Decorating & Design
June 1, 2022
Seven Reasons Why We Love This Lakeside Kitchen
Lake Ontario basically sits in the backyard of this Oakville, Ont., home, a 45-minute drive west of Toronto, so it made sense to reflect the watery hue inside the kitchen as well. That’s what designer Jessie Kelly thought when she renovated the dated kitchen in this family home. She wasn’t a fan of the dark mocha cabinets, and was really perplexed by the crescent-shaped island that placed everyone’s back to that standout view. “The clients were a family with four boys who had moved from London,” says Jessie. “Obviously, the proximity to the lake was one of the deciding factors in buying this house. We wanted to change the design to take full advantage of the views, which we did with a new island and banquette.”
The entire first floor was a gut job, but Jessie (pictured) had her priorities set out for her when she did a site visit and saw the owners’ cookbooks and iPads piled on the counter. “I didn’t like the idea of seeing everything, so we created a pantry with mirrored doors that conceals USB charging stations, cookbooks and a spot for mail,” she says. “We call it a ‘drop zone.’ ”
The banquette was a harder sell. “I don’t think the clients were sure about how it would function in the space, but once we flipped the island, it made sense,” says Jessie. “I showed them the floor plan and explained that they could seat the four boys here, as well as guests, or use it as a workspace.”
Keep scrolling to see why we love this lakeside kitchen!
1. Sparkling Pantry Doors
“Antiqued mirror is one of my signatures,” says Jessie of the door panels on the pantry that conceal the “drop zone.” “It adds a different material to the kitchen and opens up the space without taking away from the design.”
2. A Colorful Island
“I wanted a color that would stand out and make the island and its wire-brushed granite counter pop against the pale cabinets around the perimeter,” says designer Jessie Kelly. “The clients love the color of the island so much. It feels like it will stand the test of time.”
3. Soft Layers
“Banquettes are an opportunity to introduce some fun fabrics,” says Jessie of the throw pillows and window treatments. “We took our inspiration from the water and layered in different patterns and textures.”
4. Seamless Surfaces
“Silestone counters blend in with the backsplash and let the hood play the starring role,” says Jessie. The black sconces coordinate with the hood.
5. Stunning Stone
“The texture has all this depth and character to it,” says Jessie of the granite counter’s leathered finish. “It really brings out the true grain, and it’s quite nice to touch.”
6. Clever Storage
“A second pantry is located to the left of the wall oven,” says Jessie. The pantry conceals a coffee station that rolls out.
7. Crisp Cabinets
“The clients went with a beautiful Wolf cooktop and, to showcase it, we gave it a really special hood that looks like it’s made of dark metal,” says Jessie. She chose cabinets with pencil molding. “I wanted a play on Shaker style, but Shaker cabinets have been getting too much attention, so I opted for something modern but a little different.”
For a full tour of this charming family kitchen, click here!
Virginia Macdonald
House & Home Kitchens + Baths 2021
Jessie Kelly