Kitchen designer Keith Hudson's European clients wanted a kitchen that reminded them of home. The couple wanted to be surrounded by sleek modern cabinetry and surfaces. As a partner with Montgomery Kitchen and Bath in Gaithersburg, Md., Hudson had worked with many members of Washington, D.C.'s diplomatic community, and he was familiar with European-style kitchens. He says they have a strong ergonomic theme and work areas grouped by task. The narrow kitchen in this house didn't leave much room for meal preparation, so Hudson created a "stackable" workspace on the island that gives users space to place ingredients and pots and pans to clear the lower counter for actual work. The efficient solution added about $800 to the cost of the kitchen. Hudson says the custom wood top was made of maple to match the cabinetry. He ordered the posts from the cabinetry catalog, which has an assortment of posts, steel table legs, and poles. He ran a bolthole through the granite counter and screwed in the posts, then attached the post to the wood top. Remodeler: Alexander Group, Kensington,A wood shelf gives this central food preparation area added space. The counter fits the European styling and proportions of the narrow kitchen.