Homemade Handiwork

On a quest for the kitchen of their dreams, with more space and a better traffic flow, Vicky and Art Atkinson of Bloomfield Village, Michigan began the process of redesigning the room in March 2002. They settled on a design, pictured in the August/September magazine, that incorporated a central island, a built-in refrigerator, double ovens and a spacious dining area.

"Our former kitchen had only one way in and out, which caused a lot of bottlenecking," says Vicky. "When it was time to fix a meal, I had to shoo everyone away. Now, thanks to a new floor plan (below), I can watch TV, look out into the backyard or visit with people sitting at the dinner table as I prepare food on the island."