1. Style – upgrade to a contemporary look.
2. Atmosphere – add color and lighting to make the kitchen more welcoming.
3. Layout – make better use of the space in and around the kitchen.

Here’s how we accomplished the transformation from dark, cramped and outdated to stunning, inviting and practical:

1. Style – we replaced the old cabinets with a clean, modern style in maple.
2. Atmosphere – we worked with our client to discover her favorite color palette and then applied it to the quartz countertops, cabinets and walls. The ceiling was raised and then practical and dramatic lighting was added in layers: overhead lights, in-cabinet lights, LED task lights and LED accents under the counter.
3. Layout – at one end of the original kitchen there was an odd space bigger than a pantry but smaller than a sitting room. This space was awkward and separated the kitchen from a great source of natural light. We removed the wall to bring the window into the kitchen and added a window seat between a built-in pantry and a bar. Our client loves to entertain, so we removed the old peninsula to make room for a large island that offers plenty of space for cooking and seating for guests.

Kitchen designer Tim Huber talks about what makes a kitchen Contemporary. Tim tours a kitchen display at the Affinity Kitchens showroom to introduce the elements of Contemporary design and to show off the display’s special features including soft close cabinet doors, unique storage solutions, LED lighting accents and Kohler Karbon faucet. See more Contemporary kitchens in our Photo Gallery.

This video is an excerpt from our Design Your Cuisine video series featuring Jan D’Atri.

Visit the Affinity Kitchens YouTube Channel

• Color scheme in mauve
• Carpeted floors
• Gold-toned fixtures
• Clunky cabinetry
• Built-in planter

Although the bathroom had an abundance of natural light, the glass block windows and oversized milk-Plexiglas skylight provided no clear view to the outdoors.

Design

At the start of the project we developed four preliminary design concepts, keeping in mind that our client wanted to leave the fixtures, toilet, sinks, shower and bathtub in approximately the same locations to reduce costs. The selected preliminary design concept gave us an overall direction and the final design integrated new elements that emerged during the design process.

Materials & Fixtures

The primary objective for this remodel was to create a clean, contemporary space, so the final material and fixture selections were chosen with that in mind. Beautiful 24″ x 24″ polished metallic porcelain floor tiles anchor a combination of subtly textured “Oyster” porcelain and blue “Rain” honed glass field tiles. Vertically set mosaic glass backsplash tile compliments and accents the colors found in the wall and deck tiles. Dark, richly stained combed grain cabinetry, bright white quartz countertops, polished nickel lighting sconces and soaring full height mirrors add the final contemporary touches to the design.

Taking Advantage of Natural Light

In addition to the stylistic transformation, we made other changes to the space to take advantage of the natural light:

• Replaced the confining walls of the toilet enclosure with one full-height translucent glass divider.
• Traded the small Quatrefoil stained glass window for a full-height glass window that affords a clear view to the outdoors.
• Changed the milk-Plexiglas skylight to clear glass (with motorized shade) to increase the overall quality of natural light.

Located in prestigious Hawk’s Landing, ample spruce and aspen shelters most homes, therefore a light décor was selected to brighten interiors. Raised panel Antique White maple cabinets in staggered heights encase textured glass inserts and complement the chocolate maple island, all accented with a compelling contrast of pewter and bronze pulls. The vaulted ceiling is illuminated with over-cabinet lighting that combines under-cabinet lighting, directional pot lights, and a central chandelier over the island for brightly infused decor. Painted beams keep the décor light and airy above a light granite surface that counters staggered heights, and the cook top was dropped to accommodate large pots.

The corner sink embraces window views of grazing deer and align a light porcelain tile backsplash with a second sink in the island. Anchored by wire-brushed oak hardwoods in a Toffee stain, this functional setting further features soft close drawers, a slide-out appliance garage, recycling centers, and a computer station for daily convenience.

Our design team also provided cabinetry and design for the master suite, guest bath and laundry room.

1. Appearance – improve and update the look of the kitchen and adjacent family room.
2. Space Planning – improve storage, increase countertop space and expand cooking areas.
3. Family Lifestyle – make room for all four children and both parents to sit, eat and talk comfortably.
4. Modernization – incorporate new technology and appliances.

We were able to successfully transform an impractical space into a beautiful, functional kitchen that met each of our client’s goals. Here’s how:

1. Appearance – we replaced the old cabinets with a timeless, classic style.
2. Space Planning – we moved the seldom used built-in desk to the family room to make space for two work triangles accomodating multiple cooks, added a second sink, stacked wall cabinets and loaded cabinets with accessories including drawers, double waste bins, spice racks, roll-out shelves, tray dividers and an appliance garage.
3. Family Lifestyle – we designed a new, larger island to seat all four children and crafted a table to seat the entire family.
4. Modernization – we gave our client all of the “wish list” appliances including multiple convection ovens, an ice cream maker, a second sink, new dishwasher and Miele coffee maker with pull-out countertop for use when flavoring cappuccino.

This showstopper in Calgary’s Upper Scarboro features Legacy Kitchens, our Calgary location, whose diversity and capacity for interpretations defy convention. “We wanted a design in keeping with the style of our mid-century, modern, ranch-style bungalow,” admits the homeowner, adding, “We have three young children and needed a centre that could accommodate our lifestyle. The grown-ups wanted something definitely different and unique and once we worked out an idea, Legacy made it into a workable design.”

