Imagine a kitchen that is the only living, working, and play space a family needs in the house. That’s the idea behind the kitchen set Better Homes and Gardens designed and constructed for the 2006 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show Design Idea Center. The large open space includes areas for everything from cooking and snacking to homework, crafts, games, TV-watching, music practice, and even video chatting with grandma.

Although the space works ingeniously at any hour, the inspiration was a specific point in the day—after school. This is when your kitchen is likely to hum with activity. School is over and kids are energized and looking for a snack. Mom and dad are getting home, checking the mail, helping with homework, and getting ready for dinner. The whole family comes together again after a busy day. The kitchen is noisy, active, and full of life. This space is more than just the heart of the home, it’s the family meeting point and all around live-in room.

Storage Solutions

A variety of multipurpose storage options makes it easy to personalize a space for any need. A multipurpose cabinet with the look of a freestanding armoire bridges the kitchen and banquette area and has storage for cookbooks and platters as well as games, DVDs, and media equipment. Tall pantry cabinets are outfitted for various functions. Open shelves along the back wall of the kitchen (photo, page ) provide easy-access storage in front of a whimsical chalkboard paint backsplash.

Reading/Hanging Out

The window seat area—outfitted with bookshelves, a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, and large storage drawers—functions as a room within a room. It’s a perfect child-scaled place to hang out, play, read, rest, or even put on a play. The curtain can be pulled to enclose the space as a stage set or a playhouse.

Zone for Snacks/Crafts/Homework

Grabbing after-school eats is a cinch, thanks to a smart snack zone, baking center, and cheerful built-in banquette. Red vinyl seat cushions were inspired by 1950s diner booths; the light fixture above the table has a similar nostalgic look. Bold strokes of color visually tie the banquette area to the kitchen’s red island. Shelves above the seat display collectibles and hold cookbooks and reference books for homework. A rolling cart, stowed behind the banquette when not in use, holds crafts supplies and features flip-up sides that form a work surface anywhere it’s needed. This multipurpose zone sits between the island bar and a deep window seat, inviting hanging out, reading books, and playing games.

Command Central

Keep the clutter of everyday life out of the rest of the house with a super-organized mudroom. Semicustom cabinetry (available at home centers) was used to create customized organizing tools for a command central mudroom. An angled counter is convenient for sorting mail, and vertical slots provide temporary holding spots. Drawers and boxes on the shelves can be assigned to each family member as catch-alls. Lower cabinets are designed to hold a paper shredder, trash can, and recycling bin to banish junk mail quickly.