As someone who enjoys entertaining, a Menlo Park, California single mother asked designer Tineke Triggs to make her existing kitchen and surrounding living more conducive for everyday living and the dinner parties she likes to host for family and friends.

Triggs details how she transformed the home's small spaces into a single, user-friendly great room that is attractive and modern.

What were the main items on the homeowners' wish list?

This single mother, who works from home, enjoys entertaining and wanted a modern kitchen that was sophisticated enough to open up into her living room.

Did you encounter any issues on this project?

The original home had various additions but no updates or renovations. We were faced with tackling walls with structural implications and also needed to incorporate the various renovation styles.

Does the end result match up with your original vision?

We wanted hardwood floors throughout the space and had planned to lay them in the direction of the original flooring. This did not work with the flow of the new design so we changed our plans and laid the floors in a new direction. It worked out well though and looked great.

What are the "hidden gems" in this remodel?

The custom made wooden hood with added chrome straps added a bit more interest and a little "bling" to the back wall.