Decorating & Design
Discover Real-Life Kitchen Renovation Stories To Inspire Your Own!
Published on August 18, 2020
Tackling a kitchen renovation can be seriously intimidating — from the backsplash to the appliances, there are so many elements to consider (and mistakes to be made). Once you’ve read through our step-by-step guide for planning your dream kitchen, read firsthand tales (and advice!) from homeowners who have taken the plunge.
1. Parisian Luxe Kitchen
Brass fixtures and accents are standout touches in the Port Moody, B.C., kitchen of designer Denisa Nica, her husband, Daniel and their daughter, Mara. “You often see brass inlays in old European furniture, so we added them to our millwork,” says Denisa.
What They Did:
- Strip the condo back to its concrete floors and walls
- Install oak herringbone-pattern floors
- Hang an edgy gold and blown-glass chandelier over the island
- Add brass inlays to their millwork
- Opt for high-end appliances like a Wolf range and Sub-Zero fridge
What They Learned:
“Choose the right general contractor,” says Denisa. “Unfortunately, we didn’t and paid not only the dollar price but suffered incalculable amounts of stress and frustration.”
2. Elevated Scandi Kitchen
Despite the spectacular ceiling height, highlighted by the kitchen chandeliers and modernist architecture, the light wood frame creates a warm envelope on the ground floor of the Trois-Rivière, Quebec, home. “I was inspired by Scandinavian design; it’s warm and classic,” says homeowner Patricia.
What They Did:
- Build a new 2,300-square-foot chalet in the Quebec countryside with her partner, Mathieu
- Use blond wood on the ceiling and floors to create an airy, warm envelope
- Opt for open grid chandeliers and stools to let the light pass through
- Chose white walls, cabinets and backsplash to create a bright, clean backdrop
- Elect to keep the windows bare to play up the cathedral ceiling design
What They Learned:
“We liked having the power to conceive everything ourselves,” says Patricia.
3. Tailored Farmhouse Kitchen
Exposing the ceiling beams brought instant character to the space, located in Montreal. “We approached the renovation with the idea of bringing the space into the present but with a nod to the past,” says homeowner Sandra Smirle, who lives with her husband Ken Dobell (pictured) and their daughter, Maud.
What They Did:
- Renovate a 1,650-square-foot duplex into a single-family home
- Open the kitchen up to the living room and dining area
- Expose the original ceiling beams and made them a feature of the kitchen
- Opt for a spacious freestanding island with lots of open storage underneath for pots and pans
What They Learned:
“There’s no such thing as too much storage,” says Ken. “The kitchen was designed with lots of drawers to keep things out of sight.”
4. West Coast Modern Kitchen
“I don’t like a lot of clutter,” says Vancouver-based designer Colette Soros of her minimalist kitchen. “The cabinets have recessed handles on the doors, which simplifies the look.” Her husband Tim Barr and their kids, Tate, Jasper and Willow (pictured) love to help with the cooking.
What They Did:
- Add a 900-square-foot, second-storey addition to the existing 1,700-square-foot footprint
- Opt for Ikea cabinets and countertops to capture the minimalist style Colette was after
- Decide on a white backsplash to keep the look refined and simple
- Build a balcony off the space to increase indoor-outdoor living potential
- Design an asymmetrical island with an extended overhang on one side, so their three children would have somewhere to sit
What They Learned:
Before moving, consider your options. “We love our home — we have a view of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains,” says Colette. Instead of buying a new place, the couple decided to add a second floor to their bungalow, moving the living spaces upstairs to take advantage of the view.
House & Home Kitchens + Baths 2019