From narrow galley to an open-concept gathering space. When we first met these homeowners, they wanted their kitchen to feel like the place everyone naturally gathers. Their first idea was to open the wall between the kitchen and the formal dining room to make room for a larger island. Smart instinct—but stopping at one wall would have left the space shaped like an “L,” which actually makes a long, narrow kitchen feel even narrower. We suggested taking down two walls: the one