When designers Sarah Kerns and Patrick Weber were called upon to renovate the overlooked kitchen of a friend's new home they had only one option -- strip it down to the studs.

Wanting to take advantage of the home's exterior surroundings and pool area, as well as open the space to create a more modern feel, the kitchen's small antiquated windows were replaced with large, vertical windows and sliding glass doors. With a new view of the pool area and plenty of natural light flooding in, the designers moved onto the ceiling.

The home's low ceiling, which was typical in many of the colonial-style homes, was elevated so as to allow the eye to continue. Once raised, the ceiling was altered between the joists to provide recessed spaces to house halogen lighting. A more spacious-feeling kitchen resulted.

The walls were covered in bright white and dark gray paint, adding stainless steel panels to create the back-splash. White lacquer IKEA cabinets in varying sizes were installed against the dark gray, accentuated with stainless steel hardware.

To add warmth to the space birch counter-tops were installed around the sink and on top of select cabinets. An island outfitted with a range, cook-top, storage drawers, and raised dining bar was placed in the center of the food preparation area. The Spanish tile floor and red and orange accents were the finishing touch to tie the space together.

To the right of the kitchen is a small, modern table and chairs accented with stainless steel. The orange pendant lights and flat-screen television were added to accommodate a dining space for the owner's children.