Your subdivision home does not need to be cookie cutter anymore. Our clients purchased this family home in a subdivision of Mississauga, Ont. strictly  for the outdoor space and location. They loved the entertainer’s backyard  and it was in great location, close the schools and enough space for the whole family.  The main floor layout however, was not ideal.  They knew they needed to renovate the main floor to create an environment that was better suited to their lifestyle, and thats when they reached out to us.

Layout Improvements

The existing ground floor included an under-utilized living room and dining room, a small family room, and a restricted kitchen that lacked sufficient storage space. After seeing the space and understanding their particular needs, we instantly knew that in order to give this family of four the space they were looking for, we would need to open up the ground floor.  We needed  to create a more open concept floor plan and reclaim the space for the programs that were important to the family in their everyday use.

Creating a more open concept living space meant removing the ground floor partitions that separated their existing dining room, kitchen and family room. One of the challenges we faced early on in the renovation was uncovering existing structural posts in the existing walls. Our clients agreed that the right solution was to remove the two existing posts and replace them with new beams to support the second floor and give them an uninterrupted floor plan.

To improve the functionality of the space, we moved the dining room towards the front of the house and left the back of the house open for a new kitchen, eat-in and family room. Moving the dining room allowed us to expand the kitchen giving them ample storage space, a coffee station and a 10.5’ Island where the whole family can gather around. The living room and kitchen now share one large open space that looks out onto the backyard.

New windows were added around the bay and all existing windows were enlarged creating stronger physical and visual connections to their backyard and filling their new living space with an abundance of natural light.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is truly the heart of this home and it is emphasized in the design, details and material palette. We were inspired by the client’s desire to have a refined “bistro style” kitchen which led us to investigate a rich palette of colour, textures, and mosaics.

The clients brought us the idea of incorporating the colour blue into the kitchen. We loved the idea of introducing some colour into the space but we still wanted the kitchen to feel connected to the rest of the home so we paired the dark blue cabinets with a rift cut white oak panel and carried wall panelling in the same finish across the space into the living room.

Rather then going with a classic subway tile that is expected in a bistro-style kitchen, we opted for a beautiful geometric blue, grey and white marble mosaic that offers lots of visual interest.

While the backsplash is a subtle nod to the bistro style, the countertop provides a more dramatic backdrop with raw texture and veining running along the surface. The blue and grey tones in the countertop pick up on the pained blue cabinets and brushed nickel hardware throughout the kitchen.

After settling on the palette and general layout of the kitchen, we knew that something was missing – the “It” factor if you will. We wanted to incorporate something that felt authentic and give the aesthetic and charm of a bistro-style kitchen. That led us to the design of the arch. Centered with the island and the cooktop, the arch provides a strong focal point and provides the character the clients were after.

What we love about this renovation? It’s always exiting to work with clients that are passionate about a design idea. Together we worked toward the goal of creating a refined bistro-style kitchen that was functional, inviting, and designed with the elements that could be carried throughout the rest of the home. When you have the trust and willingness from a client, great things can happen.

[instagram-feed width=60]