My husband Fuzzy and I have always loved cooking together, but after a while in our cramped kitchen, we both wearied of bumping into each other. We called architect Bruce Taylor to remedy the problem. Although our small kitchen had been well planned, it was meant for one cook. In addition, our great room was too chopped up for easy entertaining. Bruce recommended flip-flopping the dining room and kitchen and, answering our plea for more workspace, he created a kitchen “suite” with many workspaces. We are ecstatic with the results and so are our friends and family, who now love sharing duties in our welcoming kitchen.

Taylor's concept improved both the entertainment flow and cooking convenience. To create the main part of the suite, we bumped out the rear of the house and visually lowered the lofty dining room ceiling by adding a grid of beams. This touch, inspired by our friends' English cottage kitchen, creates a sense of intimacy. The maple and cherry sideboard, designed by Taylor, adds architectural interest.

The outer side of the island works well for food preparation, informal buffets, and beverage service. It is packed with lots of slide-out shelves and drawers, along with a warming drawer. The microwave is underneath the island, conveniently out of the way, as are trays and cookie sheets stored in the slotted cabinet above the refrigerator.

Just as convenient on the other side of the island are deep drawers for plate storage next to the dishwasher. This compact area is also conveniently close to the sink, range-top and refrigerator. With slide-out shelves for pot storage under the range-top, drawers for utensils, and a slide-out spice rack, everything is at hand.

The other workstation serves us when we use the food processor on its own under-counter pull-up shelf, or when we roll out a crust on the slide-out breadboard. Working in this area next to the double ovens makes it easy to keep an eye on what's cooking. Above the ovens is a cupboard for tall items and below the ovens is a drawer for baking pans. This area has more drawers to hold baking utensils.

At Fuzzy's request, a terrific walk-in pantry completes the suite. Contractor Dennis Hulbert added a trapdoor in the floor, which leads to surprise crawlspace storage. Large enough to hold an extra refrigerator, this pantry features a wide counter, lit during the day by natural light streaming through glass blocks and enhanced by under-shelf lights at night, eliminating the sense of being in a closet and visually expanding the desk alcove. Above and below the counter are shelves with food items stored in baskets. Since the large mixer and baking needs are now out or easily reached, it's fun to prepare baked goods in here. After all, when the sliding pantry door closes, the mess disappears.

We truly love our kitchen suite, and now, whether preparing sweet or savory, cooking at our house is always a happy experience.