By When Sarah Birnie was tasked with transforming the small, outdated kitchen of a home in Toronto's The Beaches neighborhood, the designer knew she had to get creative. "The kitchen leads out to a generous backyard, so the space really needed to function as a passageway, a spot for guests to sit, and, of course, a place to cook," she explains.
The homeowners, who love to entertain, sought more storage and work space in the kitchen, which they knew would serve as a hub for their family and guests gathering at the three-bedroom, four-bathroom homes. Creating that hub required a reconfiguration of the kitchen and mudroom at the back of the house, along with new flooring throughout the main level. Birnie worked with Greg Moogk of Toronto Woodworks, who fabricated the custom millwork and managed the renovation, to realize the homeowners' vision.
In order to create space in the kitchen for an island with seating, Birnie shrunk the footprint of the adjacent sunken mudroom, extending the kitchen into it. While raising the floor of the added space to meet the existing one in the kitchen, she cleverly integrated storage under the new floor by building in drawers. More storage came in thanks to a generous closet that serves as what Birnie calls "an appliance garage," with tuck-away doors that hide the coffee station and keep countertops clutter-free. Some open shelving was added for displaying collected treasures.
The soothing neutral color palette is met with a hint of red thanks to the custom railing painted in Sundried Tomato by Benjamin Moore, and the red undertone the oversized pendant light by Marset has when lit. Vintage counter stools covered in gray-green paint and upholstered in a floral print add charm, while metallic accents and black hardware and accents elevate the ambience. On the cabinets, Bernie says, "I personally love the interaction between the minimalist style of the white oak millwork and the dramatic Calacatta Viola." (The marble was sourced from Ciot and the countertops were fabricated by CB Marble.) "Both were a splurge," she adds. "But the stylish couple was determined to create a really interesting, unique space."
Now, the kitchen boasts a calming yet impactful look. From plenty of counter space for cooking to ample covered storage, it's well-equipped for endless gatherings to come.
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