Glamour and glitz

Mirrors, glass and high-gloss finishes, chosen for their reflective qualities, create a sophisticated look for this kitchen, and complement the owner's collection of glassware

A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, countertop, glass, interior design, kitchen, major appliance, room, under cabinet lighting, gray — A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, white lacquer cabinetry, flourescent lighting,,stainless steel kitchen appliances

A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, white

A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, architecture, bathroom, countertop, home, house, interior design, kitchen, property, room, sink, gray

A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, architecture, ceiling, countertop, daylighting, house, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray

A view of this kitchen featuring tiled flooring, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

A collection of favorite objets d'art isalways a good starting point for a new kitchen, and it is likely to play a role in the design of the space and in the choice of finishes.

To complement owners Marilyn and Jim McLaughlan's extensive glassware collection, kitchen designer Simone van der Plas has liberally used reflective, glossy surfaces. Lacquered white cabinetry, glass display shelving with mirrored glass backdrops, and metallic, back-painted glass backsplashes all reflect light.

The countertop, made from quartz mixed with chips of mirrored glass, sparkles when it catches the light. The lighting is also designed to create more reflections. Fluorescent lights, recessed into the base of the furniture-like cabinetry, reflect in the black high-gloss tiled floor, and add brilliance to the space.

"The whole effect is of a beautiful, glittering jewelry store," says the designer.

The glassware collection is contained in two cabinets that form towers on either side of the entrance to the kitchen. These help to partially conceal the kitchen from the rest of the open-plan living area.

Because all the surfaces are so shiny and glitzy, the color scheme needed to be simple. The walls and the cabinets are both painted in the same stark white shade, but with different gloss levels to create varying effects.

The layout of the kitchen centers on the spectacular views of the harbor, so the sink was located on the counter under the window for the best outlook. Large sliding doors in the adjacent dining area mean guests congregating close to the kitchen can also enjoy the views.

Because Marilyn McLaughlan enjoys entertaining, the kitchen includes two ovens and two DishDrawers. The ovens are situated on either side of the cooktop so two people can cook without getting in each other's way. The DishDrawers are also separated. One is beside the sink, close to everyday crockery and cutlery storage, while the second is in the back of the peninsula, near the cabinets where crockery for special occasions is kept.