Words by Michelle Heslop. Photographs by Jody Beck.
Rewind to a time when mid-century mint-green cabinets with matching laminate countertops were au courant and narrow drawers and cupboards were built cramped together. This Oak Bay home had been ignored for many years when Tony Aindow of Goodison Construction was enlisted to undertake a major renovation. To kick off the update, David Moore of David H Moore Cabinetry was brought in to improve the kitchen’s livability with quality millwork that would pay homage to the original 1930’s architecture.
Aindow seized an additional 80 square feet from a small, non-functional deck and repurposed it to create a cozy breakfast nook for a total of 280 square feet of open-plan space. Continual cabinetry along the alcove wall provide display shelving, storage, and a hutch to conceal the radiator. The effect of the nook with built-ins speaks to the home’s era to make it feel like it was always there.
To preserve the home’s original vintage, Moore installed custom-built, shaker-style cabinets with traditional cup pulls while drawer inserts with purposeful dividers for wooden utensils, spices and herbs, and cutlery offer modern convenience. The LeMans corner system boosts the kitchen’s storage capacity while the practical recycle, compost, and garbage pullouts are user-friendly. White oak flooring from Cherry Point Hardwood Flooring was perfectly matched to the original oak hardwood and refinished in a traditional hue to bring a cohesive feel to the entire main floor.
Caesarstone quartz countertops in grey offset the cool tones of the white of the island and cabinets. Both the ceramic farmhouse sink and the subway tile backsplash speak to the home’s classic appeal while the natural gas cooktop and double wall oven complete this contemporary kitchen.
With their collaborative approach, Goodison Construction and David Moore Cabinetry managed to merge quality materials with finely crafted architectural detail to effortlessly balance the kitchen’s updates with the original era of the home.
