THE DESIGNERS

by COLIN MCALLISTER + JUSTIN RYAN

THROUGHOUT many countries and across multiple continents, we’ve retooled numerous kitchens. Yes indeed, from small-scale renovations, to full throttle, high impact revisions, we’ve delivered food prep zone alchemy, at client behest, over and over again.

And the aspect, in common, that pulls each scheme together? The layering of luxury, at every conceivable turn. Take this kitchen, birthed by us as part of a complete log cabin glow up in beautiful Muskoka, Ontario. As we found the space, it was admittedly short on style and function, but it positively buoyed with potential. So, we wielded the demo ball, and set to work…

To kick things off, we conspired a walk-around island, loaded with extra storage, which we subsequently illuminated with huge nickel pendants and covered with creamy quartz countertops. A statement faucet elicits a professional feel, whilst a whisper quiet dishwasher assures negligible noise bleed into the connecting living area.

Chasing upscale appliances, we specified a concealed fridge and matching freezer which we integrated into solid wood, gray painted cabinetry. The high-end machines were a wise choice; not only are they manufactured ‘panel ready’ for doors to be attached (invisibility rules in our world) they boast surprisingly generous space for food cooling and freezing.

With a project such as this, confident detailing and complimentary finishes provide whispered sophistication. The gray lines of the cabinetry, for example, and the low sheen finish of the lobster washing faucet, balance our vision, as played against the warm toffee notes of the thick, pine logs—and indeed the cool notes of the oak floor— to deliver rich schematic contrast.

COUNTERTOPS: Clamshell (4130) from the Caesarstone Classico Collection; caesarstone.ca PENDANT LIGHTING: Fairview Traditional Pendant from Rejuvenation; rejuvenation.com

CABINET PAINT COLOUR: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray (2062-20); benjaminmoore.com

PENDANT LIGHTING: Fairview Traditional Pendant from Rejuvenation; rejuvenation.com

As the cottage country market continues to grow, we relish every chance we get to polish the diamonds in the rough that, to be honest, and rarer on the ground than ever before. It’s fair to say pretty much everything, these days, is snapped up and renovated before so much as gracing the open market.

This project is underpinned by incredible lighting, which barrels in via large scale fenestration (created by euro + glasshaus; evw.ca) whose black perimeters are like frames around elegant art work, in this case the vistas so deftly painted by Mother Nature.

The prevailing mood here is sophistication, with flat slab cabinet doors delivering uncomplicated lines. Ceilings, clad in “penny groove” Western Red Cedar, return visible warmth as played against the cooler notes of quartz counters, whilst a midtoned oak floor provides a further layer of perceived and literal warmth.

Composing our projects, we enjoy sequencing rough with smooth, and, to this end, the hand-built dining bench (created by Toronto-based artisanal furniture maker Mark Livingston of Rebarn; rebarn.ca) and the store-bought dining table provide balance as played against bone toned walls and the soft curves of the dining chairs.

COUNTERTOPS: Cement (3040) from the Caesarstone Classico Collection; caesarstone.ca

DINING CHAIRS: Madeleine side chairs from Restoration Hardware; restorationhardware.com

Breville’s Black Stainless Steel range would work particularly well as slick counterscaping in a kitchen like this. Solidly dependable, the collection’s matte finish is thoroughly sophisticated; breville.com