Peek Inside a Former Caterer’s Dream Kitchen Renovation

West Coast contemporary design meets a former caterer’s dream kitchen in this stunning first-floor renovation by Victoria McKenney of Enviable Designs. The old kitchen’s dated cabinetry—combined with the openness to the living room and overcrowded counter space—made it suboptimal for the client’s love of entertaining friends. She wanted a butler’s kitchen to be able to host caterers and streamline the functionality of her own kitchen for when she wanted to cook herself. “We had to make this feel like a commercial kitchen, but look like a residential home,” McKenney notes.

Given that the house sits right on the water in West Vancouver, McKenney leaned towards clean lines and natural materials while keeping the space warm and inviting. She worked with the existing cherry wood floors and came up with a black, taupe and antique brass palette inspired by the client’s Mercedes.

Each material was chosen for its natural look with an emphasis on the durability (think Dekton island countertops, quartzite Taj Mahal backsplash and a combination of dark and natural walnut cabinetry).

As the designer was working with a client who knew her way around the kitchen, McKenney had to really consider the functionality of the space, including itemizing every item the client used so each tool has its own custom spot (no more giant cutting boards taking up counter space here!).

Motorized doors open and close the upper cabinets, and glass drawers keep everything she needs easily visible—but it’s all tucked away when it wasn’t being used. “We made sure the visual sightlines from the living room were almost sculptural in our architecture,” McKelley explains. “From the living room, you can’t see the fridge or freezer or any of the appliances—it wasn’t meant to be the focal point of the space.”

Now, the refined kitchen is beautiful and modern while allowing room for years of cooking and entertaining: perfect for the client that adores both.