First and foremost, the kitchen had to be bigger. We needed to be able to have two or more of us working in it without killing each other. We wanted to improve the function and flow, make it modern without losing the character and make it welcoming.
They put a banquette in the corner of the kitchen (with storage under the benches!), which took up much less space than a table and chairs. This improved traffic flow greatly, including from the deck to any other room in the house, and also allowed more counter space for sitting and/or food prep.
Vive changed the appliance layout, providing even more prep/workspace in important areas.
They added a separate cook top so several people can cook at the same time, without banging in to each other.
To support the added cooking area, two separate work zones were created, each with its own sink and disposal.
The main countertop was circular in shape, to limit protrusion and obstruction, but maximize serving and seating area.
Lastly, in a stunning bit of creativity, Vive took the angled corners of the bay in the dinette area and cantilevered them over the existing deck to square off the room. The sliding door was replaced with a single panel glass passage door and a smaller window placed above the banquette. This added a lot of space.
The old kitchen was also pretty dark. We wanted improved lighting, for work and atmosphere.
Vive took out the old track lighting and replaced it with cans for general lighting (with dimmers, so we could change the mood), and under-cabinet lighting for task lighting and to accentuate the cherry cabinetry, granite countertops and custom backsplash.