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The traditional colonial exterior of this house belies the bright, contemporary remodeled living space within

View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray, brown — View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless steel and marble countertops, timber floors, appliances.

View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray

View of contemporary kitchen which features marble countertops, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, gray

View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, hardwood, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, room, gray

View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless cabinetry, countertop, floor, flooring, interior design, kitchen, wood flooring, gray, brown

View of the kitchen and casual dining area interior design, living room, loft, window, gray

View of the kitchen and casual dining area floor, flooring, furniture, interior design, living room, table, window, brown, gray, orange

View of contemporary kitchen which features island, stainless apartment, architecture, ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, loft, real estate, gray, brown

Traditional houses in historic towns and precincts have loads of character, but the family living areas and kitchens need to reflect modern lifestyles.

To ensure this traditional colonial house would offer the best of both worlds, the owners Jimmy and Terry Fang contracted architect Randall Kipp to design a complete makeover. Working with interior designer Catherine Hailey and kitchen-bathroom designer Shirley McFarlane, Kipp says he was given a creative license to modernize the interior.

"Originally, the remodeling project was going to be quite small, but over time it morphed and expanded to become something much bigger."

The extended kitchen and new family living room that form the heart of the house open out to a picturesque river view. The outlook is enhanced by a series of roof windows that allow a glimpse of the tree canopy and bring additional natural light into the space. Large sliding glass doors also maximize the view and provide a seamless flow between inside and out.

Kitchen designer Shirley McFarlane says the owners were familiar with German cabinetry brands and wanted to incorporate elements from two different lines. Wenge wood veneer cabinets from Studio Becker are paired with a Bulthaup glass backsplash and stainless steel countertop with integrated sink.

"The wenge wood cabinets have an aluminum edge detail and Blum hardware that helps keep the look crisp and modern," McFarlane says. "However, we specified glass doors on the overhead cabinets to provide a translucency that gives the room a sleek look."

Because the owner likes cooking and entertaining, there are several workstations and a second oven off to the side of the main work area.

"This area can be used as a baking center, or for additional food preparation," says McFarlane. "We also provided an induction and a gas cooktop, which sit side-by-side on the rear countertop."

The kitchen includes a separate area for preparing drinks two beverage refrigerators are integrated into cabinets at the side of the room. Further continuity is provided by a matching buffet unit in the family living area. This stores items needed for the table and outdoor kitchen.

Other key features of the kitchen include Calacatta Gold marble countertops, and a central, circular fireplace. The fireplace helps to define the various spaces within the room, says the architect.