An unplanned kitchen reno becomes a serene refuge
Inspired by its location on the edge of a forest, the kitchen in this North Vancouver home exudes West Coast style by focusing on its connection to the outdoors, incorporating natural wood finishes and maximizing the benefits of natural light.
The kitchen was originally outside the scope of planned renovations, but when the wall separating the kitchen from the living room was replaced with a 22-foot-long structural beam, the owners quickly realized it would have to be included to get the look and feel they wanted for their home.
Their brief to Sprucehill Contracting’s president and owner Erik Jensen and interior designer Liz Jest was to maintain the home’s West Coast style and focus on functionality: They wanted the 12-by-18-foot space to support their love of entertaining, have enough seating for the family, be low maintenance, and perform as efficiently as possible.
Working with the existing fir trim around the kitchen window and nearby French doors to the enlarged deck, Jensen and Jest created a low-stimulation, relaxing esthetic by controlling the use of colour and the number of finishes.
As the natural gathering place for parties, the four-by-eight-foot island with its hickory countertop helps fulfil many of the homeowners’ must-haves. A bar fridge in the island makes it easy to access drinks without going into the main work area. Plenty of storage is provided by 24-inch-deep drawers on the kitchen-facing side and 12-inch-deep cabinets with touch open-and-close on the opposite side. For informal family meals, the island’s 12-inch overhang provides enough space for the requisite five chairs.
Instead of the more typical glossy tile backsplash, Jensen and Jest chose standard three-by-six-inch subway tiles with a matte finish and installed a Caesarstone Pure White quartz countertop on the perimeter cabinets to maintain the consistency of the white tones.
In a nod to the homeowners’ low-maintenance guidance, the design duo selected one-piece cabinet doors made from high-density fibreboard. “This enabled us to include Shaker-style cabinetry, but with fewer grooves to clean, it meets their low-maintenance direction,” says Jest. The designers also selected brushed nickel hardware for its toned-down finish as well as the metal’s ability to hide fingermarks. Organizers, such as a spice pullout alongside the range, cut down on countertop clutter.
While the vaulted ceiling in the kitchen helps make the space feel airy and light, it tested the team’s math skills. Figuring out placement for the pot lights around the existing skylights was easy compared to calculating the angles for the custom stainless-steel duct above the hood fan that had to be mitred to fit the slope of the ceiling, Jensen says.
To ensure all the wood was complementary, Jest says they considered 15 different shade options before deciding on just the right colour for the white oak engineered hardwood floor that runs throughout the home’s living spaces. “We didn’t want the different woods to fight each other so we needed the perfect tone for the white oak,” says Jest. “It was worth the time. How the woods ‘speak’ to each other in the space is just stunning.”
Why it works
Knock on wood: West Coast style relies on wood accents and this kitchen’s fir trim, hickory countertop and white oak floors all complement one another.
Light fantastic: The window, French doors and skylights let the sun shine in, ensuring an airy ambience while pot lights and under-cabinet lights provide nighttime illumination.
White on white: The cabinetry, backsplash and perimeter countertop all have the same white tone, showcasing the calm esthetic achieved by limiting the colour palette in a space.
+ This kitchen is a finalist in the Best Kitchen Renovation Under $125,000 category of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia’s Georgie Awards.
