Where Food Meets Art

Art's original kitchen was so small (600 square feet) that he had no space to train the chef's assistants who volunteer with Common Threads, his not-for-profit organization for kids. Instead, he had to set up a teaching area in the dining room.

• Old appliances and a narrow, impractical layout were a recipe for disaster.
• The red refrigerator and sink clashed with the wallpaper.
• One small window and dim overhead lighting made the kitchen gloomy even at midday.
• A radiator on the back wall consumed valuable space.

"This was the first kitchen I'd ever designed in my 20 years of professional work. I wanted it to be right." One of his major creative inspirations: Oprah. "In all her homes, Oprah has a big island in the kitchen, which is a wonderful workspace for food preparation and a great serving space for buffets," Art notes.