Decorating & Design
A Kitchen Gets A Contemporary Redo — And Plenty Of Closed Storage
Updated on March 20, 2024
When the owners of this house in Toronto’s East Danforth area found out they were expecting, the couple turned to Collective Studio’s Jordy Fagan and Alana Firestone for a kitchen reboot that would amp up storage without compromising style.
We chatted with the design duo about the cool kid-friendly space below. Scroll down!
Designers Jordy Fagan (left) and Alana Firestone.
House & Home: What was on your clients’ wish list?
Alana Firestone: Our clients love cooking and entertaining, and the kitchen needed to be more functional. With a baby on the way, there was a push to add more storage and get everything done before the new arrival.
Jordy Fagan: They were specific about appliance placement, so we built two big appliance garages on either side of the range wall with doors that open and tuck away into the frames to reveal more counter space. This eliminated the constant need to move small appliances around and deal with plugs. We were also able to tuck a walk-in pantry behind the integrated fridge.
The island’s side panel echoes the arch of the reeded glass pantry door.
H&H: What was this kitchen like before the renovation?
JF: Our clients bought this house after a flip so, while it looked pretty on the surface, over time, flaws began to emerge. The finishes were on the less expensive side, and not much thought was put into the overall design. There was a lot of grey and white, and it had a cookie-cutter, off-the-rack feel.
“Because the sink is built in to the island, they can watch TV or their child at the table while prepping and washing dishes,” says Jordy.
The family dines at this durable, vinyl- upholstered banquette. Emmy is the family’s chow chow.
Reeded glass on the pantry door is on trend and reflects light.
H&H: How did you bring warmth to the contemporary aesthetic?
AF: We focused on using organic materials and adding lots of textures. The wood cabinets are stained black with the grain still visible, and we purposely used rounded, integrated handles for a softer look, so that everything would blend in. Then, we brought in perforated metal uppers above the range and reeded glass on the pantry door, and Neolith — a type of sintered stone — for the backsplash and counters. Texture can provide so much contrast without having to use big pops of colour. The house has a really contemporary look, but it feels warm and not stark.
“You get that added brightness and texture from the perforated metal cabinets, which are so impactful,” says Alana.
In the adjacent family room, Jordy and Alana designed a kid-friendly coffee table using wood and vinyl; it doubles as an ottoman.
Scroll down to get the elements of this look!
Niamh Barry
House & Home
Collective Studio