Hard to reach corner right of frig. 

AFTER > opened up space, new flow. Peninsula removed and sink moved to wall with good view of TV. 

AFTER > Panel to match doors on back of island. Much better look than a sheet-rock wall. 

AFTER > lighter feeling to space. Traffic flow much improved.

AFTER > new island with seating at end, brighter, lighter space.  

AFTER > Entertainment area, prep area and seating. Very usable now. 

AFTER > Reused existing cooktop and hood but now we have storage for all the pots and pans. Food pantry to the right pulls out. 

AFTER > lots of countertop space, lighter feel to kitchen. Definite style of "Arts and Craft" gives room panache.