Decorating & Design
December 17, 2020
This Classic Kitchen Brings English Style Across The Pond
Designer Sam Sacks were on a mission: take a Toronto kitchen back to its roots with fine craftsmanship and an English-inspired aesthetic. “When my clients purchased this home, it had been flipped by a builder who stripped out the original charm,” says Sam. Since the homeowners live part-time in London, England, they wanted a gathering place that spoke to the classic charm of kitchens across the pond. “Adding something unexpected like a half floating island makes for a unique, handcrafted look,” says Sam, who also chose putty-colored cabinets and glossy zellige tile.
Scroll down to tour this English-style kitchen with plenty of character!
“We were particularly inspired by the fresh takes on old English kitchens coming from U.K. firms like deVOL Kitchens and Plain English,” says Sam. “I was excited to run with that and see how it played out in my clients’ beautiful old Toronto home.”
In the dining area, Sam chose dainty chairs from Gwyneth Paltrow’s collaboration with CB2. A glass cabinet with metal detailing mimics the kitchen’s black-framed mullioned windows.
Muted greige cabinets complement the range’s stainless finish. “It was such a pleasure to deck out the island with pretty cabinets that aren’t hidden under an overhang or behind seating,” says Sam.
An unlacquered brass faucet only gets better with age.
Traditional clay Moroccan zellige tiles are glazed by hand, giving the backsplash texture. “No two tiles are the same, and the inconsistencies create this beautiful rippling effect,” says Sam.
Alex Lukey
House & Home November 2020
Sam Sacks