This project was a special one for us! Last summer my parents asked us to redesign their cottage. They had taken ownership of it the previous fall, and after spending some time in it we were able to figure out what was working and what wasn’t. We wasted no time starting to think up new ideas on how to make it more functional for our growing families.
– THE BEFORE –
The existing space was a great size, however it wasn’t meeting it’s full potential. The kitchen island was a movable table with large cracks that was hard to keep clean. It was also meant as the main dining area, which didn’t give much space if someone was cooking on the stove. The washer and dryer also looked out of place next to the fridge, and although the cottage comfortably slept 10, there was only 1 bathroom. The pros, we loved the open concept space, and the large garage doors.
– THE AFTER –
After going over numerous options, we decided on using up the garage space. It currently was just being used as storage, and there was never any need for a vehicle to park in it. This additional square footage allowed us to fit in an additional bathroom, designated laundry room and make a larger entrance. We were able to flip the closet to the new entrance and open up the doorway between the two spaces.
To keep the budget in check, we wanted to work with the existing kitchen cabinets and countertops. They were great quality and we liked the style and layout. Since we were able to move the washer and dyer, we wanted to add in some cabinets around the fridge to make it feel more built in. We also wanted to add a pantry on the opposite side to make the space feel more seamless. The only thing holding us back was matching the existing cabinets. We spoke with the original kitchen designer, but they were not able to guarantee a match. Since the kitchen had been installed, they had sightly changed the finish. Because the new cabinets would be installed right next to the existing ones, we decided we needed to find another option. After some searching, we came across Kitch. They are a Canadian company which specializes in Canadian made door fronts for IKEA cabinets. They offer a selection of door styles and endless finishes, including some really beautiful wood doors that I was so close to picking! After flipping through all their samples, we landed on their 3DL Shaker in Coal. It is a laminated front which will hold up to every day use, and comes in a matte finish. The price was equal to what we would have paid for IKEA doors, but gave us a much more custom look! Although the existing boxes were not IKEA, they were able to match the door sizes so we could replace them. We purchased new boxes from IKEA to add on the two pantries, cabinets over the fridge, and storage in the island. I had my eye set on black appliance for the kitchen, and my parents had requested an under counter beverage fridge and garbage compactor in the island. I was not able to get either of those appliance in the matching black finish, and having them stainless would have been really choppy and miss matched. Through Kitch, we were able to order custom sized door fronts. This allowed us to include panel ready appliance in the island which gives a seamless look! I love the contrast the dark Coal door colour adds to the space, and how it works with both the white and concrete countertop on the island. It also gives a modern feel to some of the more rustic textures in the backsplash and salvaged beam hood cover. Even though the overall footprint of this kitchen is the same, it really feels like a new space and a custom kitchen!
Having these garage doors open on a warm summer day is a favourite!
– HARRISON STOOL –
This barstool was one of the first pieces of furniture we picked for the space, and it’s made the island the new favourite hangout spot.
– KITCHEN SOURCES –
Flooring | Wall and Trim Colour | Cabinet Fronts | Cabinet Boxes | Cabinet Pulls | Cabinet Knobs | White Quartz Countertop – Existing | Island Counter Top | Backsplash | Faucet |Â Fridge | Range | Salvaged Beam | Pendant Lights | Barstools | Vintage Runner
When we reworked the layout, we flipped the sectional placement to allow for a large dining table. With our growing families we can’t have enough seating. We designed a custom table that was extra long and narrow enough to fit in the space. This piece will be coming to our shop soon!
We removed the wood burning stove and replaced it with a gas insert. It’s a win win because we still get the ambiance, but without the mess. Also, the concrete surround is the perfect spot to hang stockings at Christmas!
– HUGO CHAIR –
Because we were working with a narrow space, we needed to go with smaller dining chairs. We wanted to get something that felt classic and didn’t compromise comfort. The colour is the perfect wood tone!
– DINING SOURCES –
Flooring | Walls & Trim Colour | Dining Table – Coming Soon to our Shop | Dining Chair
