Meet Emily

Emily is a married, stay-at-home mom to a 4 year old boy. When she and her husband bought their house in 2002, they thought the kitchen was acceptable and maybe some day they would just reface the unattractive cabinets. They both had busy jobs, were rarely home, and ate in restaurants more often than not.

Since Emily had her son, she practically lives in the kitchen, making all three meals a day at home. Her kitchen is far from ideal, with very little cupboard space and even less counter space. Many of the cupboard doors don't close all the way and the drawers aren't on proper sliders and get stuck all the time. For some odd reason, the dishwasher was installed on the opposite side of the kitchen from the sink...rather inconvenient with all the dishes that need to be done! The refrigerator and dishwasher are on their last legs and make atrocious noises.

In addition to all of the cooking/dish washing happening in the kitchen, the small space also houses the family's home office, the dog's food/bowls, and a kid's table for games/crafts.

Last year, Emily was diagnosed with Celiac disease. While there is no cure, the disease can be successfully managed with a strict gluten-free diet. This has presented a challenge in Emily's kitchen. Her husband and son do not eat gluten-free and cross-contamination is a daily hazard due to the limited counter/food prep space.