Kitchen Design Tip 1: Make a serious (back) splash with stainless steel

Tile is typically the go-to material for  backsplashes—but in this Vancouver  kitchen, designer Alda Pereira makes a strong case for trying stainless steel instead. The space is already strikingly sleek, designed with serenity in mind: appliances are integrated; the hood vent is recessed into the ceiling and out of sight; the messy prep work of entertaining takes place behind a hidden white oak door to the butler’s pantry. But the swath of stainless steel behind the stovetop creates an elegant (and low-maintenance) finishing touch. “The backsplash seems to disappear into the background and reflect light back into the cooking area,” explains Pereira.

Keep It Open

When Pereira came in to work on this renovation, she was asked to make the kitchen the “central hub” of the home. To achieve this, she moved the existing staircase from the centre of the layout over to the side of the house. “It liberated the view,” says the designer.

Cool and Clean

The Julien SmartStation sink is paired with a tap from KWC. The barstools are from Knoll.

White and Bright

The cabinetry here is white oak installed by BFJ Design Custom Kitchen and Closet, while the countertop is Caesarstone in Organic White. (The material runs up the wall to meet the cabinets on the back, too.)