Decorating & Design
This Converted Backyard Garage Gets A Cool & Clever Kitchen
Updated on November 28, 2023
Warm, modern style, state-of-the-art-appliances and custom details come together in this ultracompact kitchen designed by Karen Sealy of Sealy Design. When she converted her Toronto backyard garage into an office for her and her team, she knew she wanted to bring a coastal cool vibe to the compact kitchen. “By marrying natural textures and materials with clean, contemporary lines, it becomes very welcoming,” says Karen.
Scroll down to see the clever kitchen that takes functionality to the next level!
House & Home: Tell us about the backyard garage and how you use it.
Karen Sealy: It’s about 500-square-feet and serves as the office for me and my team. The previous kitchen had been added 14 years ago, and it felt a bit fussy. We wanted to experiment with the design and make it more representative of the work we do.
H&H: How would you describe the look?
KS: Maritime modern. Like Scandi modern, there’s a simplicity of shape and form with no extra details, but it’s the maritime portion that brings in the warmth.
H&H: What’s your best advice for designing a small kitchen?
KS: Think about how everything moves. Can your drawers get past your baseboard or windowsill? Is the door going to hit the wall? Know that you could spend more per square foot than with a larger kitchen because you may need to look at custom options to get the most out of the space you have.
Karen wanted to create a space-efficient kitchen with integrated, state-of-the-art appliances and custom details. A coffee bar and appliance garage are behind a touch-latch cabinet door.
The pullout step is handy for high items, as demonstrated by a friend of the company, Holly Cowieson, and Karen’s pup, Prairie.
The peninsula’s storage cabinet can be accessed from the seating area.
A piece of art was placed above the feeding bowls, “at dog height.”
Cottage character comes by way of the engineered stone backsplash, which adds grit and texture to the sleek surroundings.
Keep scrolling for elements of the look!
Donna Griffith
Karen Sealy