Decorating & Design
October 13, 2021
Patterned Tile And Punchy Colour Gives A Small Kitchen Big Personality
“Once upon a time, I lived in England and drooled over old country kitchens,” says designer Ami McKay, who took inspiration from her travels to design this 219-square- foot green kitchen for Tom and Luisa Chen and their two sons, Tomas, 7, and Marco, 5. The family had torn down and rebuilt their circa-1912 Vancouver character home, and a fresh design plan with a splash of color sounded appetizing.
The French bistro–style patterned backsplash tile was the jumping-off point for the saturated palette. “I’ve always really loved the color green,” says Luisa, who signed off on Sherwin-Williams’ Rosemary for the green kitchen cabinet color. To balance the bold choice, Ami added in plenty of white oak millwork. A stand-alone floor-to-ceiling cabinet stores chargers, stationery and keys while a curved vent hood with built-in shelving adds a dash of the unexpected. “I’ve only ever seen this abroad and I couldn’t wait to incorporate the feature into a Canadian kitchen,” says the designer.
Finally, simple pendants in an opal acrylic were added as a calm counterpoint to the look-at-me tile. “Ami was the perfect fit to design our dream kitchen,” says Tom. “She brought in design elements that were not only unique and beautiful but also very practical.”
Scroll down to tour this stunning kitchen!
“Everything sparks joy to me when I walk into this kitchen,” says designer Ami McKay.
How To Get The Look
- Patterned tile juxtaposed with a white counter and subway tile
- A combination of painted and white oak cabinets
- Arched vent hood with built-in shelving
- White oak herringbone flooring
- Brass hardware and mixed metal faucets Black window and door frames
The apron-front sink has signature country style, while the black-framed window above is decidedly modern.
A mix of brass and matte black faucets adds dimension.
Eight-by-eight-inch artisanal cement tile creates a dynamic focal point.
Shelves integrated into the vent hood surround display accessories and help keep counters free of clutter.
An open-concept layout was a must for the young family. An archway helps define the different zones.
Leafy wallpaper brightens a vintage oak hutch Ami found on Facebook Marketplace.
Janis Nicolay
House & Home October 2021
Stacy Begg
Ami McKay, Pure Design