Today’s kitchens are no longer isolated rooms created to prep the essential ‘three squares’ each day. They have morphed into the hub of the home, the center of household activity. Kitchen design has had to evolve as well, requiring a whole home point of view. “We’ve gone from simply designing kitchens that work well, to making sure they work with out client’s lifestyles and all the spaces which surround the kitchen that are part of everyday life,” says Jamie Lawrence of Elite Cabinetry Naples, Florida.

Working closely with his wife Carol, Jamie begins the process by spending time with clients to get a true feel for how they live life, and how the kitchen and adjoining spaces will be used as part of the that lifestyle. It’s no longer just about preparing food, but who’s preparing what type of food and with whom.