A 7' 10" long by 4' 11" wide island, topped with granite, serves as both island and dining area. A custom-built fireplace lends ambiance, and artwork by Boston painter and printmaker John Thompson draws the eye.

A glass backsplash visually expands the space while the quartz-topped galley-style countertop provides display space for photography: black-and-white snapshots of Boston attractions.

A foil to espresso-finished Shaker-style cabinetry, bin knobs, circa late 19th century, were reclaimed from a butler's pantry in a Boston home. After purchase from Restoration Resources, Boston's famed salvage showroom and warehouse, the knobs were polished and installed.

In place of a formal floral arrangement, an aloe plant, nestled in a glass bowl of river pebbles, provides a pop of color and texture.