MARK McEWAN ULTIMATE SLICING HOME AUTOMATION DESIGN TRENDS INTO 2017 HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL STYLE THE CELEBRITY CHEF S KITCHEN

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1 MARK McEWAN THE CELEBRITY CHEF S KITCHEN MENU MAGIC Iron Chef Rob Feenie finesses food in his restaurants ULTIMATE KITCHEN TOOLS Our guide to what you need now SLICING AND DICING Imported high-end kitchen knives no - sho ho ws Re $7.99 A www. M c GIL L I V R Display until June 30 th, 2016 TT CO Y S are a cook s best friend w ho s t e laun c he s n ws HOME AUTOMATION DESIGN TRENDS INTO 2017 HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL STYLE Untitled :43 PM

2 DESIGN DESIGN TORONTO KITCHENS 2016 STREAMLINED STYLE Designer creates a kitchen for a family of six that is clutter-free BY SUSAN SEMENAK PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANI BUCHMAN STYLING: DVIRA OVADIA DVIRA OVADIA FOCUSES first on functionality in the spaces she designs. When a Richmond Hill family approached her to renovate their 1980sera kitchen, one of the first things Ovadia, principal designer of Dvira Interiors, did was take inventory. Her clients, a family of six who like to cook, told her they wanted their new kitchen to feel clean and minimalist. So Ovadia and her team took stock of all the cookware and small appliances, the dishes and utensils and pantry supplies the family uses on a daily basis. Then they designed the kitchen with a spot reserved for every item. That removed all the clutter from the countertops, Ovadia says. Today s kitchens are no longer spaces strictly for meal preparation. WINTER 2016 To create a sharp contrast between dark and light, the cabinet doors on one side of the kitchen are stained ebony brown; on the other side, they are painted Benjamin Moore s heron white. (All by Somerset Kitchens.) 38 THE KITCHEN ISSUE THE KITCHEN ISSUE 39

3 DESIGN DESIGN TORONTO KITCHENS 2016 WINTER 2016 The homeowners asked for a kitchen that marries modern and traditional styles. Above all, they wanted it to be functional, a place where the couple and their children could gather to do homework, prepare meals and dine. But they wanted the space to be elegant enough to serve as a backdrop for their frequent dinner parties. Today s kitchens are no longer spaces strictly for meal preparation, Ovadia says. Now the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is used for experimenting with new recipes, but also for entertaining, for family gatherings. The key to marrying so many vocations, Ovadia says, is organization. The room was enlarged to 300 square feet by pushing back a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room and hallway. The recuperated space houses the kitchen s functional elements, such as the fridge and coffee station, which are hidden behind espresso-toned cabinetry. Along the perimeter of the kitchen, in the zone where the cooking, food-preparation and cleanup happens, the countertops are stain-resistant white Caesarstone. 40 THE KITCHEN ISSUE THE KITCHEN ISSUE 41

4 DESIGN DESIGN TORONTO KITCHENS 2016 An all-white kitchen might have seemed short on character. So we added a little texture, colour and contrast The other side of the room went bright, with white-painted cabinet doors, white marble subway tiles on the backsplash and white Caesarstone countertops. A massive nine-foot-long island topped with Crema Delicato marble from Precious Stone, is the centrepiece of the new kitchen. It runs the length of the room, providing ample seating for entertaining, but also drawers for storage space. An all-white kitchen might have seemed short on character. So we added a little texture, colour and contrast in the cabinet finishes and the door knobs and cabinet pulls, Ovadia says. For instance, the cabinets have a Shaker profile but the drawers sport flat fronts. To marry the two styles, the drawers are finished with bullnose edges to add a classic touch, she says. We didn t want anything about this kitchen to look basic. WINTER 2016 The backsplash is tiled with two-by-four-inch white marble tiles with subtle veining. 42 THE KITCHEN ISSUE THE KITCHEN ISSUE 43

