A long wall of full height custom cabinetry and appliances pack a functional punch for this kitchen, allowing the opposite wall to be upper cabinet free.

Welcome to our latest kitchen renovation project, where classic French elegance meets contemporary design in the heart of Great Falls, VA. In this transformation, we aim to create a stunning kitchen space that exudes sophistication and charm, capturing the essence of timeless French style with a modern twist. Our design centers around a harmonious blend of light gray and off-white tones, setting a serene and inviting backdrop for this kitchen makeover. These neutral hues will work in harmony to create a calming ambiance and enhance the natural light, making the kitchen feel open and welcoming. To infuse a sense of nature and add a striking focal point, we have carefully selected green cabinets. The rich green hue, reminiscent of lush gardens, brings a touch of the outdoors into the space, creating a unique and refreshing visual appeal. The cabinets will be thoughtfully placed to optimize both functionality and aesthetics. The heart of this project lies in the eye-catching French-style range and exquisite light fixture. The hood, adorned with intricate detailing, will become a captivating centerpiece above the cooking area. Its classic charm will evoke the grandeur of French country homes, while also providing efficient ventilation for a pleasant cooking experience.

The kitchen features micro-shaker cabinets, quartzite countertops & backsplash, a quartzite waterfall island and Thermador appliances.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

“With the open-concept floor plan, this kitchen needed to have a galley layout,” Ellison says. A large island helps delineate the kitchen from the other rooms around it. These include a dining area directly behind the kitchen and a living room to the right of the dining room. This main floor also includes a small TV lounge, a powder room and a mudroom. The house sits on a slope, so this main level enjoys treehouse-like canopy views out the back. The bedrooms are on the walk-out lower level.“These homeowners liked grays and neutrals, and their style leaned contemporary,” Ellison says. “They also had a very nice art collection.” The artwork is bright and colorful, and a neutral scheme provided the perfect backdrop for it. They also liked the idea of using durable laminate finishes on the cabinetry. The laminates have the look of white oak with vertical graining. The galley cabinets are lighter and warmer, while the island has the look of white oak with a gray wash for contrast. The countertops and backsplash are polished quartzite. The quartzite adds beautiful natural veining patterns and warm tones to the room.

The kitchen received a full update, including new custom cabinetry with convenient features like roll-out storage, beverage station and a hidden charging drawer. The kitchen also received luxury appliances and an Italian tile backsplash, as well as open shelving for a modern look. DalTile Remedy Elixer RD20 3X9 Italian tile with heavy glaze. Painted flat panel custom cabinetry by Hoosier House Furnishings LLC. Island is FP44258 Midnight and perimeter cabinetry is SW7757 High Reflective White. White Oak shelving to match the flooring. White Santorini Quartzite countertops. Photos by Marie Martin Kinney; Design by N. Wirt Design, Inc.; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.

The kitchen received a full update, including new custom cabinetry with convenient features like roll-out storage, beverage station and a hidden charging drawer. The kitchen also received luxury appliances and an Italian tile backsplash, as well as open shelving for a modern look. DalTile Remedy Elixer RD20 3X9 Italian tile with heavy glaze. Painted flat panel custom cabinetry by Hoosier House Furnishings LLC. Island is FP44258 Midnight and perimeter cabinetry is SW7757 High Reflective White. White Oak shelving to match the flooring. White Santorini Quartzite countertops. Photos by Marie Martin Kinney; Design by N. Wirt Design, Inc.; General Contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.

Chaten Kitchen

Interior design by Jessica Koltun Home. This stunning transitional home with an open floor plan features a formal dining, dedicated study, Chef's kitchen and hidden pantry. Designer amenities include white oak millwork, marble tile, and a high end lighting, plumbing, & hardware.

This lovely little modern farmhouse is located at the base of the foothills in one of Boulder’s most prized neighborhoods. Tucked onto a challenging narrow lot, this inviting and sustainably designed 2400 sf., 4 bedroom home lives much larger than its compact form. The open floor plan and vaulted ceilings of the Great room, kitchen and dining room lead to a beautiful covered back patio and lush, private back yard. These rooms are flooded with natural light and blend a warm Colorado material palette and heavy timber accents with a modern sensibility. A lyrical open-riser steel and wood stair floats above the baby grand in the center of the home and takes you to three bedrooms on the second floor. The Master has a covered balcony with exposed beamwork & warm Beetle-kill pine soffits, framing their million-dollar view of the Flatirons. Its simple and familiar style is a modern twist on a classic farmhouse vernacular. The stone, Hardie board siding and standing seam metal roofing create a resilient and low-maintenance shell. The alley-loaded home has a solar-panel covered garage that was custom designed for the family’s active & athletic lifestyle (aka “lots of toys”). The front yard is a local food & water-wise Master-class, with beautiful rain-chains delivering roof run-off straight to the family garden.

A spacious Victorian semi-detached house nestled in picturesque Harrow on the Hill, undergoing a comprehensive back to brick renovation to cater to the needs of a growing family of six. This project encompassed a full-scale transformation across all three floors, involving meticulous interior design to craft a truly beautiful and functional home. The renovation includes a large extension, and enhancing key areas bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. The result is a harmonious blend of Victorian charm and contemporary living, creating a space that caters to the evolving needs of this large family.

The kitchen accommodates a full set of Neff appliances, and an Air Uno vented hob. We also installed this Ceasarstone Quartz worktop, and behind, metro style tiles to the splashback in teal, to add a pop of colour against the white cabinetry. We also exposed the original metal beams which became a feature of this apartment.

This charming kitchen now suits the lovely home it anchors. The original kitchen was a series of crossing traffic patterns, disjointed work areas with a basement staircase without a door smack in the middle of the room. First, we relocated the door to the living room which was located where the double oven now stands. A new hinged French door allows light to flow from this bright space into the living room which was shortened by 18” to create the space for the kitchen. Now the traffic from the side door and garage by passes the work area of the kitchen into the house. Due to the brick exterior on the kitchen side of the home, we did not relocate any windows but worked around the placement to great success. By creating a “look through” from the kitchen into the family room, the kitchen keeps the cook connected with company and gives a view to the backyard to keep an eye on the family pup. The view from the family room is a lovely scene of the kitchen. Panel molding was added to the family room side to connect to the recessed panels of the kitchen cabinets. When we relocated the door to the living room, we created a return wall just long enough for the Mr. of the home to have his wish list item a small wet bar. We also were able to create a space for a pocket door adjacent to the bar which now closes off the basement stairs. Opposite the bar, we designed a functional and beautiful hutch which stores extra plates, dishes, and serves as a pantry as well. Both the bar and the hutch are painted Hale Navy which is the perfect contrast to the white kitchen. An oval window replaced an old, antiquated double hung window and creates architectural interest to the eating area. The clients antique table was repurposed to function as an island when extra work space is needed. The client was extremely happy to have this heirloom piece become part of the finished kitchen.