Kitchens

2023 Kitchen Design Tip 1: Warm Wood Loves Colour

Don’t be afraid of mixing natural materials with bold colours: this kitchen by AndreaJae Studio proves that it can be done beautifully.

By Western Living /
Barbara Tili

The homeowners had been loving their BattersbyHowat-designed home in Vancouver for going on a dozen years when they had the thought: What if we could make the kitchen larger? With growing tween-aged kids and a family love for cooking and entertaining, they were in need of a little more elbow room.

”We wanted something that brought in a bit of texture,” says designer Andrea Ewanchyna of the backsplash. “It plays off the creamy whiteness of the Dekton countertop.” The ribbed design of Ann Sacks’s Savoy tile was the perfect fit—and, paired with undercounter lighting, it adds just the right amount of warmth to the modern design. Photo: Barbara Tili

Architect Ian McLean and designer Andrea Ewanchyna of Andreajae Studio came on board and opened the space up to the adjoining living room, while maximizing storage in the design (think cabinets from Sofo Kitchens brought right to the ceiling, a dedicated pull-out spice rack, baking organization above the ovens and moving the cooktop to the new island).

The hood fan is quiet on two fronts: the Faber fan will quietly sweep away cooking odours, and it’s designed to be visually quiet, with a white drywall enclosure. “The central fan is a function of having your cooktop on the island, but by keeping it white, crisp and clean, it’s not where your eye is drawn,” says Ewanchyna. “Instead it’s drawn to the back, to the warm cherry and teal.” Photo: Barbara Tili

The renovation tackled the entire main floor, but the design team also wanted to ensure that the update didn’t feel out of place with the rest of the home. But one thing made that challenge a lot easier: “The clients were not afraid of colour, hallelujah!” says Ewanchyna with a laugh. The millwork throughout the upper floor is a warm cherry wood, so the team planned a kitchen design with perimeter cabinets in a gorgeous, cherry-loving teal (Newburgh Green from Benjamin Moore), with inset pulls in the same cherry wood as upstairs. And on the island? The complete reverse.

Contractor: Rembrandt Renovations
Architect: Ian Mclean
Millworker: Sofo Kitchens

READ NEXT: 5 More Beautiful Kitchens to Inspire Your Next Renovation

Western Living

Western Living

The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].