Walter Jennings
Where I live: southeast of Fayetteville off of Black Oak Road
Occupation: architect at Maurice Jennings + Walter Jennings Architects, PLLC
My favorite space is: the kitchen in my home.
Why? My kitchen is the hub of our home. I can see most spaces in the house from here and I can see outside. I've found that people like to naturally congregate in transitional spaces, and our kitchen is the knuckle in the pinwheel. When we entertain, our friends tend to congregate around the kitchen space.
While our house is small, it's pretty open and that makes it feel larger than it really is. When we use the kitchen, one person cooks while the other can help with prep, or sit on a stool and visit.
The wood cabinets in the kitchen add a warmth and texture that I like. The shelving is open and lets me see where everything is, and I like the way glass looks when lit from above. Our refrigerator and pantry are in alcoves off the kitchen, which keeps the kitchen simple.
If I could make one change to improve this space, I would: Install a new range. I chose the cleanest-looking range I could find at the time, but after a couple years of use, I realize that some of the sensors are finicky and I would be better suited with a slightly more conventional range.
-- Laurie Marshall
HomeStyle on 10/14/2017