If you’ve been following us over on Instagram, you might have seen some shots of our kitchen reno. Since January we’ve been working to remodel most of our main floor, and although its been quite a few months, I’m totally OK with the longer timeline. I’ve been dreaming up the design for the last 4 years and was happy to wait a bit to get the right products. We are soooo close to being able to photograph the space and share the full reveal with you all, and before then I thought I would share the design we are working off of with all the details.
the Befores
These were the realtor images from when we bought our home. Since we were planning on renovating the main floor, we really didn’t change too much before. The existing kitchen was at the back in the centre of our home, and had openings which lead to the dining room, foyer and upstairs. This made it not only a high traffic area, but also limited cabinet placement.
Other than that, the kitchen was pretty functional overall with a good amount of storage and counter space. The only item I had considered changing before we started the reno was the the pantry tower. It blocked the sight lines into the family room and dining room, and made the space feel small. But since we were busy renovating other rooms in our home, we never got around to it.
This space we used to hold our dining table. It was a really good size, and nice that it had the pass through into the kitchen.
the Plans
Here was the existing layout. (Notice the tight foyer!)
And here was what we came up with!
To maximize door openings, while not limiting cabinet space, we decided to switch the placement of the dining and kitchen. This allowed us to get a 5′-6″ opening from our foyer into our dining, as well as double french doors leading into our backyard. (I love this sightline when you walk into the house!) To fit a larger island in the kitchen, we added a 12′ bump out along the back of the house that was 30″ deep. This gave us the space to include a great sized island with three barstools. On the stove wall, we designed a pantry that mirrors the panel ready fridge, and will hold all our small appliances and coffee maker. Here were the plans we handed off to our cabinet maker.
When I was planning out the kitchen, I was looking to include details that would feel authentic and original to our home. I love the look of inset cabinets, and the craftsmanship behind them. On all our drawers, we did flat fronts, and a simple shaker on the doors. For our appliances we went with panel ready for our fridge and dishwasher, which gave the space a more seamless feel, and our stove is black with brass hardware. The island was designed to look like a piece of furniture with a white oak base, rounded corners and contrasting countertop. I know technical drawings can make it a bit difficult to visualize, so I’ve also included the design boards!
the Design Boards
Here is the view looking at the sink and windows. The cabinets are a soft off-white with marble countertops, and the island is contrasting with a white oak base and soapstone top. I love that it feels like a piece of furniture, and not to much like a built in. I’ve pinned so many kitchens with the windows sitting right on the countertop, and was so glad I could make it work here. Around the window we went with a step casing by Metrie, which has just enough of a profile to frame the window, and add some detail without feeling too intricate. It’s the same style we’ve used throughout the rest of our house and I’m still not sick of it! I love the look of marble apron front sinks, but was looking for something more durable. We opted for a slab front and undermount cast iron sink, and think all around it was a good compromise on look and function. We paired it with a polished brass faucet that is minimal, but doesn’t feel too modern. All the hardware is from Emtek, and is in an unpolished brass finish, so it will age naturally over time and get a beautiful patina. We did a mix of three different styles; an appliance pull, smaller wire pull and round knob. Our ceilings aren’t super high, so instead of crowding it with pendant lights, we went with wall sconces on either side of the bump out. I can’t wait to see these installed!
On the range wall the stove is a bit of a feature. It has a glossy black finish with brass hardware, and is right inline with the historic details I was looking to add. Over the range we went with a classic drywall vent hood and some zellige tile. (I’m still debating if I should do a limewash finish on the drywall!) The polished brass pot filler has a bit more of a modern feel, but I love how it pairs with the range. On the right side is our panel ready fridge, and the left side mirrors it with our appliance pantry.
Product Sources
These are some of my favourite products from over the years, and I’m excited to share the sources with you guys!
Cabinet Colour: Cloud Cover by BM
White Oak Island Finish: Oyster by Rubio
Marble Countertop: Carrera
Soapstone Countertop: Midnight by Great Mountain Soapstone
Appliance Pull in Unlacquered Brass
Wire Pull in Unlacquered Brass
Thanks so much for following along, and I can’t wait to share the full reveal with you all!