Michael K. Wilkinson The kitchen was small, outdated, and dark. To provide a better connection to the adjacent dining room, we enlarged the opening between the kitchen and dining room and installed a peninsula countertop that has seating on one side. This is an apartment building with concrete ceilings, so we had to lower the kitchen ceiling 10 inches in order to install recessed lights. The apartment has soaring 9-foot 3-inch ceiling heights, so the space does not feel small. The kitchen also has a new combination paddle fan/light. The drum shape is echoed in the pendant lights and the dining room fixture. All of the lights are on dimmers, something we prefer because it allows our clients to create a range of moods. There is also lighting inside the four glass cabinet doors above the range. To meet code, we had to relocate the electrical panel inside kitchen to the dining room wall. The owner was able to cover it with art work. The owner selected cherry cabinets in a natural finish, topped with contrasting Piracema White granite. The backsplash throughout the kitchen is gray glass subway tile. Behind the stove, the designer added some interest by adding blue tiles, but rotating the 4-inch tiles at a 45-degree angle. Due to size of the kitchen, the owner opted for a narrow 18-inch dishwasher and a 24-inch counter-depth refrigerator. The stove, however, is a standard 30-inch with a microwave above. The new 2 ¼-inch rift and quarter white oak boards were stained and finished along with the existing floors in the apartment for a seamless look.