gathering space

A new island and dining table, paired with old-world decorating details, upgrade a lackluster kitchen into a warm and welcoming space for entertaining.

Sometimes a kitchen doesn’t have to grow any larger to ease entertaining—it just needs to be a little more grown-up. Designers Debbie Nassetta and Ginger Brewsaugh opened up this kitchen and merged it with an adjacent family room through careful subtraction. Space-eating walk-in pantry and wall ovens? Gone. Banquette in the bay window? Gone. Divisive peninsula with a snack bar? Gone and good riddance.

The original builder-grade kitchen seemed adequate in the 1980s, but as years passed, the plan felt increasingly crowded and choppy. The cooktop was squeezed into an undersize island, and the banquette was too small and mundane for entertaining.

The new plan puts a large, pewter-topped island with a generously sized prep sink directly opposite a pro-grade range and custom hood, while the bay window now showcases a cleanup zone. The kitchen’s most flexible feature is a custom table with a double pedestal that can be pulled away from the island to expand seating.

With its easy circulation and updated old-world style, this kitchen is ideal for hosting extended family and friends. And as grown children return with children of their own, they’ll still feel right at home.

A new open layout shows off a generous island with a custom table that can be pulled away from the island to seat up to 12 dinner guests.