When you have two people with strong preferences who are remodeling their kitchen, the term “compromise” might come up. But if done right, the resulting design is a blending of ideas, where nobody loses and everybody wins.

Normandy clients Stasia and Larry agreed on some things — for one, they wanted a more functional layout that flowed into the rest of their home with better access to the backyard, and an updated look overall.

“They agreed on swapping out the outdated honey oak cabinetry, bringing in more natural light, and gaining better views of their lake out back,” Normandy Designer Ashley Noethe says. “Other priorities included adding more counter space and improved storage options, upgrading their appliances and replacing their cramped two-tiered island.”

To address these items, they enclosed the screen porch to bring the outdoors in year-round, which had the added benefit of providing better access to the patio. “Walls came down to expand the view outdoors and we widened doorways to create a more open flow,” Ashley notes.  The new larger kitchen island has ample seating, prep space for cooking with fresh produce from their garden, and storage. And there are more storage and display options with a wall of full height cabinets.

But determining the updated look of the kitchen was a different story. “Stasia has a passion for gardening, bright colors and more modern design. Larry is partial to lighting design, neutral tones, and more a traditional aesthetic,” Ashley says. “The goal was to fuse these two styles and preferences.”

This fusion of ideas is most apparent in the range area. “Larry wanted a ‘wow’ moment, so we leaned into Stasia’s desire for color by incorporating a colorful glass mosaic for the backsplash behind the range,” Ashley says. “And for Larry’s more traditional and neutral preferences, we added a beautiful rift cut white oak range hood that has a simpler wood grain with a warm stain. The bevel of the of the glass mosaic makes it a bit more traditional too.”

Light green tile along the perimeter brings in color and earthiness, while still feeling neutral. The rift cut white oak from the hood is picked up again at the island and coffee bar, and the rest of the cabinetry is a crisp white to help lighten the space. The upper cabinetry has accent lighting to bring in even more brightness.

“The resulting kitchen design is a stunning transitional style, a melding of modern with a dose of color, along with traditional elements,” Ashley says. “But what makes it unique and special is that it’s a culmination of two people working together to find an aesthetic that represents them both.”

If you’re looking to revamp your kitchen layout and look, set up a time to talk to Ashley about transforming your space into a space that inspires you. Looking for ideas? Click through our photo galleries. Prefer a daily dose of design? We share ideas, photography, and projects on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Follow along.