by Mary Bailey
Feast your eyes on these delicious kitchens.
|
Click images to zoom |
Renovations over $40K
A new addition complements a fine house built in 1927
Renovation One
Homeowner: Caitlin Fulton and Blair Lebsack.
Wicket Blue Interiors, Revington Renovations, Eldrick Upholstery.
Being restaurant people, we were very specific and deliberate with all our design choices as we know how we like to function when hosting. It had to be decidedly residential with lots of warmth and colour rather than monochromatic stainless steel that would remind us of being at work. We have a large extended family and wanted a kitchen that could really perform—we were imagining dinners of 20-plus guests (pre-Covid).
“It had to be decidedly residential with lots of warmth and colour rather than monochromatic stainless steel that would remind us of being at work,” Caitlin Fulton.
“We wanted a modern kitchen that respected the heritage of the home with a few old-world European flourishes (Lacanche range and 1920s skyline pendant lights from Scott Landon Antiques.) We are thrilled with the abundance of storage. The island has built in drawer-style fridges opposite the stove and there are customized drawers for everything from pots and pans to spices and cooking oils, as well as a shallow drawer specially designed for a collection of knives. We have a nice little area with a small prep sink with hot water on demand—a feature we thought indulgent, but now seems indispensable for our morning pour-over coffee. The floor is eco-friendly Marmoleum which pays homage to the original home, which probably had linoleum in the original kitchen.
Highlights: The pass-through to the deck for al fresco meals. Super deep counters, with oversized drawers for storing all our stuff. We love the breakfast nook banquette with storage drawers for table linens and various arts and craft supplies. Handmade, creamy subway tile from River City Tile.
Judges comments: “The transitional design and material vocabulary pays homage to the era when the house was built without resorting to period reproduction.” “Magazine-worthy. Like the mix of painted and wood cabinets.” ”Special touches such as the period lamps and the wood island reinforce the bridge to the 1920s.”
Modernize a 1960’s layout to create a modern farmhouse kitchen
Renovation Two
Designer: Bretton Toop, Habitat Studio. Delton Cabinets
The idea was to focus on entertaining and to maximize storage options. By relocating the kitchen to the back corner of the home, we opened up the space between the new great room, dining room and lowered living room. The existing load bearing wall was replaced with a dropped beam which we clad in wood to match the hardwood and created more of a feature than just a structural element. The owners’ dream of modernizing their 1960’s kitchen was accomplished by keeping the design bright with rustic elements to create a modern farmhouse feel. Entertaining was made easier with a built-in coffee bar and serving bar that wraps around the corner into the dining room. The addition of tall pantry cabinets with pull-outs is perfect for this home that previously had no designated pantry.
“The owners’ dream of modernizing their 1960’s kitchen was accomplished by keeping the design bright with rustic elements to create a modern farmhouse feel” Designer.Bretton Toop, Habitat Studio.
Highlights: Retractable doors hide a drop station which is easily accessible from both the foyer entry and mudroom. Rustic white oak hardwood adds to the coziness of the space while diminishing the worry of kids and pets scratching the floor. Hints of contrast have been added throughout with the cabinet pulls, pendants over the island and the custom rolled steel hood shroud.
Judges comments: “Uncluttered contemporary design with a good workflow for a small kitchen. Attractive material vocabulary.” “Love the hood fan enclosure, the pendant lights and the Cherner counter stools.” “Love the dining room cabinets and counter space. Good blend of finishes.”
Moving the kitchen to the other side of the house up created continuity, connection and coziness.
Renovation Three
Nancy Surby, NAKO Design
Walls and the existing dining room window were removed and a beam installed. The move put the kitchen in the center of both the dining and living room with views to the backyard rather than the neighbour’s garage. Creamy white porcelain tile with a brick-like texture and warm woods softened the bold contrast of the black and white colour scheme.
Highlights: The design of the cabinets was the key to functionality. With lots of drawers, easy to access upper cabinets and three tall units, storage is ample.
Judges comments: “Uncluttered contemporary design. Good work flow for a small kitchen and an attractive material vocabulary.” “That they moved the room! Sometimes this is such a great solution.” “The design is mindful of the small space, with quite a bit of storage.”
Our homeowner’s dream kitchen? Bright and modern, keeping in mind both entertaining and everyday convenience.
Renovation Honourable Mention
Jamie Davis, Quadrant Construction
They wanted flow. The pantry used to be the typical small closet off the kitchen and the mudroom and garage, accessed from down the hall, was not ideal for grocery hauls. We connected the pantry to the mudroom and created ample storage. The kitchen boasts all the modern conveniences with Miele appliances and to top off the kitchen dream appliance package—the SubZero fridge with cabinetry fronts. Bright and modern was accomplished by the white cabinetry, tile selections and the brushed gold accents throughout.
Highlights: Being able to enter from the garage and walk the groceries straight to the pantry has been a game changer. The door to the pantry is disguised as a tall cabinet which keeps the lines clean.
