Photographed by Janet Pliszka
‘It’s time to renovate’ was the text sent to me by one of my favourite families. I had been working with this lovely couple on and off since their twins were preschool age. At that time, we were addressing play areas, toy storage, and little people bedrooms. Having just entered the teen years, the time was right to make the home work for everyone in the family. Life was very different now and they knew their home could serve them better.
In the living room, we kept the blue leather sofa and lightened the wall colour to create an airy open feeling. The arched entry to the hallway is an original feature that still suits the home.
This renovation became a family affair with ideas and opinions coming fast. Gathering together at the kitchen table, we came up with a list of what was working and what wasn’t. The two biggest problem areas as identified by all were the layout and function of the kitchen, as well as the layout of the back-entry laundry. Everyone in the family wished their main floor living space had more light as the rooms felt dark and drab. Both the teens and the parents wanted their own hang out spaces, as well as an area where they could gather together for chatting, playing games and hosting friends.
The family loves to gather with each other and friends for meals and game nights. When designing the kitchen we included a coffee bar as well as a separate beverage/serving area.
It was agreed that the unfinished basement would become the teen’s space, complete with 2 large bedrooms, their own bathroom and a gathering space set up for gaming, watching television and hanging out with friends. Anticipating future needs, we roughed in a small kitchen/bar area as well as hook ups for laundry.
Large windows, creamy walls and light floors make the teen rooms light and airy. Of course it was very important to include a space for the collection of lego!
The main floor would receive a total revamp, taking it right down to the studs which allowed us to create better flow. There were many exciting ideas and possibilities explored for the upper floor, but in the end it was decided that the ensuite was really the only area that needed to be fully renovated. The rest of the rooms would be lovely with a little decor refresh.
To keep the home feeling light and airy, Benjamin Moore OC 17 White Dove was used for the cabinets. Walls and trim were all painted Benjamin Moore OC 131 White Down.
Ryan Holmes, owner of 61 Interiors, was brought in as the General Contractor. The interior design work started in the spring, with construction being done over the summer months. First up on the list was getting more daylight in the kitchen and living room. Jeremy, from JG Designs & Drafting, drew up construction plans that included the addition of five windows in this area.
These progress photos show the fireplace wall before and after. Notice the addition of the windows on either side of the fireplace. Even small windows can bring in lots of natural light.
What a huge difference the added windows make to the space. The extra natural light brightens the two rooms, making it a cheerier place to gather. Because of this, the family finds themselves spending more time in the living room hanging out together. Not only that, the homeowners said that they noticed a difference in their mood over the long dark winter season. Adding extra windows is not just an aesthetic decision. As this couple experienced, it’s an important choice that supports health and happiness.
We had many ideas for this cute little corner of the kitchen, but Piper had other ideas. The space became a special someone’s home. It seems everyone wants to be near the natural light.
One of the most frustrating areas of the home was the back entry mudroom and laundry. Often piles of clothes would end up blocking the entry door and baskets of laundry would creep into the pantry area. The removal of the corner pantry and squaring off the kitchen allowed for the laundry and mudroom to be made larger. We were able to flip the washer and dryer to the other side of the room by taking out a small coat closet. This allowed for the addition of a sink as well as a large wall of cabinets. There was even room for folding laundry racks that pull down from the wall.
Since making this space more organized and easy to navigate, the kids have started doing their own laundry. Good design really does affect behaviour!
A blue/grey pre-finished architectural board was selected for the laundry and mudroom cabinets, adding a little pop of colour as well as durability in this high traffic area. Everyone has a shelf with their own laundry basket and we even managed to fit a hanging rod over the newly installed sink. The mom, who’s in charge of laundry, is thrilled with the new layout. She commented that it’s almost unbelievable that this is the same space she struggled doing laundry in for so many years.
Like most renovations, budget consideration was important. We decided to splurge on the handmade backsplash tiles and went with these cute budget friendly counter stools
The biggest transformation though, in both function and style, occurred in the kitchen. I worked closely with Greg from N&G Woodworking on the cabinet design to ensure we found a solution for every request they had. Because we elongated the run of cabinets on the side wall we were able to create a pantry with plenty of storage. There’s more counter space now and better work flow due to making the island one level.
Before, during and after the renovation. With any renovation the demo and re-building stage is uncomfortable, but comparing the before & after photos, it’s certainly worth the inconvenience.
To lessen congestion in the kitchen, I designed different zones. The coffee bar with the microwave under the main counter is a high use area which sits just outside the work triangle. There’s a drop zone as soon as one enters the kitchen from the laundry/ mudroom area. The kids love having a stocked beverage fridge in the area we call the serving buffet, and are making plans to soon put one in their hangout space.
For families that like to entertain, it makes a lot of sense to have a stocked beverage fridge away from the main kitchen work area.
After so many years of having dark cabinets and a black counter top, the family wanted it to feel bright, but asked that it remain cozy. We debated doing more of a cream colour for the cabinets in order to get a warm glow in the space. I was afraid their north exposure would make the cream look a wee bit dull. Choosing a warm white provided the cozy feel they were looking for without feeling stark and cold. The swirled pattern of the handmade backsplash tile provides textural interest, as do the walnut shelves and the antique gold hardware.
These beautiful handmade tiles are both interesting and classic. It’s always my goal when designing to select finishes that aren’t trendy and can be loved for a very long time.
The dad is the main cook of the family and he commented that the new kitchen layout is fantastic. Ergonomically the space functions so much better and he says preparing family meals has become easier and quicker. There’s loads of storage and a place for everything. We actually measured serving platters and baking trays so we could customize cabinet size to ensure fit.
There’s no such thing as too much storage. These drawers on either side of the beverage fridge balance the design.
A pocket door separates the back area from the kitchen. The drop zone and coffee bar add visual interest.
The philosophy behind this renovation was that design affects behaviour. We wanted the renovation to be more than just updating colours and making the space look trendy. The homeowners are the most loving family who value spending time together and hosting friends. Grandma lives just around the corner and has a strong bond with the children. Uncle Marty often comes to visit and stays with the family. Having gathering areas that are functional as well as beautiful makes it easy for real connection to occur.
The upstairs bonus room is a soothing space that’s filled with natural light. This quiet space was decorated to showcase the homeowners’ love of vintage planes.
The beautiful thing about this renovation is that it provides spaces for gathering while also providing the ability to have separation. The teens have their own floor and the parents have a lovely bonus room on the upper floor for those times that solitude is the solution.
Kitchens are more than utilitarian spaces for meal prep. They’ve developed into social spaces where wonderful memories centred around food are created.
The end result is that the family is thrilled with their ‘new’ home. It’s brighter, flow is better, there’s loads of storage and the pain points have been solved. But more than that, they love the way it suites their grown up family. They knew that design affects behaviour and they wanted a home that was designed for gathering and connection. There’s nothing better than having a home that fosters love.
