HOW do you take a kitchen from drab to fab?
Just ask these West Vancouver homeowners.
For seven years the kitchen of their home was left untouched. Over time they decided to take on the task of decorating every other room in the home but they knew tackling this particular space was not going to be an easy feat.
In August of this year a decision was made to begin a massive kitchen renovation involving the outside deck and removal of a long hallway.
The kitchen plan was to add 200 square feet by pushing out onto the back deck and eliminate a hallway that ran parallel to the space. A window was added to allow a view to the water and a small computer desk area was incorporated into the plan.
To get started it was necessary to gut the space. After the plumbing and electrical was configured, the kitchen began to take shape. Dark hardwood floors were laid and white cabinetry from Eurotek in Benjamin Moore's Cloud White was installed. Crystal knobs from Restoration Hardware finished the look with complementary handles.
The kitchen was now taking on a very light, fresh, contemporary feel with the addition of two chandeliers from Canopy Designs in New York and Perrin & Rowe chrome faucets from Cantu.
Upon first entering the space one cannot help but notice the kitchen's centrepiece; a substantial 15-foot island. There are cupboards for storage, a built-in sink and ample room for guests to sit and mingle.
Brand new appliances were added from Y Franks along with stainless steel sinks from Cantu. But it's really the Statuario white marble that steals the show. Sourced from Alpha stone the marble really draws the eye and adds a certain element of elegance to the kitchen.
Other added attractions include a built-in hutch, custom pullout cabinetry for jars and cans and large cutting board pullouts on the island to reduce wear and tear on the marble surface. These days, kitchen accessories are no longer just functional. They now take on a fashion all to themselves.
All walls were painted in Benjamin Moore's "Storm" AF-700 and small decor items were sourced from Da Vinci's and Peridot.
In the end, it is possible to undergo a smart kitchen renovation that not only delivers better function but also savvy style. An elegant and serene palette of creams, whites and greys sets the tone for the space but it was the use of key contemporary details and striking furniture that gave the kitchen a chic and stylish feel.
