Decorating & Design
The Reinvented White Kitchen
Published on April 2, 2026
The heritage Saskatoon neighbourhood was part of the charm that attracted their clients to this 1960s-era home, say designers Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona. But that didn’t mean they wanted to keep the late 1990s–style reno. The designers updated the house, incorporating a 500-square-foot addition at the back, which allowed for a much larger kitchen. “It’s new, but it still feels like it fits in with the bones of the house,” says Curtis.
The goal was to reinvent the classic white kitchen. “They definitely wanted a white kitchen,” says Curtis. “But, as designers, we don’t love white on white on white because the result can fall flat when everything looks the same.”
They started with a Calacatta Fantasy marble backsplash. “We wanted the backsplash to be grounded by the dark stone countertop,” says Trevor. “And because the island is a dark wood, we contrasted it with a lighter counter.” Custom cabinets with slim Shaker-style profiles provide subtle detailing. “Anytime you use the word custom, people immediately imagine it will cost a lot more money,” says Trevor. “But you get exactly what you want, and those extra details elevate the space.”
The 14-foot-long dark walnut island with tambour corners accommodates seating for four and features cabinet doors and hidden drawers. To break up the long kitchen wall, a reeded glass pocket door to the butler’s pantry adds sparkle and echoes the textural detail on the island. Curtis and Trevor used the existing stainless steel appliances and added a bridge faucet.
Curtis Elmy (left) and Trevor Ciona of Atmosphere Interior Design
They didn’t hesitate to mix metals — brass appears on the pendant shades, vent hood, hardware and sconces. “I think mixing metals gives design longevity,” says Trevor.
The new kitchen seamlessly ties in to the home’s interiors. “The beauty of a renovation is to make a client even more excited about their house,” says Curtis. “We love reinterpreting what a white kitchen can be. It doesn’t mean everything has to be white; it just needs to be bright and clean.”
Eymeric Wildling