Derived from a concept by Douglas Cridland, a wash of yellow, high gloss-finishes and stainless steel was refined Legacy’s Susan Pilon. “It’s completely modern with all the conveniences. The high gloss Sun Ray polyurethane finish really complemented the clean lined stainless steel appliances with corner appliance garage,” says Pilon who integrated a desk station and booth-style eating area that features in-bench storage. An open hallway was closed off to create the new dining area that displays metallic taupe, vinyl bench seating that surrounds an antique granite table.

The stainless steel cabinet pulls are inset into the finish, mimicking a file drawer system alongside upper touch latch cabinets. Full extension, soft close Blum drawers further complement this kitchen’s smooth appeal. Caesarstone countertops contribute additional high-gloss surfaces in Lapos Blue amidst a backsplash of miniature stainless steel subway tile, while the ceiling perfectly replicates cabinet hues with linear pot lights balancing clean-lined flows.

“We were all very pleased – the overall look was a lot more creative than the norm. It’s a unique kitchen that reflects our family and our style perfectly,” concludes this satisfied client.

Making improvements in appliance placement, functional design and aesthetics were essential for the successful remodel of this outdated kitchen.

Appliance Placement

We moved the cook top out of the island and incorporated it into the workspace; the new location allowed us to create a more natural focal point for the kitchen with a decorative mantle hood and tile backsplash above the cook top.

Functional Design

The space was very carefully designed to give the client practical and organized storage areas for all of her kitchen items, and the new island has more surface area for planning and preparing meals.

Aesthetics

The clear alder cabinets have a unique 12-step finish that adds warmth and depth to the room. Basic white tile flooring was replaced with new tile in a variety of sizes and warm colors, and high-maintenance tile countertops were replaced with granite. The end result reflects the homeowner’s warm personality and style.

We removed an existing pony wall and awkward closet pantry to transform the tiny space into a much roomier cook’s kitchen with an easy-to access stove, ample counter space in all the right places, and a beautiful furniture feel that complements the adjacent family room. The refrigerator was moved from its original hard-to-access location to a convenient built-in space near the entry of the kitchen.

Our client loved the Burgundy color of the Viking appliances, so this color was used throughout the space to give it a consistent, thematic feel. Because the small kitchen space and pre-existing tile footprint made a free-standing island impractical, we created an attached island and finished it with a black rub to make it look like a piece of furniture. Part of the island’s furniture detail behind the sink was raised to hide dirty dishes and conceal the vent and drain pipe that were located in the old the pony wall.

The area to the right of the sink was turned into a social gathering space with the seating for three; something our client had always wanted. Paneling under the knee-space creates the illusion of drawers, further reinforcing the furniture look. This space also hides a convenient double-trash pull out.

Dishes and glasses are easily stored in the 36" drawer base and upper cabinet next to the refrigerator, and there is a large 54" counter space just left of the sink for food preparation. In the space occupied by the old refrigerator we paired a pantry (loaded with roll-out shelves) with an oven/microwave combo to make them look like a single unit. This was accomplished by adding a decorative open shelf display over the entire unit. Tray dividers for vertical storage are located over the ovens to free up storage space in the lower cabinets. A raised counter to the right of the oven/microwave serves as a staging area for food. Underneath is a space to discreetly store small appliances like the coffee pot and toaster while the glass doors above are lighted, offering a great place to display decorative items.

Beautiful granite and a tumbled stone backsplash were coordinated to complement the existing Saltillo flooring. The columns to the left and right of the 36" gas rangetop, the burgundy warming drawer below, the decorative treatment of the toe area with furniture valance and the professionally styled hood complete this cook’s kitchen.

When thinking about their design possibilities, the clients knew they wanted to close off at least one doorway. We closed off the doorway into the original hall and we enlarged another so that the kitchen would be more open to the living room section of the house.

Our clients were also quite enamored with a portable and storable cook top that they saw while visiting Droog and wanted to emulate it in their new kitchen. When not in use, custom portable cooking elements can be disconnected and stored to allow full use of the countertop for food preparation and other tasks. The kitchen also features a movable restaurant-style stainless steel table so that the center of the kitchen area now offers a myriad of functional possibilities.

Other notable features include a 63” wide custom stainless steel ventilation hood, cantilevered cabinets at the bar with a trend-setting trough sink, a Doug Mockett pop-up electrical outlet and a custom backsplash tile design made from reclaimed 12” square porcelain tile.

Take a look at the new Karbon kitchen faucet that we used from Kohler and the cabinetry by Kitchen Craft featuring the Summit door style.

Before

Work started from the ground and worked toward the ceiling. Earth toned slate replaced Saltillo tile flooring, and the installation of cherry cabinetry brought warmth and durability throughout the kitchen and the rest of the home. An understated slab door made a nice backdrop for the stainless steel handles, with the hardware mimicking the new modern SubZero/Wolf appliances.

The result is a functional kitchen with modern flair that blends seamlessly with the existing architecture.

After