Location: Glebe, Ottawa
Completed: 2022
Project type: Renovation
Style: Classic Modern, Eclectic
Construction: DG Renovations
Photography: JVL Photography
This project was featured in Ottawa at Home magazine (p. 32-35) and was featured as an inspiration photo for Christina Ricci’s kitchen renovation on Hollywood Houselift.
I was approached by a couple who were, like everyone else, couped up at home with their two kids during the pandemic and finally ready to renovate their lovely but compact Glebe home to their taste. We instantly bonded over mutual love of vintage marbles and Nate Berkus and got to work on the design for the transformation, almost entirely remotely over a series of Zoom calls.
layouts: before and after
Bound only by constraints of the exterior envelope and existing staircase, we decided to open up majority of the interior walls in order to bring this 90-year old Glebe home into its full glory, making ground floor a place where this family of four (and three pets) could enjoy their time together.
KITCHEN
Working within the constraints of existing architecture, stair location and bulkheads required for structural support, we were able to create a spacious and open kitchen floorpan with lots of storage and a large island.
After some back and forth and careful consideration, we settled on a combination of finishes, textures and metals resulting a layered, dynamic yet cohesive aesthetic.
Perimeter Millwork is painted hardwood in Farrow & Ball Pigeon with a stunning Calacatta Borghini marble countertop, backsplash and shelf. Island millwork and custom hood vent are a decadent dark wood. Island countertop is Caesarstone Frosty Carrina. Choosing a quartz for the island allowed us to keep the project on budget and provided a practical and low-maintenance surface for this hardworking prep area.
In an effort to preserve some of the old-world charm of the home, classic detailing was introduced in the details like Ogee edge for island countertop, slim shaker cabinet door profile, a bridge kitchen faucet and traditional Ralph Lauren flush mount light fixtures.
Original stained-glass window (from another location) is repurposed as a top-hung window screen for the light to filter through.
Custom hood and shelving create an interesting focal point.
Combination of closed and open storage provides my clients with options of which kitchen items to stash away and which to proudly display. Custom brass shelving is an opportunity to place beautiful dishware in an easy-to-reach location as well as to display some art, bringing some life and personality into the space
We settled on a classic style kitchen faucet with modern functionality of pull-down dual-spray feature.
DINING ROOM
Having so many spaces open and adjacent to one another meant that it was especially important to plan ahead to ensure that all finishes and fixtures are able to play well with one another and yet stand strong on their own without blending into a flat and lifeless composition.
Dining room is elevated with a black marble table, boucle-upholstered dining chairs and a fabulous chandelier. Built-in side board offers plentiful storage.
KIDS’ BATHROOM
Kids’ bathroom gets a complete make over with custom cabinetry in Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay, hand glazed tile, brushed brass fixtures and a fun animal-themed wallpaper from Anthropologie.
The re-imagined space is a reflection of the family’s tastes and preferences, filtered and organized into a cohesive narrative through a step-by-step design process.
New home is streamlined yet charming, complete with modern comforts while nodding to the nostalgia of bygone days, and most importantly completely bespoke to the lifestyle of this family.
“Five star all around! She will be designing our future second property!”