A half-dozen kids still live at home in this west-side Vancouver house, ranging in age from 10 to 19€”so everyone chips in with the prep at dinnertime. That meant designer Juli Hodgson of Hodgson Design Associates was tasked with both smart space planning€”lots of room for cooks of all ages to do work around the counter and island€”and with finding durable materials to outfit the kitchen.

When It's a kitchen for a big family, materials matter

The cabinets and counters are Kerlite porcelain in a black €œFossil€ shade from Italian brand Modulnova€”€œthey€™re bulletproof,€ says Hodgson. Miunn stools from Lapalma wrap around the white oak eating bar at the island, and the nearby roomy Artisan collection table from SwitzerCultCreative is outfitted with a lazy Susan to help serve the crowd. Both fridges are integrated behind white oak millwork, and the space feels clean and modern thanks to plenty of organized storage, including an appliance garage at the end of the perimeter counter.

Credit: Ema Peter

Drawers at the end of the island provide balance to the overall design: a visual anchor to keep it from feeling like It's floating, says Hodgson.