In his own words: “They say there’s nothing new under the sun. You should see how people’s eyes light up when they get a new kitchen that’s designed just for them. It’s beyond what they had imagined.”

Your kitchen is a hub of activity. At any given time, various family members might be dicing, deep-frying and dish washing. Maybe someone is just dishing gossip. Does this all happen without any traffic jams, or are you constantly elbowing one another?

Kitchen designer Mason Elliott, who owns Mason Elliott Designs in Asheville, believes a productive kitchen starts with the design. “It should invite everyone in and give them the space to stay,” he says. Visit Mason on houzz for more amazing kitchen ideas.