Decorating & Design
September 1, 2021
Get The Look: 5 Kitchen Styles Inspiring Us Right Now
For inspiration and practical advice on how to select materials and plan your dream space, look to these five standout kitchen styles that we’re loving. Scroll down!
English Character
Veiny marble + modern pendants + fearless color + cherished collection
This formal Toronto kitchen is a showcase of luxurious materials and finishes but, for the homeowners, it’s also a place to showcase their fearless personal style and treasured china collection. A floor-to-ceiling wall of shelves, framed in marble and fronted by brass rails, displays pieces from Hermès and Fornasetti that are organized loosely by their patterns of reds, blacks and an occasional yellow. “The grand scale gives it a luxurious feel,” says designer Jack Creasy.
Stone Statement
Limestone slabs + chevron floors + white cabinets + minimal hardware
Silver limestone with blue-grey veining is the bedrock of this compact Calgary kitchen and a testament to the power of a strictly limited material palette. “That limestone was my design nucleus; everything else revolved around it,” says designer Nam Dang-Mitchell. The stone is used for the monumental island, plus the back counter, backsplash, vent hood and a slim shelf in the work area above the range, where it creates a convenient perch for favourite pottery and glassware. On the island, the slabs have been fabricated with mitred corners to create the appearance of a solid block from the adjacent living area.
Modern Country
Plank floors + classic white subway tile + black window and cabinet frames + stainless steel appliances
Owners Bridget O’Leary and Stephen Gleave lived in their charming, 135-year-old Italianate country house in Ancaster, Ontario, for 15 years before renovating the kitchen, so when the time came, at long last, they knew exactly what they wanted. They called in designer Susan Burns to help create a warm, classically appointed space that was airy and light. The result is a tactile mix of soapstone and sealed butcherblock counters underscored by wide-plank pine flooring. The new black-framed windows are referenced in the glass-fronted upper cabinets, adding architectural character and enlivening the country mix. “We didn’t want ultramodern interiors jumping out at you at the expense of the country exterior,” says Bridget. “After all, this is still a farm.”
Moody Trad
Showpiece range + glossy black subway tile + polished granite counters + two-tone cabinets
The showstopping chrome and steel range in this Calgary kitchen inspired the look of the large island and is referenced again in the black polished granite counters and textured black subway tile on the walls. Moments of light arrive in the form of cream and white oak cabinets, trapezoid-shaped pendants and a collection of white fine china — the cups’ and pitchers’ sculptural forms crisp against that gleaming black tile. In all, it’s a rich, unabashedly decorated room. Says designer Mark Cayen, “Not every kitchen allows for such decorative detail, but this space and client were perfect for it.”
Sky-High Volume
Soaring ceilings + rustic beams + loft-inspired windows + glass-fronted upper cabinets
“We love the dramatic effect,” says Nicholas Ancerl of his eponymous studio’s predilection for soaring ceilings. “I like to think in 3D rather than 2D. It’s about how you enjoy the space, views and sight lines.” In the kitchen and breakfast area of this Toronto home, the ceilings reach heights of 20 feet, adding a voluminous, immersive quality to the room. Beams draw the eye upward and act as a framework, their raw texture a counterpoint to the polished and pristine finishes. Grand gestures aside, the kitchen is practically planned, with ample storage and a spacious flow well-suited to entertaining — a space like this tends to draw a crowd.
Soulful Eclectic
“We wanted this space to feel laid-back and breezy, yet pulled together, with a point of view,” says designer Sam Sacks of this Hamilton kitchen she created for a family of four. The owners love the sunny, unhurried vibe of Palm Springs, California, and wanted to imbue their home with the same lightness and warmth. To achieve this, honey tones were used in the white oak flooring, the glass-fronted accent cabinet and the woven pendant. The island’s Caesarstone counter — a practical choice for food prep — is framed on three sides by an oiled oak ledge that provides diners with a softer wooden surface for enjoying meals.
House & Home Kitchens + Baths 2021