Custom Kitchen

This project involves a kitchen renovation within a home in North York. It includes removing adjacent walls to the living and dining areas, and custom designed cabinetry.  

 

The new island is centered in the room.  It faces the widened opening to the living area, as well as pointing to the existing solarium.  A cantilevered counter projection allows for casual seating as needed.  In the image above, a sliding pocket door was added between the kitchen and dining room, to maintain a formal division between these rooms.

 

While a porcelain tiled floor is a common choice, the owners wanted something a little more forgiving on their knees.  A higher-end modular vinyl flooring tile was selected, which also contains a degree of recycled content.

One advantage to custom designed cabinetry - rather than a homeowner engaging a modular system kitchen company - is the flexibility and range of design solutions available.  With this design freedom, the needs of the client were able to be met with a level of detail and care specifically tailored for this context.  Of course, one is limited by the hardware, accessories, fixtures and appliances that are manufactured and available.  

 

A pull-out coffee station, drawers within pantry, an integrated bread bin, and a pull out towel rack were some of the features included.

To make the most of available space, cabinetry near the ceiling was incorporated with flip doors and hidden push / release hardware.  Up there, items that are used less frequently can be stored.

Beyond the island in the image below, shelving was incorporated near the widened opening to house cook books and other miscellaneous items.

 

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Addition and Renovation - Interior Details

With this residential addition and renovation project approaching completion, various elements within the interior can be reviewed in context.  The oak steps, along with the vertical oak slats form a partial screen; this separates the dining room from the more private areas of the 2nd floor.  The assembly also creates a stair opening to the finished basement, where the kids can play within earshot.

At the kitchen, a direct relationship with the new living area was desired, with a peninsula and counter designed for casual seating.  A wall remains between the kitchen and the dining room, to shield the cooking activities.  In the picture below, a potted basil plant is growing under the skylight. I hadn't anticipated that use, but it seems well placed.

 

As the two-piece washroom is in close proximity to the new living area, some degree of subtlety was desired.  The nearly-invisible door frame pictured below helps to suppress its visual impact.  This type of detail takes more effort to build than a conventional or traditional door frame.  However, with a little resolve and attention, it is achievable.

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Kitchen Renovation - Custom Cabinetry

There are certain advantages to extensively designing the details of the kitchen cabinetry for an interior project, rather than applying a modular kitchen system from a well known manufacturer.  In this project currently under construction, the custom cabinetry design is unique to the homeowners' needs and responsive to the existing conditions.

The layout is essentially L-shaped along 2 walls, with an island at the centre of the room.  Features like a pull-out coffee station, spice drawer, and Lazy Susan are incorporated for frequent use and convenience.  Plenty of storage is needed, utilizing the full height of the space.  Cabinets with touch release hardware are situated near the ceiling, for items less frequently used.

 

At the island, a narrow dish towel pull-out drawer is incorporated beside the sink and recycling area.  A cantilevered counter surface will project to form an area for casual meals.

Drawers within the closets make for easier access, rather than stretching to reach.  A predominantly white interior within the cabinetry is useful for simplicity and maintenance.

The insert-type mechanical exhaust above the cooktop will be installed within the framing, then wrapped in stainless steel to match the fridge and oven.

Additional cabinets of equal width, one for housekeeping and the other with shelving, face each other at opposite ends.  A deliberate decision was made to maintain the clear division between the kitchen and the more formal dining room with a sliding pocket door, while the side facing the family room was opened up with the removal of the existing wall.

This level of customization takes time and effort - however, the benefit is a tailor-made solution for years of future use.