Judges comments: “Good layout, warm and bright with a nice mix of materials. Nice styling on the open shelves and a fun tile in the pantry/mudroom.
Renovation Under $40K
Doing it yourself paid off in this efficient kitchen
Renovation One
Homeowner: Rae Popowich.
We did our own planning and demolition, lighting, painting, texturing and ductwork and installed new electrical, flooring, casing and baseboards. We did have some help with the cupboards and countertop. The most gratifying part of this kitchen is that we did the work ourselves and are very pleased with how it turned out.
Highlights: Our kitchen space was limited. We moved the angled island to parallel with the wall which gave us much more room and functionality.
Judges comments: “This is a very impressive do-it-yourself renovation” A big change with a lot of impact; it looks more expensive than a $40K kitchen.” “The light under the island is a nice add.” “The kitchen layout is extremely efficient and relates perfectly to the dining area on the side. The choice of materials is ideal in creating a crisp, uncluttered, contemporary kitchen.”
Update our well-built home, keep our large gardens and give everything many more decades of life
Renovation Two
Homeowner: Barbara Pearce and Kent McPhee
To minimize our resource consumption, we updated with an energy retrofit and we were able to pass on the old appliances and cabinetry. We did the design and construction work (except the counter install) and we wanted to minimize construction waste. For example, wood from the wall was recycled, the plaster walls were kept intact where possible and the chimney blocks will be used in outdoor projects. Material requirements were precisely calculated resulting in very little waste (we’re talking one floor tile left over –whew). Overall, very little waste was generated.
Highlights: We love our custom Flux Glass Studio art glass backsplash.
Judges comments: “Bravo for being waste conscientious.” “The kitchen layout is quite efficient. The wall of cabinets provides very generous storage for the kitchen and the glass backsplash is pretty.” “The peninsula offers great counterspace and the laptop area is nice.”
A complete renovation of a 1940s bungalow to become an Airbnb
Renovation Honourable Mention
Homeowner: Craig Williams, DIY.
I wanted to save the house from demolition and incorporate a farmhouse feel. I wanted to keep the upper cabinets minimal as storage isn’t as important for travellers, but still wanted a functional kitchen should I convert it back to a full-time home. Lastly, I wanted a two-toned kitchen with a washed-out wood grain on the base cabinets and navy blue on the uppers and shelves with a pop of gold on the handles, lights and tap.
Highlights: I removed the chimney plaster to expose the brick.
Judges comments: “Nice use of space, with room for more than one cook at a time. A few more cabinets would be nice though; even short-term renters need places to store their groceries.” “Exposed brick and woodgrain works well. Good counter space.”
New Build over $40K
Create a space that supports a love of entertaining family and friends
New Build One
Designer: Nancy Surby, NAKO Design
The idea was a kitchen that felt sophisticated for adults and friendly for children. The challenge was the size—this kitchen is large. It is also u-shaped which can create pinch points. To avoid those, the island was designed away from the banks of cabinets, with enough space for several people to work comfortably side by side, or back-to-back. An element we rarely see in homes now is a walk-in pantry with corner door access. To avoid it feeling dated, we dressed the door to match the custom barn door from the mudroom and trimmed it with an architrave and casing detail. The black was then pulled into the lighting and plumbing fixtures, a subtle nod to the modern within a classic white kitchen. Installing three beams added warmth and character without taking away from the high ceilings.
“The hero of this space is that stone. Used as both the countertop and backsplash on the perimeter cabinets and installed full height, the result is soft drama and visual texture,” Designer Nancy Surby, NAKO Design.
Highlights: The hero of this space is that stone. Used as both the countertop and backsplash on the perimeter cabinets and installed full height, the result is soft drama and visual texture. The adjacent wall to the kitchen was designed to be a coffee and beverage bar, home to small appliances and under-counter refrigeration.
Judges comments: “The layout of this kitchen meets the client’s design brief for entertaining and for several people using the kitchen together.” “A successful take on a contemporary country kitchen—the dark hardwood and wood beams provide the perfect foil for the creamy painted shaker cabinets and the light wood veneer accent on the island front. Love the farm sink, soft brass cabinet hardware and punchy black plumbing and light fixtures.” “A space I’d like to cook and hang-out in—warm and filled with light.“ “Slab backsplashes are a nice touch.” “Nice mix of finishes; great storage and layout.”
A modern, cozy kitchen designed for family gatherings and a love of baking
New Build Two
Designer: Habitat Studio. Florkowskys’ Woodworking and Cabinets
We have created many functional workstations within one area for the family to enjoy. The new kitchen is open to the dining room and great room with a wrap-around hall that leads to the pantry, baking area and the mudroom. Large triple pane windows allow light to flood into the space from the front and rear of the home, along with a counter height window to bring natural light into the pantry work zone. The long hickory island has seating for five and a trough bar sink is opposite the paneled wine and keg fridge. A paneled dishwasher, cutlery organizers and garbage and recycling pull-out surround the apron-front sink with an industrial coil faucet. Gold accents from hardware, pendant lighting, and barstools add a bit of sparkle to the space.
