Kitchen renos that can stand the heat
Pandemic cooking and baking, snacking and chatting showed us our kitchen shortcomings. These three remodels served with style
A kitchen that can stand the heat has proven itself to those who have cooked and baked their way through the pandemic.
Bonus points if it looks and feels as good as it works.
Here are three kitchen remodels, completed before lockdown, that amplified minimal space for maximum effect. 1. A kitchen fit for a family. When you’ve got three boys under eight years old, you need a kitchen that’s as wipecleanable as it is beautiful.
That was the working theory behind interior designer Carly Nemtean’s vision of a Leaside renovation project for a natureloving family. Nemtean, co-owner of Carriage Lane Design Build Inc., transformed a dark, cramped space into a Scandinavian-style hub that provides ample room for cooking, dining and hanging out.
“The family’s No. 1 priority was cleanliness and durability, so we created a simple and streamlined look that’s easy to manage,” Nemtean said.
The white cabinetry and quartz countertops are light, a snap to wipe down and better at masking fingerprints than dark finishes, she noted. The white oak floors have a light varnish, which will form a patina over time, hiding dust pileup and gouges that come from the boys running around.
In keeping with the family’s outdoorsy nature, Nemtean included earth and sky elements in the finishings. “We wanted to keep it very neutral and create a room that feels like you’re bringing the outside in.”
The effect is subtle but unmistakable. Walnut at the base of the island and in the cabinetry details, along with maple chair bases add an earthy warmth. A raw wood table with live edges brings in Canadiana, which is set off by an edgy stainless steel base “for a mid-century richness.” Skyblue stools provide a pop of colour that is mirrored in the four-by-four-inch backsplash tiles that give off a softer, more natural look.
In less than 500 square feet, Nemtean even worked in a tiny mudroom-like nook where the boys can shrug off their backpacks or plunk down to put on their shoes. In keeping with the mission of the kitchen design, it’s practical.
“The bench seat can come off and be dry cleaned, the wallpaper is washable and inside the cabinets are hooks so the boys can hang their coats. It’s also a little area for the boys to sit, play, read and hang out while their parents are cooking.”
The fuss-free kitchen fulfils its mission of higher-order functioning and a calming design. 2. Elegance extends to the kitchen. When a single mom of two university students wants to remodel her kitchen, it’s to her own specifications.
More light, sturdiness that can stand up to heavy-duty cooking and an elegant finish for entertaining were the design
marching orders for Orsi Panos, of Orsi Panos Interiors, in a Forest Hill kitchen that will stand the test of time.
An arresting marble herringbone backsplash, plus insetpatterned tile floor, and combination brass-and-black accents make a dramatic first impression. “The floor tile is imported from Spain and the pattern is a connector to a lot of finishes in the house. It provides a nice contrast with the dark kitchen cabinetry that sits on it.
“It’s also wipeable and if you drop something on it, you won’t damage it,” said Panos.
A small pantry is cleverly tucked behind reeded glass doors with brass latch pulls. This is where the homeowner stores all her small appliances, but it also doubles as a bar area when she’s entertaining. “The lower cabinetry is actually a fridge, so it’s easy to create a drinks station.”
The main kitchen cabinetry features grey MDF uppers and black-stained ash on the bottom. The fridge is tucked away behind a panel. “In an openconcept home, I like to make a kitchen feel less utilitarian and warmer, like a living room.”
Counter stools are perched at the island for everyday eating while an adjacent dining room is where larger parties dine.
The final touch was turning a tiny nook into a built-in workspace with storage to stash everyday clutter and a flip-down desk. When not in use, it disappears behind panel doors. An elegant solution for a sophisticated kitchen. 3. A modern, clean look for a small space
“A place for everything and everything in its place,” is interior designer Stephanie Lees’ motto when she reconfigures kitchens for her client.
The owner of Stephanie Lees Design met a homeowner who matched her meticulous nature during a recent Leslieville kitchen makeover project.
“She sent us a list of everything she needed to store in the kitchen before construction started, so we had a plan where things were going to go. She needed to know there was room for everything, down to the cans of beans she typically stores,” said Lees.
This was helpful information considering the squeeze of 140 square feet, and the desire for a warm, modern design — with an island. “The challenging thing with a lot of these semidetached kitchens is that they’re barely wide enough to get in an island. I could always use two or three more feet to do it.”
Light was also an issue. The sun that came in from a door on an exterior wall went no further than the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room.
Lees got to work creating a space that feels open, airy and organized. The door was enlarged to a sliding door with working window for air flow. The dining room wall was removed. And both interior walls were devoted to storage and cooking function.
“Because I’ve worked with (the homeowner) before, I know her taste really well. She’s warm-modern, so we went with a dark oak cabinetry with a thin profile. We really worked at it to get the colour right. We wanted the grain to feel open as opposed to a lot of modern kitchens.”
One full wall is a pantry that features a little spot by the door where she can store her purse and shoes. To brighten up the look, Lees added an inset with lighter wood.
“It makes a kitchen feel special when you’re able to mix different materials — make them balance each other and be harmonious in the same space,” said Lees.
A marble-topped island with waterfall wrapping provides a sculptural element and serves as functional workplace. It’s also home to the dishwasher. On the working side of the kitchen, a forgiving, affordable Caesarstone countertop and backsplash blends into the background so the island can keep the spotlight.
Lees says she still gets messages out of the blue from the homeowner, who is so pleased with her kitchen. “With the pandemic keeping her and her boys home more, she says she loves her space more and more every day.”