Published Oct 12, 2023 • Last updated Oct 12, 2023 • 3 minute read
Article content
Homeowner Mary Kestler had one big ask for her Scandi modern-inspired kitchen renovation: yellow.
“It’s just a happy colour,” Kestler says. “We live in Vancouver, and it rains, you know? It’s grey for six months of the year, so things have to be light and bright and sunny inside.”
Article content
Her circa-1985 home on the city’s west side wasn’t exactly standard-issue, either, with a steeply pitched roofline and banks of large skylights. “Nothing about our house is typical or standard; it’s not a box,” says Kestler. “So there’s no way the interior design was going to be what I’d consider typical. It needed to be funky.”
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Article content
Though yellow was “a specific ask” and not a colour interior designer Denise Ashmore normally gravitates to, she clearly understood the assignment: to deliver a bright, yet soft shade alongside easy-to-embrace neutrals and natural textures. “We were always trying to balance it … to make sure it wouldn’t get tired or just be overwhelming,” adds Ashmore, principal of Vancouver-based Project 22 Design.
The family had bought the house in 2016, embarking on a series of updates leading to the recent project: a refresh of the kitchen, dining room and two bathrooms. The tired kitchen, where things were “falling apart,” was the big trigger for this round of renos, Kestler says. They also wanted more space for entertaining.
Studying the floor layout, Ashmore quickly realized the kitchen couldn’t accommodate enough extra seating, and suggested expanding the dining room instead.
Next, Ashmore set to overhauling the kitchen, reorienting the layout to fit an oversized island, with casual seating for everyday meals and family time. As she and Kestler worked through 3D concepts and inspiration photos for the rest of the design, Kestler kept circling back to plywood-style cabinets, as a complement to the yellow shade they’d selected as the accent (Sherwin Williams June Day).
West Coast Homes
Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of West Coast Homes will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Collaborating closely with a millworker, they landed on durable ash veneer with a visible grain. Custom cut-out handles add to the Scandi feel of the space, as do simple, sculptural white light fixtures over the island.
Elsewhere, careful planning helped maximize utility. A small-footprint induction cooktop tucks neatly into an existing masonry nook, under an angled ceiling, now clad in easy-to-clean engineered quartz. Concrete-look Caesarstone countertops and muted grey tiles balance the burst of yellow, while large-scale porcelain floor tiles also give the feel of matte concrete. The aggregate look is timeless and clean, with a playful edge.
A similar interplay of finishes continues in the powder room, where graphic patterned tiles by Italy’s Mutina Ceramics are the centrepiece, adding another touch of sunny yellow.
On the first floor, Kestler’s two teenage daughters needed a larger and better laid-out bathroom near their bedrooms. Clawing some space from a neighbouring laundry room, Ashmore obliged, pulling in ash millwork and a palette similar to upstairs, but accented with misty blue-grey Mutina tiles—no yellow here. Brushed nickel fixtures, a pill-shaped mirror and large shower round out the space stylistically, while a simple glass wall maximizes the shower visually and in footprint.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
To gain every inch of elbow room possible for the girls, the design team created ample storage space using a combination of closed cabinets and clever open shelving, like a toothbrush niche—and shelving for toilet paper in beside the toilet, where drawers or doors wouldn’t have space to open. “It was such a tiny bathroom that putting a semi-recessed sink in was also important,” Ashmore says.
Since the renovation wrapped up in 2022, the updated space has been working beautifully for the family, Kestler says. Down the road, they plan to tackle more projects in phases, including a laneway home and an exterior update.
But for now, daily life centres around the sunny, refreshed kitchen. And life is good. “We spend all of our time in that kitchen,” says Kestler. “You cook, you have drinks, you have people sitting there. It’s a wonderful room.”
Construction: Jordan Dion-Duval and Gui Harbec, Line Contracting
Related Stories
Classic 1970s post-and-beam home revitalized for ultimate indoor-outdoor living
Cool greys, blues and whites key to capturing that coastal vibe
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
Advertisement 1
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.