Kitchen Crashers

Alison has her hands full with this dirty, cluttered kitchen in desperate need for a makeover. The couple's Chinese heritage comes into play in a feng shui inspired design that not only clears the clutter, but also brings in good energy and luck to the most important room in the house. Alison starts by improving the space planning and takes out a load-bearing wall to create an area for dining and organization with a custom-built mudroom. The range, a central fixture in a feng shui kitchen, is replaced and re-located between two windows to give the kitchen balance and an aging door is changed out with a glass door and window to bring in more light. Grass cloth wallpaper, neutral colored tile and countertops and a butcher block topped island complete with hideaway dog bowls give the space a zen feel, which according to feng shui helps aide in digestion. To top off the design, Alison helps the homeowners bring a piece of themselves into the kitchen with a calendar made out of paint samples and custom Chinese wall art.