Pam Stewart Ross Design

SANDRA AND KERRY'S KITCHEN


Sandra and Kerry bought a house six years ago and have renovated and updated most of the rooms including the backyard. They are now ready to tackle the kitchen.

The existing kitchen is traditional/rustic with wood, raised panel cabinets; but the clients prefer a more contemporary style with clean lines.

Sandra likes to entertain and wants an island with bar stools instead of the peninsula and eat-in kitchen. They do have a separate dining room, but it is small and closed off from the kitchen by a wall and closet (see the before and after floor plan below).The only thing they want to keep is the paint colour (Benjamin Moore "Thunder" AF 685).

I suggest removing the closet AND the wall to make an open concept living and entertaining space.  Before knocking down any walls check to make sure they are not load bearing.




BEFORE:

AFTER:

In the plan above, the new cabinets cover the entire back wall and include a pantry, a coffee bar with a TV above open shelves, a gas range, a range hood, and the refrigerator.

The island has the sink, the dishwasher, the microwave and provides a seating area. The seating area is situated at one end of the island so as not to disrupt traffic flow to the back yard. See inspiration picture below.

This plan provides plenty of storage and can be modified to the clients needs; for example:

• the open shelves above the coffee bar can be a combination of open shelving and closed wall cabinets - see option A and B below. 
• the pantry can be drawers on the bottom and doors on the top for easy access.  
• the microwave could be moved to above the range hood, depending on the height you want it installed.

Kitchen design companies offer many options such as: spice drawers, pull-out pantries, garbage
and recycle drawers, all to suit the client's needs.

OPTION A:

OPTION B:

I suggest using flat panel cabinet door and drawer fronts with a gloss finish, which will provide not only a modern look, but makes them easier to clean.

I also suggest dark BASE cabinets, white WALL cabinets, and a white quartz counter top (pictures of the samples are below, product information to follow in quote). This will anchor the space, provide contrast, and create a fresh clean look.

The back splash should be installed to the ceiling. The first example below has a texture which will provide a contrast to the glossy cabinets - install in a brick pattern. The second example is an oversize subway tile - install in a brick, stacked or herringbone pattern.


DINING ROOM

I suggest painting the existing accent wall in the dining room the same colour as the other walls and add open shelving and cabinets for wine storage (rendering below). This will provide a focal point.

























I suggest using the same materials on the dining room cabinets as the kitchen for a cohesive look. The open shelves could store pretty glassware or display art; alternatively, wall cabinets with glass doors could be installed depending on the client's needs and style.

LIGHTING

I would add a decorative chandelier over the dining table, acting as a piece of sculptural art to create a sophisticated look that draws you into the space.


Pendants over the island should be kept simple.


BAR STOOLS

The bar stools need to, not only, look good, but be comfortable too. This contemporary white stool has clean lines  and would blend in well with the island.

FLOORING

The flooring throughout the house is wood, but unfortunately, they do not have enough to finish the kitchen renovation. I suggest using a luxury vinyl in a marble look. Below, the picture on the left shows the existing wood with the new flooring; the picture on the right shows the veining in the marble vinyl.

The clients will have to discuss with their installer on how to incorporate the two styles of flooring to make it look intentional. One suggestion is to replace the existing wood in the front entrance with the new flooring so it flows seamlessly into the kitchen.



In the plan below, the arrows depicts where the new luxury vinyl flooring and the existing wood floor meet. It is a difficult foot print to have two different types of flooring because the walls do not line up.  I suggest lining up the vinyl on an angle with the corner of the base cabinets in the dining room to avoid square corners in the middle of the room.

Here are some ideas on how to transition the two types of flooring without the use of a raised threshold.

FRONT ENTRY

The removal of the closet in the front entry now provides direct sight lines into the dining room and kitchen. To make the front entry more inviting to greet guests, I suggest adding a coat rack and a chair. The coat rack could be a sculptural piece of art joining function and form.


The chair provides a place for guests to sit and put their shoes on, and can also be turned around for additional seating in the living room when needed.