Article by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Joshua Lawrence.
For this professional couple with two young children, their 1930’s home had good bones but the kitchen hadn’t been updated since the 1990’s and was incongruous with the rest of the home’s midcentury charm. Think linoleum, dated cabinets and an inefficient layout with minimal storage. For many homeowners with midcentury bungalows or heritage homes, the design dilemma is real. How do you bring a modern or contemporary interpretation to the space while respecting the home’s original character? Contacted by Alan O’Rourke Construction to create custom millwork, David Sheridan from Splinters Millworks leaned into the challenge with Interior Designers, Bryn Taylor and Eli Fast from Ivyhouse Design. The outcome is 150-square-feet of family friendly space where contemporary design merges with classic traditional elements.
“The goal of this reno was to maximize storage and create a more functional layout while maintaining the home’s original charm. Custom cabinetry by Sheridan was essential to create a more elegant and functional space,” says Taylor. Space saving solutions included a custom-built pull out pantry, curved countertops maximizing clearances and an extended countertop to serve as an eat-in bar with extra seating.
White Cambria Quartz countertops in Ella coupled with classic white subway tile creates an airy contemporary aesthetic while the herringbone detail on the backsplash brings an area of interest. For contrast, black finishes add a graphic element and the fir flooring offers warmth and continuity with the home’s existing flooring. The curved counter allows ease of access to a shallow base cabinet. Proven to be scratch and stain resistant, the Anthracite Silgranit sink by Blanco is a composite sink manufactured from 8o percent granite.
Creating a natural flow to the living area, a raised pony wall was removed to extend the kitchen counter for a functional eat-in bar. To generate concealed storage, a faux post was built on one side of the fridge that would mimic the pullout cabinet on the opposite side. Sheridan adds that “creating faux posts offered symmetry with the existing structural posts and that ceiling height cabinetry with a custom built pull-out pantry added function to an otherwise awkward space.”
The project was delivered on time and on budget and as Taylor adds, “was an excellent collaboration between trades, designers, clients and the contractor. The owners are really happy with their new kitchen — it reflects their personal style while maintaining the overall feel of their midcentury home.”
