Decorating & Design
Inside A Brazilian Food Blogger’s Dream Kitchen
Published on March 28, 2022
Olivia Ribas always fantasized about having a dream kitchen. It would be a beautiful, light-filled and functional space where she could methodically spread out her ingredients, tools and equipment. “I’m extremely organized,” says the popular Toronto recipe developer, food blogger and photographer behind Primavera Kitchen, a website that gets one million hits per month. In reality, however, she cooked in her small condo kitchen, where she lived with her husband, Pierre DiGirolamo, and their toddler, Thomas. It was a major challenge. For instance, the 15 ingredients that went into Moqueca, a silky fish stew from Brazil, where Olivia is from, turned her counters into a mountain of clutter. “I was always searching for spices,” says Olivia. “I bought paprika every week because I could never find it.” Double and triple-testing multiple recipes was a pain in the compact space, and the kitchen lacked light — not ideal for food photography.
So, in 2018, the couple decided to off-load the condo and relocate to The Beach in Toronto. “I grew up in Salvador, surrounded by the ocean, so water is very important to me,” says Olivia. “When I moved to Canada 12 years ago and saw Lake Ontario, I said, ‘This looks like an ocean; I’m happy.’” Olivia and Pierre found a tree-lined, lakeside street in the neighbourhood that was appealing and started the process of building from the ground up. The house, clad in white Hardie siding, took a year to complete. At 1,750-square-feet (including the basement), with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a powder room, it’s an elegant, subdued and comfortable home for family living.
See inside Olivia’s bright and airy home below!
Olivia enlisted Orsi Panos (pictured), the principal of Orsi Panos Interiors, for the design. “I had watched some of Orsi’s videos on the House & Home website and connected with her uncluttered, streamlined style,” she says. “I wanted something transitional and modern, but not too modern.”
Orsi took care of everything from the layout to the finishes, and Pierre helped with project management. “We didn’t want the home to feel like a quintessential beach house,” says the designer, who nixed any seashells and navy blue and white. “We wanted a refined, casual vibe, so we went with classic, elegant fixtures and finishes, and peppered in natural materials such as rattan and linen.” The result is an interior that’s interesting and layered, with an effortless feel. For the color palette, Orsi looked to her nature-fixated client. “Olivia loves green, so the shade appears throughout the home in the art, accessories and upholstery,” she says.
Other natural elements such as wood and marble are also featured, and often designed to work for Olivia’s business. “The marble counters and backsplash in the kitchen have a matte finish,” says Olivia. “I didn’t want anything that shines when I shoot a video. It’s also better for food photography because it minimizes reflections.”
The large island is custom designed for the busy blogger, who spends up to six hours per day in the kitchen huddled over notes while wielding a spatula. “I love the reeded detail on the island, which turns a rustic material into a refined feature,” says Orsi.
On the opposite wall, a full-height pantry hides an astounding number of items behind bifold doors, and deep lower drawers house pots and clunky appliances. White oak floors run through the understated yet gorgeous home. “It’s amazing how a beautiful, organized house can make you feel happy,” says Olivia.
For a food blogger, having the latest gear is essential. “I have to keep up with trends,” says Olivia. “I need my Instant Pot, air fryer, Vitamix — whatever the latest gadget is.” She’s thrilled that her equipment is now tidily stored away, and her spices are at the ready in a drawer by the cooktop. She can finally optimize productivity and focus on what’s important — cooking, of course!
The backsplash and counters are marble, which is a popular material in Brazil. “It’s not treated as a special stone there,” says Olivia. “It’s fine as long as you wipe it down right away.”
Spices live in an easy-access drawer right beside the cooktop.
Off the foyer, the art-filled living room flows into a central dining area. A beautiful gallery wall camouflages the TV. Olivia commissioned her friend, artist Donata Delano, to paint images from special places in Montreal, Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere in Brazil.
The living room has layers of texture and a high-low mix of furniture. “We splurged on the custom velvet sofa and pillows and saved on the coffee table,” says Orsi.
“I wanted something zen and calm,” says Olivia of the principal bedroom, with its luxe upholstered headboard.
Floor-to-ceiling subway tile adds dimension and texture in the ensuite bathroom.
A sconce illuminates art that hangs just outside the couple’s bedroom door. “I love adding a special moment in a hallway,” says Orsi.
The second-floor bathroom feels at once modern and classic, thanks to different marbles, mixed metals and a pop of color on the vanity.
Patrick Biller
House & Home March 2022
Orsi Panos