New start for Bracebridge bungalow

The living room used to be very plain without anything special going

for it. We created a nine foot wide focal point which we clad in a

gorgeous travertine stone, and which now houses the fireplace and
the TV. By removing walls, we connected the living room with the kitchen.

 

 

The Bracebridge home that I’ve worked on for the last few months is almost done, and the result looks great! 

From having been a very ordinary bungalow from the late 1990s, it's now an inviting, comfortable and modern home for a small family.

Walls were removed, broadloom was torn up, and wooden floors were installed throughout the house.

This is the view from the front entrance before:

Before: A maze of walls.

And this is what it looks like now:

With two walls gone, the light-filled kitchen and dining area
are now integrated with the living room.

The kitchen before:


 

 

 

 

Here's a rendition of the new kitchen. We kept the sink, fridge and stove in the same locations, and left the centre free of upper cabinets. That way, we created a nine foot wide wall surface, where a beautiful marble backsplash has the undivided attention. The orientation of the island makes it possible to enjoy both the view outside and to take part in the activities in the rest of the room.



This is what the tile looks like installed.

The backsplash is a 1" hexagon

oriental white honed tile, which

relates nicely with the colours

and style of the tile of the living
room fireplace, on the opposite
side of the room.

















Here are a few more shots from the home:



The former dining room was turned into a boy's computer

and TV room.



Details from one of the
bedrooms.





 

 



View of the en-suite bathroom, seen from the

master bedroom.

En-suite bathroom before.

We mixed several sizes of the same

tile on the floors and the walls, and

installed a different tile, with a striped

effect, on the shower end wall, to add

depth and interest.

Just like in the kitchen, the tile work is the shining

star. And yes, those mirrors have yet to be installed.











I hope you enjoyed the tour and the transformation of this home. It's now working for the homeowners, in every sense of the word. Happy Mother's Day!

Backsplash alternative for your kitchen

To select a kitchen backsplash can be difficult, but also very gratifying, since it has the potential to affect the whole atmosphere of the room. A backsplash can play whatever role you want it to play: the unifying element that ties the space together, or that "stand-out feature" that makes it come alive. 

Tiles are the most popular choice for kitchen and bathroom backsplashes, but there are other alternatives worth taking into account. Back-painted glass is one such option. I like it because it is relatively inexpensive and provides lots of flexibility: the glass can be painted any colour you wish, and can also be applied on top of wallpaper. Here are some examples of Finnish kitchen designer Puustelli's take on backsplashes, as seen in their Stockholm showroom during my recent visit to the Swedish capital.

 

A bright wallpaper, combined with a back-painted glass backsplash,

steals the show in this contemporary kitchen display.

Close-up of the wallpaper.

 

 

Wallpaper covered by a sheet of glass becomes a

stylish backsplash.

 
 

The green from the patterned wallpaper is highlighted

in the back-painted glass.

This grey-and-white kitchen gets an injection of colour through

the red backsplash tiles.

 

 

Cardboard takes away the guessing

Imagine the following scenarios:

1) You have finally found the perfect dining table. The style and finish are right. The price is within your budget. The only thing you're unsure of is the size. Is it too big?

Well how about making cardboard mock ups

of these coffee tables?

2) You have been presented with a kitchen layout from your cabinet manufacturer. It looks good on paper, but will the island feel too skimpy?

In those situations, try the cardboard test. It's a hands-on way to get a feel for how a certain piece will work in your space. You simply make mock ups of the real thing using cardboard. It's relatively easy, free and will give you peace of mind. This is the procedure:


You need big pieces of cardboard. Appliance stores are a good source; they are often happy to get rid of packaging from their floor models. On the cardboard, measure up the sizes of the pieces you are considering. Cut them out with a sturdy pair of scissors. Next, try the cut-out pieces in the space. If you want, put supports underneath (existing tables of similar) to get them off the floor and at the right height.

Now you can go back to the store or cabinet maker and make a self-confident and informed decision. Just what you want when you're getting something new.

Kitchen design: what's cooking?

Pizo Industries, Powassan.

Thinking of redoing your kitchen? Summer is actually the perfect time for it, with barbecuing and outdoor dining being so easy and desirable. What style are you going for? If you still haven't made up your mind, you'll be interested in hearing from two of our local kitchen suppliers. This is what they have to say about "what's cooking":


Geoff Miller, Pizo Industries, Powassan: 
1. People are asking for clean lines and flat cabinetry panels these days. 
2. Wide-grain wood patterns are in demand. People tend to choose them for the warm feel they give to a contemporary kitchen. Walnut, South American and Asian wood species are especially popular. 
3. We see a lot of high-gloss finishes.

Kitchen Gallery, North Bay.

Kristin Lowe, Kitchen Gallery, North Bay:

1. As far as cabinetry goes, wood has taken a back seat to lacquer. The lightness and velvety texture of lacquer are a desirable look right now. The lacquer can be custom coloured to match any colour.  

2. For countertops, engineered stone is increasingly popular. Granite Transformations Engineered Stone is incredibly durable and resistant, and it's sealed permanently.  

3. There is a focus on quality. People today live in a more open concept with large open kitchens and islands. Therefore, if the kitchen has fewer cabinets, every other cabinet has to be that much better!  


Make sure to look for more kitchen design tips and trends in future postings!