Architect Jan Gleysteen designed Erin and Devin Condron’s Wellesley home in the Shingle Style, with a portico that echoes the curve of a turtle’s back.

Essentially, the house was designed around the kitchen, a common practice for Gleysteen’s firm. “The kitchen is the true heart of the home — it’s where people spend most of their time, so that’s why it’s literally located in the middle of the house,” he says. The Condrons’ kitchen is built for both cooking and socializing.

An expansive island separates the food preparation area from the main traffic flow. White cabinets are paired with 2-inch-thick Vermont Danby marble counters.

The thick marble counters and a mahogany-topped island (treated with a marine-grade varnish) make the kitchen feel substantial.

Erin Condron and her twin sons enjoy some playtime in the sunny family room. At the Condrons’ request, the kitchen is open to the family room so that they can watch their kids play; square columns help visually define the two areas.

Though rich traditional architectural details are everywhere in the home — thick, carved moldings and trim, coffered and tray ceilings, and a handsome floor in the entry hall (oak inlaid with walnut to create a diamond pattern) — Gleysteen made sure the interior would never feel overly formal or fussy.

The home’s front door is classic Arts and Crafts style. “There’s a lot of fun in this house,” Gleysteen says. “We added lots of playful curves to create a rhythm of shapes.”