Peter Rymwid Photography My young professional clients loved everything about their townhouse on the Hudson except for the cramped, dark, uninviting kitchen. During their frequent dinner parties they were always separated from their guests. Light which filled the rest of the living area never made it into the kitchen. Their most important request in this remodel was to create a bright, contemporary, light filled kitchen where their cooking would take center stage. We started by removing a large portion of the wall separating the kitchen and dining area. This integrated the kitchen into the living space and allowed interaction between cook and guests. Next we removed a side wall to gain more cabinet and countertop space. Existing drop ceilings were removed giving extra height in the wall cabinets. A raised waterfall end eating counter keeps the visual line clean and provides ample counter space for dining or wine tasting. Bright white painted cabinets with recessed panels and a crisp white quartz counter create a bright contemporary space. Blue white and taupe subway tiles made from recycled glass add a feel of waves to the back splash. A coordinating blue paint adds to the beachy vibe of the room. Shiny easy to clean stainless appliances are both functional and attractive especially as they are seen from the entire living area. The new engineered wood flooring was continued up the wall under the eating counter. The material provides a more durable surface than painted sheet rock. Recessed LED ceiling lights and under cabinet lights provide all the task lighting needed to prepare meals while using very little energy. Instead of installing any hanging fixtures which might block the open feeling, smaller can LED lights were installed over the raised counter.