Dreamy Kitchen

Southern Living, Feb 2005 by Clavell, Alicia K, Jones, Scott, Meador, Traci, Dorris, Carolyn

These owners made space for entertaining family and friends.

Here, they share their decorating tips and favorite recipes for get-togethers.

A trip to Carolyn and Joe Dorris's home is like traveling to the fabled grandparents' house in that popular song-it's literally over the river and through the woods. As you round a final bend, the Antebellum home rises up sturdy and bright against a blue sky and a tree-dotted horizon.

Old World Look, Modern Style

Once inside the Shelby Springs, Alabama, home, visitors are ushered into the remodeled kitchen. "This couldn't look like a brand-new space, but it needed to have modern conveniences," says kitchen designer Kathy Owens. Appliances were encased in custom fronts. Some cabinets appear built-in, and some are open. All are painted white with a brown glaze for aged appeal. Drywall mud and glaze give the walls a textured patina.

Pulling Out the Stops

One of the couple's splurges was the farmhouse sink and limestone surround. "I do very little hand-washing," says Carolyn. She admits the Italian, etched-leaf sink is the most impractical item in her kitchen, but it's a favorite. "Sometimes my soul flutters when I see how much of me is ingrained in this kitchen," she says.

Hard-Working Spaces

With five grandchildren and a flurry of people to entertain, the couple needed a large island. The island serves multiple functions: separating cooks from guests, working as a bar for parties, and providing a buffet for family meals. The island is fitted with a cooktop and raised vent, and below there's plenty of storage space for pots and pans. A built-in warming drawer is perfect for cookies and breads. A granite countertop wraps around the kitchen and reaches to the island to unite the space.

Heart of the Home

Whether preparing Sunday dinner for family or pulling together birthday parties for grandchildren, you can bet something is always cooking in this kitchen. "Entertaining is a major part of our family's life," Carolyn says.

She is also committed to passing along her passion for being in the kitchen to her grandchildren. "There are few things I enjoy as much as baking with my grandkids," she says. "It's something we can create together."

ALlCIA K. CLAVELL, SCOTT JONES