In a house with four children and the family dog, the family needed a space large enough for them to alll gather together in the evening for dinner and homework. The kitchen also serves as one of the main passage ways through the house and the original layout was closed off and cramped. By enlarging the opening to the family room, adding the bench nook for additional seating, extending the countertop space, and designing a large island, the kitchen is now a central place to be.