OLD SOUL
A thoughtful overhaul by designer Korina Khamis of Hibou Design & Co. nets a young couple a bright and spacious “new country” kitchen in their Pointe Claire, Quebec, home.
A thoughtful overhaul by designer Korina Khamis of
Hibou Design & Co. nets a young couple a bright and spacious “new country” kitchen in their Pointe Claire, Que., home.
1. Open Concept
Korina’s goal for the couple’s dated, 100-square-foot kitchen (dominated by a patchwork of cabinetry with eight different door colours and styles!) was simple: craft an inviting, open-concept room to suit the young owners’ busy lives. By incorporating a period-inspired palette, toasty wood tones and vintage-style lighting, she also filled the new space with soul. Korina says she wanted to give them “a space where they can entertain family and friends, and that will accommodate a family of their own down the road.” She switched the location of the kitchen and dining room, removed a wall between that divided the rooms, and added new windows and a patio door to amp up natural light. Framework in place, Korina plotted a smarter work triangle and started planning for piles of new storage.
2. Warm Wood
Generous doses of tawny woods bring the farmhouse look to life while the often nautical blue and white palette is taken instead in a rural direction. The handsome panelled and beamed ceiling had a “huge impact” on the rest of the design, says Korina, establishing the old-world look and riffing on the cheery white oak floors. “Ceilings are often overlooked, and in this case, it was our focal point,” she says, adding that wood is repeated throughout for continuity. “I wanted the eye to flow from one part to the other.”
3. Well-Planned Storage
Opening up and rearranging the space allowed Korina to max out cabinetry and display space. “We were able to incorporate an island and full wall of cabinetry, plus add a dry bar in the new dining area,” she says. Her hardworking design packs functionality into every nook and cranny. “In the corner, we created an appliance garage, where all the small appliances remain plugged in and are easily pulled out.” To get all the storage just right, she plans ahead with homeowners. Says Korina: “They map out each cabinet and label our drawings with what will go inside each space. People are too often concerned with needing LOTS of cabinets, but don’t know exactly WHAT they need.”
4. Strong, Simple Palette
A high-contrast colour scheme delivers a crisp look that brings to life the charming vintage aesthetic. The long blocks of steel blue cabinets highlight the design’s balance. Korina used stretches of steel-blue cabinetry to balance the lighter white walls and pale wood floors. “With a bold cabinet colour, I made sure the other elements were light and natural,” she says.