Two designer friends share their expert recipe for transforming a kitchen from scratch.

When it comes to renovating their own homes, it’s not unusual for designers to call in a friend. “It’s hard to be subjective about your own place,” says designer Lindsay Agnew of Si & Oui. “Sometimes you just want a second opinion.” So, when Lindsay decided to renovate her kitchen, she paired up with her longtime friend, designer and Style at Home columnist Samantha Pynn.

“A kitchen requires so many decisions,” says Sam. “Lindsay and I have worked together for ages, and we know that when we collaborate, it’s really a case of two designers are better than one.”

Lindsay’s house is a charming century home with a kitchen that was previously renovated in the 1990s. “It was builder’s basic and had the typical issues common in old kitchens, like lack of ventilation, pipes that freeze in the winter, very little light, and it was small,” says Lindsay, who wanted to bring the original character back to the kitchen, but with all of today’s mod cons. Says Sam, “Small kitchens are an opportunity to elevate the space with function and style so that it becomes really special. We layered in warmth with every design decision. Now the warm feel of the room matches Lindsay’s personality.”

Their expert advice is a case study in how to make a small kitchen into a hardworking, functional space with something beautiful at every turn.

DESIGN, Si & Oui. Intarsi Classic BACKSPLASH TILE; Nuances FLOOR TILE in Grey and Beige; SapienStone COUNTERTOPS in Calacatta B Silky; Ciot. COUNTER FABRICATION, Cornerstone Marble & Granite. PAINT, BeautiTone’s Hushed TR25-9-1 (cabinets, walls), Bloom TR25-4-4 (door); Shaker-style CABINETRY; Home Hardware. Tulham Wall Mount POT FILLER and Bridge FAUCET, Brizo. Roman shade FABRIC, Tonic Living.

1. First, concentrate on function and flow. “We actually demoed the kitchen before we planned the space so we could see what we were dealing with inside the walls,” says Lindsay, who prioritized fixing insulation, plumbing and venting issues once and for all. Doing the demo first also reveals a room’s structural limitations, which lets you see what obstacles exist that could negatively impact your budget.

2. Next, plan the flow of the room. “Floor planning and space planning establish the experience we want to have when we’re in the finished space,” says Lindsay. She toyed with lots of options before settling on an efficient U-shape work zone with a small mobile island across from the range to use as an extra prep area. Banks of drawers and upper cabinets frame the range, creating pleasing symmetry; Lazy Susans in the corner cabinets provide easy-access storage; and upper cabinets extend to the 10-foot ceiling to maximize storage. “But we opted to forgo uppers on the wall by the back door to avoid closing in the space,” says Lindsay. “This crucial space-planning stage laid the groundwork for all the design and finish decisions that followed.”

“Finally, my kitchen has the same coziness, character and sense of history that the rest of my century home exudes.” – Lindsay Agnew

3. Find a jumping-off point for aesthetic design elements. Here, the marquetry-style backsplash tile led the way. “It’s unusual in that it has the patterning and look of an old-world encaustic tile, but it’s ceramic. We just knew its gorgeous wood tones would add warmth and depth,” says Sam. To create visual flow, she and Lindsay chose soft sand-toned finishes and decorative elements that worked with the tile. “There is no visual busyness, even though we have a tile with a strong pattern,” she says. “There are no soloists in this room.”

4. Build your palette. With the idea of warmth guiding their decision making, the designers opted to paint the Shaker-style cabinetry in a muted fawn-like tone. “A kitchen has a lot of cabinetry, so choosing the right colour will dramatically affect overall mood,” says Lindsay. She advises choosing a paint colour from a design element in the room. “We pulled the soft beige directly from the backsplash and floor tiles.”

5. Add an accent colour. Painting out the walls and trim in the same shade as the cabinetry makes the room feel larger and airier, but a shot of colour – in this case, terracotta pink on the back door – creates a special moment in a mostly neutral space. Says Sam, “The colour creates a point of interest, and it worked with the wood tones and nature-inspired art.”

6. Choose appropriate materials. The checkered tone-on-tone floor tiles harken back to vintage checked floors, but their large format feels fresh and modern. A durable porcelain countertop in a veined warm white pulled from the backsplash tile is lighter than the cabinetry paint for subtle contrast.

7. Consider panelled appliances. In a small kitchen, appliances can easily overwhelm, so the dishwasher, fridge and range hood were panelled “to maintain uniformity, create a cohesive feel and keep the kitchen from looking utilitarian and industrial,” says Lindsay.

“We wanted the kitchen to feel peaceful, so we created a decorating storyboard where all the elements work together in harmony.” – Samantha Pynn

8. Go for a mix of finishes and textures. Here, the tiles, wood island, countertops, woven lampshades, linen Roman shade, stainless-steel fixtures and brushed gold hardware add dimension, character and texture. Says Sam: “Mixing finishes and textures also gives a sense of a room that’s evolved over time. The same goes for accessories. They should work together tonally and texture-wise, but there’s no need for a perfect match. In music, harmony is created by combining different notes that work together. It’s the same with design.”

9. Layer in artwork for personality. “The aim was to create a kitchen that was warm and immediately had a lived-in feel,” says Lindsay. Sam says they kept the look casual by leaning art on the shelf above the sink and, on the gallery wall, installing pieces in salon-style (as opposed to a grid). “Notice how the bottom piece is hung four inches above the island counter, which is the measurement designers use when hanging art above a piece of furniture like a console or sofa.” To get the look, make a kraft-paper template of each artwork and tape them in place; when you’re happy with the arrangement, then it’s safe to install the artwork.

 

10. Add grace notes. “It’s so important to introduce areas that are just beautiful in a small kitchen,” says Sam. “The art shelf is lovely to look at when you stand at the sink, and those sconces are not only useful task lights, they bring symmetry, textural interest, and pick up on the warm wood tone of the island. Plus, they are just so sweet.”

11. Shop for vintage and flea-market finds. “Having only new things can make a room feel flat,” says Lindsay. “Vintage pieces add character, patina and a sense of history. Also, they can be of superior quality, yet at great price points.”

12. Accessorize. “When selecting accessories for your kitchen, hit repeat,” says Sam. “The vases, bowls and cutting boards echo the wood-and-cream- toned backsplash tile. The terracotta pink on the back door led us to layer in plenty of tonal shades of pink – in the mugs, flowers, candles and even a deep burgundy coloured pot on the range.”

13. Style with small details. “Nature-inspired styling always looks inviting and never dates,” says Sam. “Our palette is timeless and all of the accessories we chose – even the tea towel – give the room a lightness and lift.”

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