5 Design Design Toronto Kitchens 2016 INTO THE WOODS by JULIE GEDEON photography: STEPHANI BUCHMAN STYLING: KATE DAVIDSON Exotic woods give this kitchen the West Coast ambience the homeowners sought It really establishes an organic connection between the home s interior and the property s thickly wooded lot. Exotic sapele flooring subtly contrasted by horizontal cabinetry delivers the West Coast ambience that the homeowners sought. The valence and lightbox, along with two horizontal lights with dark branch motifs from Gerrie Lighting Studio in Oakville, define the ceiling space. A dark stain on the island s sapele base anchors the unit and complements the antique brown leathered granite counter. Winter 2016 A Burlington family that enjoys home-cooked meals and lots of company is revelling in the airiness of a completely renovated home, especially the open-concept kitchen. The homeowners sought the woodsy atmosphere they admire in West Coast decor. When their designer, Kate Davidson of Kate Davidson Design Inc., showed them sapele a naturally reddish-gold hardwood from Africa they adored it. A matte rubio finish subtly brings out the wood s warmth and depth in the overhead valance and lightbox, as well as in the flooring throughout the house. It really establishes an organic connection between the home s interior and the property s thickly wooded lot along the Niagara escarpment, Davidson says. The numerous trees that provide so much privacy allowed us to leave the wraparound windows exposed to enjoy the wonderful views and show the beautiful dark wooden frames. Davidson also chose sapele in a slightly different stain for the custom-built cabinetry, ensuring that the horizontal grain matched up from one section to the next. The wood camouflages the fridge, pantry, and enough storage space to dispense with upper cabinetry. The Kitchen Issue 83

6 Design Design Toronto Kitchens 2016 The camouflaged pantry and cabinetry provided enough storage space to dispense with mounted cabinets elsewhere, creating an open and airy kitchen. The Sub-Zero fridge is also behind the veneer while the Jenn-Air oven and microwave are tucked out of view The antique brown leathered granite has a nice matte finish and appealing texture, Special Kitchen Issue Winter 2016 I really like the trend away from mounted cupboards because it makes a kitchen feel so much lighter and more spacious, Davidson says. All of the family s daily plates and glasses are kept in the drawers in the island. Davidson combined various materials to create interest and maximize functionality. Knowing the island would be frequently used by the cook and children, she chose a durable granite countertop that echoes some of the veiny elements featured in the Statuario marble on the exterior wall. The antique brown leathered granite has a nice matte finish and appealing texture, she adds. The island s sapele base was stained dark brown to anchor the unit and to echo the dark granite. Several walnut-backed stools with leather-cushioned seats and stainless foot railings were chosen as much for comfort as style. White quartz atop the other countertops ensures greater durability than marble and creates some negative space between the island and backsplash where the eye can rest, Davidson explains. A sleek stainless hood keeps our attention focused on the beautiful marble backsplash. Davidson located both sinks to take advantage of the panoramic views and to ensure that the cook is able to face family or friends during food preparation or dishwashing. 84 The Kitchen Issue The Kitchen Issue 85

7 Design Design Toronto Kitchens 2016 The stainless Jenn-Air range and sleek hood complement the silvery veins within the Statuario backsplash from York Marble. White quartz allows the marble to take centre stage The cook in the family really appreciates the various removable components to the chefstyle double sink on the island to wash and prepare food, Davidson adds. Identical faucets were installed on the two sinks. The designer created the far side of the cabinetry to overlook the sofas, functioning as a living room console with storage and display space. She also created what appears to be a simple dividing wall from the kitchen to serve as a buffet unit within the dining area. The room is brightened at night with an interesting array of fixtures from Gerrie Lighting Studio. Square recessed lights without trim discreetly shine from the ceiling and lightbox. Two horizontal lights above the island have a dark branch motif that echoes the black faucets nozzles, the slim fingerpulls on some of the drawers, as well as the lightbox recessed lights. Of course the branch motif also pays homage to all of the wood both inside the home and outside with the many beautiful trees, Davidson says. All the elements are quietly pulled together by Benjamin Moore s Calm White ceilings and walls throughout the house, and the wood features are repeated in the mudroom, bathrooms, and some of the custom-built bedroom furniture. The kitchen is truly the heart of this home, Davidson says. Winter The Kitchen Issue The Kitchen Issue 87