Eva Healy, founder and principal designer of Ontario-based avenue design inc., was under no illusions when remodeling her own kitchen. “Undertaking a kitchen renovation is never as fun (as we’d like it to be) because it really tends to displace home life,” she said. “I wanted to make sure I would make a significant an impact if I took on renovating our family kitchen.”
Healy was looking to instill a feeling of calm in her kitchen, and this guided her choice of finishes. It also aligned with some larger design trends. “The industry is gravitating towards more of an of earthy, soft palette, compared to high contrast, so the use of warm wood, creams and charcoals was really appealing to me,” she said.
The designer knew she wanted the kitchen cabinet finishes to be a wood and a darker/matte tone. She looked at Laminam’s line up of porcelain finishes to see what stood out. “The subtle movement of the I Naturali collection – the Nero Greco and Diamond Cream were both calming, and I loved the soft contrast of the two colors meeting at the countertop and backsplash. Once I had those finalized, I was able to shortlist the wood and matte color choices to complete the palette.”
Another goal of the remodel was to prioritize the durability and functionality of the space. “With a husband, kids and large dog, I wanted to ensure that the finishes I chose were durable and easy to maintain,” Healy said. “The organization of each drawer and cabinet was also an important focus, as our new family kitchen needed to accommodate many specific storage needs.”
Walls Featured
The kitchen was all about the simplicity of finishes while also playing on texture. Since the walls housing the stove, sink and window were clad with Laminam, Healy felt that using common drywall behind the bench would not be compatible with the rest of the room.
Together with her millwork team, the designer decided to sheathe the bench wall with ribbed paneling. The tone-on-tone color palette gives the seating area its own moment, while still being open to the overall design concept the rest of the kitchen and tying it together.
Family Kitchen with Pet-Friendly Features
A dedicated dog feeding area was a must-have for the project. “Previous to renovating our kitchen, the dog food and water bowl was right beside the door leading out the backyard and was always in the way of the door swing. I knew this was an area that had to be integrated so that it was a more functional element of the kitchen,” said Healy. She measured Hugo’s height and then calculated the general dimensions of what an ergonomic eating shelf height would be, so the pup would not only have comfortable access to his bowls, but also had enough overhead clearance from the water spout that was located near the top of the niche.
That spigot – a special order – was snared in supply chain delays. Because the stone panels lining the feeding station were already cut to fit that particular tap, Healy turned to her supplier, who made special arrangements to expedite the item so it was ultimately installed with minimal timeline interference. Beyond this scheduling hiccup, the procurement part of the project went smoothly, “Knowing the pitfalls of the industry and the supply chain issues that still plague us, I didn’t start the renovation process until all materials were in storage and ready to go,” said the designer.
Sources
Design: Eva Healy, avenue design inc.; Photography: Alex Lukey and Tae Hislop; Cabinets: Impressions Kitchens, Weston Premium Woods; Cabinet Hardware: MYOH; Cooktop, Dishwasher, Microwave, Refrigerator, Wall Oven: Fulgor Milano; Countertops/Backsplash: Laminam; Faucets: Aquavato; Lighting: Häfele, Ninety Electric; Vent Hood: Falmec
