Kitchens
November 25, 2022
A Quebec Kitchen Gets A Scandi Farmhouse-style Reboot
For this rustic yet refined kitchen, Hessa married their firm’s signature clean-lined aesthetic with their client’s love of farmhouse style. In H&H’s November issue, we interviewed the design firm in our Kitchen Of The Month series.
Scroll down for a tour of this 230-square-foot European-inspired hub!
Ariane Gordon (right) with Hessa co-founder Stéphanie Mathieu.
House & Home: What was your client looking for with this kitchen design?
Ariane Gordon: She originally had a vision of a chic farmhouse kitchen, which included a rustic chandelier over the dining nook, white Ikea cabinets and lots of gold. Because Hessa’s signature look is warm minimalism, we found a way to blend all of those aspects.
Custom doors on the cabinets have an understated frame detail. The counter stools are sleek and streamlined and echo the tones used in the cabinets, pendants and counters.
H&H: Why did you opt to mix metals?
AG: I wanted to respect the client’s wish to have a “chic barn” style, and gold- toned hardware was a nice way to do that. We added large, rounded handles on the lowers and more minimalist handles on the uppers at eye level. But gold is quite hard to match with other golds, so we decided to make all of the plumbing and appliances stainless steel. People are usually afraid to mix metals but, when you do, you can create something harmonious.
The stainless steel appliances, faucets and pot filler contrast nicely with the gold-toned pulls. “A pot filler is in high demand from our clients these days, and it adds to that farmhouse aesthetic,” says Ariane.
H&H: Tell us about that gorgeous stone wall!
AG: It’s the focal point of the kitchen. Each stone was individually cut so that it’s flush with the backsplash over the range. Our client is Italian, and we wanted to lean in to her heritage and make it look like a European space. We made sure the grout lines were visible between the stones, and that the wall had a limewashed look.
The generous banquette area, in shades of off-white and ecru, seats seven comfortably.
H&H: What was the jumping-off point for the dining nook?
AG: I designed it around the pendant. It’s 34 inches across, has a Scandinavian look and a bit of gold that ties in to the kitchen hardware. The millwork blends in to the limewashed walls, and the table and chairs match the floors and kitchen cabinets, which keeps the focus on the pendant and creates a symmetry with the rest of the kitchen.
There are two sinks in the kitchen, one for food prep and one for washing dishes.
H&H: What was behind the decision to add the darker wood beams?
AG: Before the renovation, the kitchen was closed off with a wall where the counter is. I opened it up and added structural beams. We wanted them to fit with the farmhouse style without trying to recreate old wood, so we went with something slick, linear and dark to look chic.
A black-framed sliding door conceals stairs to the lower level.
Ariane picked a warm-toned stone to complement the wood used throughout the kitchen.
Keep scrolling for elements of this look!
Photographie Intérieure Co.
House & Home November 2022
Ariane Gordon