SPEAKING FRENCI

A Francophile transforms a quirky space into a chic kitchen that greets with a heartfelt bonjour

- JODY GARLOCK,BRIE WILLIAMS,KRISSA ROSSBUND

Kitchens invariably get a little frenetic during the holidays. In Lisa and Bryant Mende’s Charlotte, North Carolina, home, the busyness comes from the couple sharing duties making traditional Southern favorites, such as sausage balls, cheese straws, and coconut cakes, for their grown children and guests.

Having an efficient kitchen for holiday prepping isn’t the end-all, though. For Lisa, an interior designer who calls Martha Stewart her hero, comfort is also key. By evening, the post-cookathon cadence relaxes. The round table at the banquette is draped in fabric, lights dim, and the kitchen feels like an intimate bistro, a nod to Lisa’s fondness for all things French.

Getting a kitchen that invites comfort and lingering while handling messes and dirty dishes was no small feat.