Easy cleanup: Just below the stove, a central vacuum was installed on the toe-kick. “If you have crumbs on the floor, you can take a broom and sweep it. Hit the button and it sucks in all the crumbs,” homeowner Marleen Adachi says.

For a husband who loves to cook and a wife who runs a home business, a tiny condo kitchen just wouldn’t cut it.

“It was basically a closet,” Marleen Adachi says of the kitchen in the couple’s former home. The space was “too small for cooking and for two people to be working in together,” says Athan Adachi.

It was time for a new home with a much bigger kitchen.

The Adachis spent time researching, shopping and attending Building Industry Association (BIA) home shows and National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) kitchen and bath tours until they found cabinets they loved. They also found designer Steve Pak, of American Cabinetry.

Pak and the Adachis met several times to construct their kitchen plan. “We spent a lot of time together, and I was very pleased with [his] willingness to spend the time to go over every detail and every concern that I had,” Marleen says.

“When we design kitchens, we try to make time to have clients’ wants and needs the most important part of the project. Planning is obviously the most important part of all. If there’s any concern, it’s a challenge we need to work with,” Pak says.

Marleen wanted a space that would comfortably fit a group of people and also flow nicely. “I have a home business, so consequently, I have a lot of meetings and home shows here as well,” she says. The couple also entertain frequently. “It’s a combination of a lot of things. We have a lot of people coming through the house.”

The Adachis used Silestone for their countertops, which has Microban, an antibacterial finish. “They add the finish to the actual material so that it has resistance to growing bacteria,” says Pak.

Pak came up with a design that left ample space without leaving the room feeling empty. Working closely with Marleen helped him design a fitting work triangle.

“It was more working within the space to come up with a layout that would be suitable and functional for the homeowner,” Pak says. “What we came up with made the most sense and was the most functional for them. That’s how we designed it.”

 Athan, the cook of the home, had specific wishes as well.

“Lots of cabinet and drawer space with maple finish, Blumotion [soft-closing doors and pull-outs], a small-appliance lift that drops into the cabinet and an efficient floor layout,” Athan says. He also wanted Thermador appliances, which included a gas cooktop with a wok burner and a speed-cook oven.

Pak gladly obliged, checking off every item on each wishlist. The result is a kitchen fit for a gourmet chef. The design is a customized space that fits them perfectly.

Special treats include a walk-in pantry, especially significant for the Adachis, whose previous home lacked a pantry altogether.

Add a built-in desk, a large island and a breakfast nook, and the sizable space fills up nicely, still leaving the couple with plenty of room to work simultaneously without bumping into each other. 

In the end, it was Pak’s willingness and accessibility combined with the Adachis’ help expressing what they really wanted that made the project a success.

“The overall experience for me was exceptional because I knew that if I had any concerns, those concerns were going to be addressed,” Marleen says. “They were very patient in working with us; very meticulous about details. I was very pleased.”

“Wow! The kitchen of my dreams,” Athan says.