This is an in-progress kitchen project for a couple who asked for a room that felt classic but not overtly traditional. They are replacing a run of the mill white painted kitchen with a cherry island. The island needs to accomodate casual dining oriented to dramatic ocean views as well as act as a work center. They stated that they "like wood".

Through several phases of hand illustrated concept schematics, we arrived at a final design that addresses all of their objectives. The biggest challenge was satisfying the wife's desire for symmetry while keeping the room from becoming static, which is visually the problem with the existing kitchen.

The hand renderings are very effective for most clients, much more so than computer generated images. More of the energy of these designs, their warmth and personality, comes across, along with a clear message that these rooms are more than kitchens - they're functional art.