Natural, organic materials for renovated kitchen in beach house

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Holiday home kitchen by Downsview Kitchens has comfortable, casual look

Natural, organic materials feature throughout this new kitchen, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, table, gray — Natural, organic materials feature throughout this new kitchen, part of a large family living area in a renovated holiday home. The wall behind the kitchen is embedded with natural stone.

Stepped Carrara marble benchtops help to reduce the cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, brown, gray

Steel shelving units with driftwood-coloured wood slats create cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, cupboard, drawer, furniture, kitchen, shelf, gray, brown

With its natural, raw materials and shades of countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, brown, gray

There are multiple ways to fine-tune a preferred design for a new kitchen, but capturing images of other projects you love is good place to start.

This was the approach taken by the owners of this extensively renovated house, Bayne and Scott Belair. The couple presented designer Sean Daigle of Downsview Kitchens with a raft of images, and it was clear the new kitchen in the family's holiday home would feature natural, raw materials that would provide a connection to the beach, one block from the house.

"We wanted it to be very organic and natural, but with a modern twist," says Bayne Belair. "We wanted to create a spa-like feel, with a design that would be in keeping with the existing architecture."

Walls were removed to replace a "hodge-podge of small rooms" with one large family living area that opens to the outdoors.

To provide an appropriate backdrop, the existing wood ceiling, with its long, narrow skylights, was sandblasted and stained in a driftwood colour that matches the wire-brushed oak floor.

The kitchen was placed along one wall, with a large island forming the centre of operations. The wall behind the island features embedded stone the colours of the stone are echoed by the antiqued patina on the custom rangehood, and by matching shelving units with wood slats.

The cabinetry is also defined by a strong sense of symmetry, but that is where the formality ends. Furniture-style cabinets at either end of the island, and two large armoire cabinets feature textural wire-brushed oak that evokes a windswept beach.

"It's a very comfortable, casual look well suited to a house by the beach," says Daigle. "For a little fun, there are black slate inserts on the drawer fronts and benchtops on the end units, which the family can write on.

"The perimeter cabinets feature a custom painted finish with stainless steel strapping around the doors and drawers, while the island has recessed panel doors."

To further enhance the idea of different furniture elements, the end units have grey limestone tops, with a custom ogee edge, rather than the chunky profile of the Carrara marble island top. Handles are also in two different styles.