4 minute read…..

They didn’t hate their kitchen.  But it felt dated, disconnected and no longer aligned with the home they were creating.

They weren’t looking for a full renovation.

They just needed clarity on what to change and confidence that the decisions they were making would actually work.

Through a couple of Design Advice Sessions, we created a clear, simple plan that transformed their kitchen into a space that feels warm, cohesive and easy to live in.

NOTE: Stick around to see the full reveal of this gorgeous mountain home at the end of this post.

THE STARTING POINT

When my clients reached out, they weren’t looking for a full renovation. They just wanted some guidance and direction on which of their ideas to pursue and clarity about what selections would be best for their kitchen. 

They felt like their kitchen needed an update from its late 1999 design and they wanted the updates to include earthy tones and natural materials so that the kitchen would reflect the mountainous landscape around them.

These clients already had great instincts and beautiful elements to work with, but they needed confirmation on how to move forward so they could bring their kitchen fully into its potential.

KITCHEN GOALS

• Modernize the kitchen while keeping some existing elements
  
  

• Work with existing wood cabinetry instead of replacing it. Remove some cabinetry and replace it with open shelving
  (Wanted direction on # of shelves, shelf height, décor, etc.)
  
  

• Change cabinet hardware
  (Wanted confirmation on hardware color factoring in new sink and faucet finish)
  
  

• Replace countertops
  (Needed direction on countertop style/color)
  
  

• Add a backsplash
  (Needed direction on whether to use the countertop material or tile instead)
  
  

• Remove the wine fridge and make more of a gathering space around the island (needed direction on what to do with the area that would be missing tile as a result)

KITCHEN RECOMMENDATIONS

After meeting and discussing my clients’ wants, needs and vision for the space, I made the following recommendations for their kitchen update.

• Two shelves would fill the space, without feeling too cluttered. Add undershelf lighting to help with kitchen tasks and add more warmth to the space.
  
  

• Keep shelf height around 2" high for a more modern design.

• Style shelves intentionally and only showcase items that are easy to keep tidy. Use the color scheme of the space to direct decorative items.  Focus on wood décor to add warmth, plants to add life, black elements to tie in the cabinet hardware and lighting and use various shapes, heights, textures and finishes to add dimension and interest.
  
  

• Black hardware was preferred by the client and I felt it would work well with the chrome faucet. 
  
  (PRO TIP: It’s okay to mix metals as long as the finishes can be paired up with other items in the space. Since the appliances were stainless steel, the faucets would coordinate and because the lighting and some of the décor featured a black finish, black hardware would work well to help keep the space feeling connected).
  
  

  

• Since countertops can be quite an investment, I typically recommend choosing the one you love - as long as it makes sense for the design.  In this case, my clients loved the plain, matte finish of honed quartz in a warm gray tone.  I felt it was perfect for the design because it helped to calm the tone of the wood cabinets while also helping the kitchen to appear lighter and brighter while staying within the natural color palette they desired.
  
  

• With respect to which type of backsplash to choose, I recommended using the countertop material.  Because the clients wanted a modern, minimalist design, this made the most sense to achieve the desired aesthetic.  While I often favor a tile backsplash, introducing tile on the backsplash would add another element and more contrast which would have worked against their design goals.
  
  

• After removing the wine fridge to create a more comfortable gathering area, my clients wanted to create an “island rug” with tile that was left over from another renovation.  The tile/island rug was meant to fill in the area that would be missing after removal of the wine fridge and surrounding cabinetry. 
  
  While the tile was lovely and would coordinate, I didn’t love the idea.  I thought it would create too much contrast resulting in the kitchen looking smaller. 
  
  Instead, I advised investing in new flooring.  Although an investment, updated flooring would make a dramatic impact and really elevate the space.

KITCHEN RESULT

The kitchen is now a place my clients can actually enjoy spending time in. 

It feels calmer. Brighter. More open.  

And instead of feeling chaotic or disconnected, it now feels aligned with the rest of their home and the life they’ve built.

WHY THIS WORKED

This project worked because my clients didn’t need more ideas. 
They needed clarity on which ones to move forward with.

They already had great instincts. What they were missing was the confidence that everything would come together in a way that felt cohesive and right.

By simplifying the decisions and focusing only on what supported their vision, the overwhelm disappeared.

And once they had a clear plan, everything fell into place. 

If this sounds familiar…..

• Your home doesn’t feel quite right anymore

• You’ve saved ideas on how to update it, but don’t know what to choose

• You’re worried the wrong decision will cost you time and money

• You want your home to feel more aligned with who you are and how you live, but don’t know how to achieve that
  
  

This is exactly what a Design Advice Session is for.

We’ll walk through your space together, talk through your goals and create a clear, actionable plan so you can move forward with confidence.

When it feels right, you can get started with a Design Advice Session here.

Thank you to my amazing clients for allowing me to share this transformation.  And as promised, if you’d like to see the rest of this GORGEOUS home, click here for the Realtor.ca listing.  It’s for sale!  Please share with anyone you think may be interested.

“I feel like the photos do not give it justice, it really looks good in real life. You were a huge help and you influenced it all!!”

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