Visiting A Kitchen Showroom

One of the most noticeable things in a kitchen are cabinets. They take up a vast amount of space, and the slightest shift in colour or style instantly change a kitchen’s look. So, for my current reno with AyA Kitchens & Baths, it was important I chose the right ones. (This blog is sponsored by AyA. Follow my kitchen reno progress here.)

Before I went to the nearest AyA showroom, I gathered photos from magazines and the web of my favourite styles, colours and finishes so I would be able to easily share what I was hoping to achieve with AyA’s in-house designers. Knowing what styles I was interested before showing up made the cabinet selection process much quicker.

Senior design editor Cameron MacNeil came along for the trip to the Missisauga showroom, where we could see several kitchens already put together, from traditional to contemporary designs. It was great to have his input — I definitely recommend bringing a friend or family member who knows your design style.

One of the kitchens displayed featured built-in wall ovens, decorative glass and a clean, covered range hood. I liked the clean yet warm aesthetic.

Condo dwellers need not worry about having a small space. A built-in freezer, refrigerator and dishwasher keeps this look clean. You can hardly tell which is just a cabinet and which is an appliance! Plus, two levels of upper cabinetry makes full use of the ceiling height. But this look was a bit too contemporary for me.

Once I selected a cabinet style I was interested in, Cameron and I were able to see the variety of colours and finishes the door comes in.

I decided on this charcoal grey cabinet style, and with the help of an AyA in-house designer and Cameron’s advice, went with a creamy white cabinet for select upper cabinets. The on-trend combination meant that my kitchen wouldn’t be overwhelmed by grey.

After I was happy with what we’d chosen, we got to peek into the manufacturing centre — right here in Ontario! It was very cool to see the production line and how it was all made. I love that they support local workers.

The best part was knowing AyA is properly certified for eco practices. From finding ways to reuse paint to the leftover wood, their own recycling programs help reduce the company’s carbon footprint. The finishes and top coats are made of low pollutants, too. (Read more about the company’s green practices.)

See the kitchen floor plans drafted by AyA’s in-house designer and how AyA maximized the amount of space we had to work with in my next blog.

Photo credits:
1, 4-7. Isabella Cairess Favaro
2, 3. AyA Kitchens