Cricket Winton is a devoted home cook who spends a lot of time in the kitchen of her home in Fairfield, Connecticut. But as the mother of four boys, she also manages a busy household, so she needs a kitchen that serves as the center of the action, too.

While it’s common for the kitchen to be the place where everyone wants to gather, this kitchen is unusual because there’s actually room for everyone. “We didn’t want a family room with a television where the kids would hang out,” says Cricket. “Instead, we wanted the kitchen to be the hub and hearth of the household.”

Clever storage for bread, spices, and dishes

Efficiency takes many forms in the Winton kitchen.