Richard Mandelkorn An awkward and disjointed addition to the original house was eliminated and opened up with some very strategic structural and space changes; The original kitchen and dining were chopped up by a large chimney and low, disjointed structural beams. The new expansive walnut butcherblock island and shaker-style kitchen is the focal point of the home, with sitelines throughout the house all the way from the entry to the living room addition.