The original first floor layout
The garden beyond the old kitchen, cleared from the previous season. This used to be the "kitchen" garden, with tomatoes, herbs and lettuce.
The entrance to the kitchen. You are standing in the foyer. Stairs lead to second floor; living room to the right.
To the right of the stairs is an old radiator. More like a dumping ground for...stuff.
View from living room. You can see that the foyer is pretty small.
The stairwell. This wall remained but the wallpaper went bye bye. We actually put it up a few years ago.
This wall was removed. On the other side of the wall was the fridge, and some cabinets. The stairs were re-built to be re-oriented to go straight into the new kitchen space. A brilliant Richard idea!
The other side of the wall, with a peek of the living room beyond the kitchen.
The "cooking line". The counter and backsplash were covered with a Mexican-style tile. The grout was awful - never seemed clean, thick lines and was clay-like in look and feel. Yuck
More "fabulous" Mexican tile. The cabinets were actually not bad - solid wood. That range though - yikes. It was a Hotpoint. Still, I made some pretty mean meals on that baby!
The windows in the kitchen were similar to the rest of the house, and were an inspiration for a look and feel we wanted to recreate in the new kitchen. Corner cab was a lazy Susan - that thing could hold a LOT.
Trixie's favourite summer hang-out. Beyond the window you can catch a glimpse of the garden.
The back door led to the garden. We never used it. Trixie's scratching post is at the top of the stairs leading to the basement. To the left of the photo you can catch a glimpse of the doorway that leads to the dining room.
The bookshelf that (inadequately) held some of my 300+ cookbooks...
You should have seen what was there when we moved in. A wrought iron "lantern" that gave about as much light as a weak candle. Rather than buying a new fixture, we just traded existing fixtures.
View from the dining room.
Back towards the foyer. And on to the after...
...Quite the transformation!
This view is from the stairs.
From the front door
A peek at the widow's peak
The beautiful hutch from Horsefeathers
The "new" view from the dining room
Stools from America Retold. The fabric seat covers are removable and washable. You'll see the different fabric options later in this photo album!
My proud roosters from local artist Pey Lu
Just beyond the roosters, the first bit of cabinetry.
Food pantry.
Built-in all-fridge Liebherr. I didn't realise what the difference was between a "built-in" fridge and an "integrated" fridge. I thought what I ordered would be flush and "hidden". Now I actually prefer the built in, especially since the Liebherr is tall and narrow. With the vintage door handle I found, it makes the fridge look like an old-fashioned icebox.
My beautiful fish from my very talented friend and local artist Vera!
The fridge handle is from Olde Good Things.
...And it's well-loved
Soapstone counters, farmhouse soapstone sink. To the right of the sink is a full size Miele.
The dishwasher
Gorgeous soapstone veining
Recessed drainboard in the soapstone
A view of the new "old style" windows, that replicate the original windows in the kitchen
The windows are seeded glass.
Corner cab is a "magic corner"; one on each side of the kitchen.
Top shelf condiments (oil etc); bottom shelf measuring cups.
Each of the magic corners has custom built wood shelves to maximise the corner's space.
Pots and pans drawers under cooktop; to right - knives, spices, food storage. Hardware on the perimeter is from Whitechapel.
The hardware is handmade cast iron from England, waxed to a beautiful finish.
Also a good look at the fine detail on the handpainted cabs.
The new "cooking line": Bluestar four burner gas cooktop with grill, two hob induction. Super CFMs!!!
Reorg-ed spice drawer.
Kohler potfiller. Walker Zanger backsplash - Antequera Random Mini Brick
The Diva two hob. Love how fast this boils water and how slooooowly it simmers stew...
Custom Modernaire hood
A look at the vaulted ceiling.
The ceiling goes up to 17'.
Hanging cord eventually became the ceiling speaker system. We've debated about putting a great big gorgeous chandelier here...
Evening light.
Perimeter cabinetry. The cabinets were handpainted by a local company called Homestead House. Stained, painted, distressed and glazed. A beautiful and painstaking process.
The fabulous TurboChef, a custom colour red.
Drawers hold food wrap, mixing bowls and baking pans, baking supplies.
Integrated Sub Zero freezer drawers.
From every angle the cabinets look a different colour.
Decorative plates. The top one is from a wonderful trip to Turkey in 2000. The middle plate is a prized possession - a wedding gift that my parents received. At the bottom a plate from Spain, circa 1998.
Great feature for a cabinet....
...room for more cookbooks!
Bottom pantry.
Lots more storage.
Stairs leading to the basement; more great art from Vera.
Fall leaves - a great symbol of autumn in Canada!
Close up of Homestead's wonderful handpainted "distressing" and our Whitechapel hardware
Touring the island.
Reclaimed red oak plank
Island is 92" by 42". I (very proudly!) finished the oak planks myself with Waterlox. The soapstone end accommodates a funky sink!
Hardware was SO tough to find! I couldn't be happier with my vintage brass pulls on the island from Olde Good Things, some of which I darkened. The round knobs are from Whitechapel Hardware.
36" drawers hold lots of dishes and glasses.
Heated limestone floors
Island end under prep sink.
...Garbage and composting bin.
On the other side of the island, a single Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawer.
Next to dishwasher drawer, recycling bins...
Franke BBX160 Beach sink, Kohler Vinnata faucet.
The sink has so much functionality...
I use this cutting board constantly.
This colander is one of three interchangeable bowls that come with the sink.
Grill - have to say I haven't used this quite so much!
Barely discernable seam.
A sunny spot!
A neat new feature - drawers under the stairs.
Evening light
Latest updates - an Orla Kiely canister from Target
...And matching stool covers made from an Orla Kiely tablecloth!
Trixie loves the new kitchen! (and so do we :-)
The new kitchen. "Air gap" should read "vac pan"!
