I still remember the Saturday when my youngest scraped a knee under the island and my oldest insisted we bake cookies for the neighbor’s fundraiser, all while I tried to finish a work call. Our kitchen is the center of everything: homework sprawled across the counter, lunchboxes by the sink, and that warm gossip from Mrs. Henderson over the fence. As a forty-something mom with kids aged 8 and 12, I want a space that’s practical for weekday chaos and welcoming when friends drop by for a last-minute playdate. Small touches have made a big difference in how the room…