By Candice Olson

Candice Olson, host of HGTV's Divine Design

Sue and James are the consummate hosts. As the heads of a very large, close-knit family, their house is the place for dinners and parties. The problem was their small kitchen, which was unequipped to accommodate the volume of cooking done by Sue the chef. The kids decided it was time the kitchen -- and their culinary wiz of a mother -- got some help. So I called in my own Divine Design family and got set to stir things up.

The main problem in the kitchen was the lack of space. I tackled this issue by knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the adjoining dining room to make this a real, open-concept space and to give Sue a visual connection between her cooking area and her guest area. In its place I installed long counter with stools, so the family can sit around -- and perhaps even slice and dice -- while Sue is preparing her delicious feasts.

Next, I gutted the entire room from top to bottom. The kitchen didn't have enough cupboard space, so I put in new cabinetry in a rich vanilla finish that will hold all manner of cooking supplies. I also installed Quartz countertops with flecks of cream and brown, and topped it all off with a modern chocolate glass tile backsplash.

I then replaced the small (and sparse) appliances with new, state-of-the-art stainless steel pieces, including an extra large fridge, a convection microwave, a cook top with a built-in electric BBQ, two ovens -- and one extra quiet dishwasher to help when all the cooking and eating is done.

In addition, I tore up the old parquet floor and replaced it with new luxurious, pre-finished chocolate hardwood flooring.

This small kitchen was unequipped to accommodate the volume of cooking done by this family.

With sumptuous fabrics and finishes, modern appliances and a few space-expanding touches, the new kitchen is truly a feast for the senses.

By this point the kitchen was looking pretty sweet, but a new problem had presented itself. Now that the space had been modernized and opened up, the adjoining living and dining rooms looked dingy and dated. So I decided to surprise the family by expanding this project into the adjacent rooms and giving the entire living space a whole new look.

To create a sense of flow and unity, I continued the hardwood flooring into the living and dining rooms. I also ensured that the colors chosen -- a palette of Mediterranean blue, rich vanilla and warm tan -- were harmoniously carried throughout the rooms in the drapery, the furniture and the accents.

The dining room was cramped and chaotic, so I repositioned Sue and James' table so it can be easily expanded for large crowds, brought in new comfy chairs, replaced the old drapes with beautiful silk ones in blue and tan and positioned a large floor mirror at one end to visually expand the space.

In the living room, I created a focal point with a new cast stone fireplace, which is flanked by two china cabinets that replaced Sue's larger and outdated model. I also added more multi-functional seating in the room: a new couch, loveseat, an ottoman and a few chairs.

To lighten the whole place up, I installed recessed lighting; added small pendant lights over the prep counter area; and moved the dining room fixture to accommodate the new positioning of the table.

After a few family photos here and a few vases there, the project was complete. Using sumptuous fabrics and finishes, modern appliances and cabinetry, and space-expanding and unifying touches, I created a new kitchen and living space that is truly a feast for the senses. How divine!

(Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of Home & Garden Television's Divine Design. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)