The client has 24-hour care nurses in the home. They needed more function and organization in the original 1980’s kitchen. The once dark space is now stylized with a rustic emphasis. The gourmet appliances and knotty alder cabinets make the room feel spacious. Granite countertops and stacked travertine backsplash add to the rugged simplicity. Working around the furnace and duct work was a challenge but removing as many ducts as possible allows for the design to be prominent. Everyone, including the nurses, appreciate the renovated kitchen. The home is uniquely inhabited with round-the-clock nurses on staff and a busy work and family life. The 1980’s kitchen was dilapidated and the volume of use and users needed better equipment and better function. The space was dark and depressing and needed to be brought to life. Addressing the flow and organization was the priority. First on the list was space planning a professional appliance package which required moving doorways, making doorways, demoing walls and soffits. With that taken care of, moving the wine tasting room into the formal dining room and making the nook ,adjacent to the kitchen, into the casual dining room with new French doors into the back yard totally changed the dynamics. The desired aesthetic was more rustic but refined. A crisp white wall color was the new backdrop for a warm stained knotty alder cabinet with active Volcano granite and a split face travertine backsplash. A multi-color porcelain-look wood tile was such a success, we had it installed throughout the house.