Contemporary condominium kitchen with ash cabinets, stained glass tile backsplash

Moving from a house to a condominium is not just a new way of living it can also mean a whole new approach to interior design.

When interior designer Lisa Peck of LiLu Interiors, Inc was commissioned to design this new condominium from scratch, she literally started with a blank canvas.

"The space was just a raw shell," she says. "But it was clear the kitchen was always going to be central to the concept, as it is right in the heart of the living space."

Peck says the owners knew they wanted a contemporary interior that would reflect who they are and the way they live. It also needed to incorporate key artworks and two Mies van der Rohe chairs in cream leather.

"These were virtually the only items brought from the former house; the design needed to be a foil for the cream chairs. This determined the backdrop of mid-toned cabinetry in warm quartered maple. It was important to make the space feel grounded and calm, rather than light and floating with too many light cream tones. The dark flooring helps to anchor the space visually there is a gradual lightening from the floor to the cabinetry and then the walls."

In keeping with the contemporary design, flush doors create a seamless finish. However Peck introduced a more textural look to the front of the island where simple mouldings conceal the joins in the wood veneer.

The entire island is wrapped in cream-toned quartz to contrast the maple, while the perimeter countertops are a dark quartz. This is offset by a custom backsplash featuring specially selected stained glass tiles.

"With unobtrusive countertops and cabinets that recede visually, the backsplash could take a pattern," the designer says. "We were able to choose the exact proportions of each of the shades in the stained glass."

The glass adds a sparkle to the kitchen, as do the pendant lights over the dining table and the downlights above the island, which are encircled by crystal rings.

"There is also a considerable amount of chrome on the furniture that helps to reflect the light in the room," says Peck.

Appliances are integrated where possible. The cabinetry also incorporates a hidden home office desk, and a sliding tray to accommodate small appliances close to a coffee-breakfast area.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Jamie Cobel