Lorri kitchen

A special finish brings out the grain in the kitchen's walnut cabinetry.

"The kitchen is pretty small, so we were inspired by Japanese design where everything is highly organized,

“They really wanted to have tile in the kitchen and at the front door, but everyone disliked that hard edge line,” says Gregga. “Doing the organic edge of the tile helped make the entry space and kitchen feel like one, and then it disintegrates into the living and dining room.”

The kitchen, which friends helped put together, pairs affordable Ikea cabinetry with birch countertops and glazed brick tile.