Good cooking means good company for Barb Wong, center, who has shared many meals and lots of laughs in her kitchen with Curtis Luke and Sharon Nakamura. They've all been friends since their days together at Seattle's Franklin High School.

More and more, we are seeing some of the best informal parties centered in the host's kitchen. The Wong kitchen was built with this in mind. Inspired by many Asian influences, it is reminiscent of a high-tech sushi bar. The design is sleek and ultra modern, featuring long, clean lines and neutral colors sparingly splashed with bold, stand-alone accents. White maple floors and cabinetry are used throughout. Black granite and stainless-steel countertops add deep contrast to the lightness of the dominant wood, providing framing and balance to the overall design.

Neutral colors and open, uncluttered spaces make the transition from kitchen to dining and living room seamless.

Great attention was paid to preserving the continuity of form without disturbing the efficiency of use. For instance, unattractive sockets and light switches were hidden behind small cupboard doors installed strategically underneath cabinets. Some of the other interesting design choices and features include a textured-glass backsplash running the length of the counters and sink areas. Glass is not your standard backsplash material, but Wong wanted to add an artistic element to her kitchen's look. The decorative glass offers interesting texture and dimension to a traditionally uninspiring flat surface. Above the main sink is a window overlooking the balcony and greenbelt behind the house. To the right, simple built-in shelves display Wong's collection of antique Japanese teapots. A fish sculpture perched above the window happily throws its tail into the air, calling attention to itself in this sea of neutrality.

Light plays an essential part in the room's overall composition. Above the cabinets, recessed lights bring out the honey tones of the natural wood. A skylight above the island cooktop and raised stainless-steel breakfast counter lets in natural light. With the spotlight effect created above, the cooktop takes center stage day or night.

White-maple shelves show off Wong's collection of Japanese teapots, just one of many Asian touches in the custom-built kitchen.

The materials chosen emphasize the harmony between this room and the rest of the house, making a seamless transition from kitchen to dining room to living room. Wide open and uncluttered, the space offers artistic perspectives from a variety of angles. The kitchen and living-dining areas are centerpieces of an overall effect that Wong wanted to re-create from a ranch-style home she once owned. Thanks to Baylis Architects, her new home was custom built in an Eastside setting.

A veteran realtor of 14 years, Wong spent many afternoons and weekends showing prospective homeowners house after house after house. "I've been in lots of houses, and after looking at hundreds, I knew what I liked and didn't like in these places. I wanted to make sure I didn't make the same mistakes I saw in other houses," Wong explains. "If I could have done the work myself I would have." Wong wanted to create a living space that was as efficient as it was beautiful. She's known for her spontaneous parties and get-togethers, so it needed to be a space that accommodated her busy lifestyle and host of family and friends.

Wong is a multitasking personality; her new home makes that obvious. "I like the idea of using rooms for different things," she concludes. "This kitchen is as much a place for socializing as it is for cooking."

Sharon J. Prill is a Seattle Times staff writer. Barry Wong is a Pacific Northwest magazine staff photographer.