“The new kitchen is open to the dining room and great room with a wrap-around hall that leads to the pantry, baking area and the mudroom, designer,” Habitat Studio.
Highlights: The integrated range hood has been hidden within the floating upper cabinets with oversized white slab door. The deep navy lower cabinets ground the high ceilings while adding elegance and personality to the home.
Judge’s comments: “The feature I like most in this kitchen is the integrated range hood incorporated into the upper cabinets.” “Well thought out with tons of work surface and storage space.” “This kitchen has the luxury of large open spaces with walls of windows.”
A functional and bright space that suits this busy family.
New Build Three
Jamie Davis, Quadrant Construction
They had been were living in their original family home from the 1940’s. A place for the kids to come home and sit to do homework or chat while the parents prepared meals was accommodated by the long island seating four. Bright windows allow light to come in from both the front and the back of the house.
Highlights: To create some separation, a feature wall (with a pattern to match the tile around the kitchen sink) was installed between the dining room and the kitchen.
Judges comments: “The island provides a very generous unfettered prep and serving space. The best feature in this kitchen is the decorative screen separating the kitchen and the dining area.” “The tile and wall detail and finishes are nice.” “Like soothing monochromatic colour scheme.
New Build under $40K
Home is where the forno is
New Build One
Homeowner: Elizabeth and Ben Colcy: Audie Benson Estate Homes; Chayna Gordon, Boss Design Ltd.
We wanted to optimize natural light, function and storage, while welcoming company and conversation to the heart of our home. The central island, equipped with a white farm sink and prep space, overlooks the cozy seating of the great room. The kitchen flows to a mud room and a fifty-six square foot pantry for easy grocery delivery.
Highlights: The 3300-pound forno, its supporting cinder blocks, chimney and exterior brick, required extra floor joists to support the weight, an appropriately vented chimney and a firewall that would meet all safety specifications. Transport of the forno into its final resting position required the expertise and creativity of Encore Trucking.
Judges comments: “The forno with the brick surround provides a rustic focal point to bring the kitchen and dining area together. “The variety of materials and textures is appealing. “The kitchen layout is efficient and conducive for entertaining.”
Living large in a small space in an above garage laneway house
New Build Honourable Mention
Homeowner: Janice Bogner. Hutchison Cabinets, Tren-Des Design.
Downsizing is challenging, especially when it comes to the heart of the home and the downsizers entertain and enjoy baking and cooking. My kitchen is in a 600 square foot garden suite and I needed to take advantage of every bit of space. Not only did we have to make room for kitchen gear, we also needed a coat closet, a laundry area and storage places for all the appliances and tools.
Highlights: The appliances were chosen with the small space in mind —a counter depth fridge, stacking laundry, a quiet running dishwasher and a double oven with microwave on top.
Judges comments: “A decent amount of workspace and storage given the constraints of a 600 square foot laneway home. “Flat paneled cabinet doors and drawer fronts keeps the space looking uncluttered.”
About the Tomato Kitchen Design Awards
What makes a kitchen stand out? What makes a kitchen livable and functional? What makes a kitchen design timeless?
These are the questions wrestled by our judges while choosing this year’s top kitchens.
There was something the judges liked about just about every kitchen entered, choice of materials here, colour scheme there, but they had to pick kitchens that they felt best expressed how we live today. We ask them to think 60 per cent function and 40 per cent aesthetics.
There is no cost to enter. We ask for a description of the work done and why, photos and plans. All kitchens are assigned a number and judged blind.
Our judges prefer clean lines and functional, streamlined spaces but they are not averse to a little romance, such as the in-kitchen forno and the imaginative redo of a 1927 kitchen. They look for effective use of space, not just space. This year, we found the cool colour trend continuing, with several grey and white kitchens entered.
It’s obvious we are proud of our kitchens. We wish to thank all the participants who entered, who told us how their kitchens came to be, how it solved their unique problem, or expressed their artistic vision. Brava!
[doptoggle title=”Judges” icon=5 activeicon=6]
 Rebecca Gagne , co-owner of Cucina Bella, has been designing kitchens since 1996. She is a CKBD (Certified Kitchen Designer, National Kitchen and Bath Association), cucinabella.com. |
 George Ilagen , a partner at Hastings Ilagan Design, is an architect by training and passionate about design. George has designed a myriad of kitchens, ranging from the simple to the sublime, hastingsilagan.ca |
 Michele Roach , principal and co-owner of Wolski Design Group is a minimalist-design pioneer, animal print enthusiast and self-proclaimed creative problem solver with a soft spot for logistical nightmares, wolskidesign.com |
 Darrel Halliwell is an architect and was the managing principal for DIALOG’s Edmonton Studio. He is a member of the firm’s leadership team, responsible for strategic direction and management of the firm across Canada, dialogdesign.ca |
[/doptoggle]
All photos supplied by entrants.