Good company

Help

This kitchen has been reinvented by Leonie von Sturmer to better complement a large villa

long dining table surrounded by white chairs, wooden countertop, dining room, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray, black — long dining table surrounded by white chairs, wooden floors and white walls with dark cabinets

dark wooden topped dining table attached to central ceiling, dining room, interior design, kitchen, room, table, gray, black

wide shot of kitchen and dining room, and countertop, flooring, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, room, gray

view from lounge through to kitchen. Large rangehood ceiling, dining room, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, house, interior design, living room, real estate, room, table, wall, window, wood, wood flooring, gray

wooden floors and butcher's block island. dark cabinetry cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, daylighting, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, wood, wood flooring, white

double oven with gas cooktop, below large grey cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, kitchen appliance, kitchen stove, room, gray, black

over white chairs and dining table towards grey dining room, function hall, furniture, interior design, restaurant, room, table, gray, black

white shelving and walls, large island with dark countertop, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, window, gray

solid furniture style island, heavy against lightly stained cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, home, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, table, wood, wood flooring, gray

Dark cabinetry with recessed handles - torrefied ash cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, window, wood

doorway leading to outside area and through to door, floor, home, house, interior design, window, wood, gray

white cabinets in scullery, farmhouse sink - white cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, window, gray

In many older houses, the original kitchen is a small, utilitarian space. It's not surprising that a remodel of a traditional home often involves redressing inequities of scale and forming closer connections to adjoining living spaces.

This was the scenario when designer Leonie von Sturmer was asked to create a spacious new kitchen for a gracious old bungalow. The existing kitchen was small, with limited storage and an over-emphasis on wood, says von Sturmer.

"To create a more generous volume and improve storage, we closed off an adjacent hall. We then placed a large dresser-style cabinet with cupboards and an integrated refrigerator-freezer in the newfound wall space. This piece provides a furniture-like transition between the kitchen and the informal dining room."

To the rear of the space, a laundry separated from the kitchen by a porch was appropriated into the design as a walk-in pantry.

"Although the owners said they wanted a country-kitchen aesthetic, I felt the size of the home called for something grand, so the design has a refined, yet slightly rustic appeal," says von Sturmer. "The weathered and waxed wood on the existing table provided inspiration for the worked finishes of both the under-counter cabinets and the butcher's block. For balance, white, glass-fronted cabinetry above the counters has a lighter look."

The centerpiece of the new kitchen is the substantial butcher's block. This is positioned within easy reach of other work surfaces and furthers the refined-rustic charm.

"The block and low cabinets are in torrefied ash," says von Sturmer. "Torrefaction removes moisture from the wood, enhancing the grain, and darkening its tone. The main advantage is that, unlike staining, the change in character runs right through the wood. Any chips or cuts remain true to the color of the exterior."

A subway-tile backsplash, large rangehood and a farmhouse sink in the scullery all add to the provincial appeal. The mesh front on the dresser also contributes a country accent.

"The key to improving connections was simple we turned the dining table around," says von Sturmer. "To further optimize flow, we took out a small peninsula element that had obstructed the French doors. In its place, there is a tall, set-back glass-fronted cabinet that balances the height of the dresser opposite."