Kitchen interior: Bistro glamour

Elegant and light filled, the charming Toronto kitchen of Elle Jungkind looks like something that could be found in a New York apartment or a Parisian pied-à-terre, so it’s hard to believe it developed out of something a little more mundane. “It all started with the introduction of Toronto’s recycling services,” says Elle, who owns the interior design firm Elle Maison Design. Her kitchen couldn’t accommodate a recycling container, a green compost bucket and a garbage can, so she set out to fix the problem. “I had seen those clever trash compartments that are part of new kitchens and they could easily go underneath my sink.”

But, Elle figured, why stop there? After all, the kitchen in her Georgian-style townhouse (published in Style at Home’s May 2004 issue) had become dated, she felt, and there were things she could do to enhance both its functionality and aesthetic. For example, Elle, an avid cook and entertainer, could use more counter space. Also, she thought, why not replace the wall oven and microwave with a gorgeous high-end range? And with the wall oven gone, she could install a pantry with slide-out drawers. “That’s what really got me going,” says Elle.

Inspired by New York City bistros (she loves the industrial appliances, the expanses of marble, the chunky white dishes and the organic hits that define this style), Elle included a mix of contemporary and traditional elements in a light, monochromatic palette to create a classic look.

1 Flowing into the dining room
The kitchen – a galley that flows into the more elegant dining room – is chock full of practical features that make it easy for homeowner and designer Elle Jungkind to host parties and entertain guests.