Eat and Work in This Stylish Contemporary Kitchen

The kitchen is arguably one of the busiest spaces in the house

With many of us spending far more time at home these days, how do you keep your kitchen fresh and functional?

For the design of this chic kitchen in a North Vancouver family home, interior designer Maria DeCotiis maximized every inch of floor space, with versatility and style top of mind. The highlight of the space is the cozy, stylish work nook, a one-of-a-kind element tailor-made for a #WFH world.“We reconfigured the floor plan and when we did, we were left with a bigger space to work with,” says DeCotiis, “it seemed like the perfect spot for a workstation!”

Since the family has two young children, DeCotiis felt the nook was a great place to store things like paperwork and a laptop, as opposed to a kitchen island where loose items are usually kept.

For the colour scheme, the clients wanted a contemporary aesthetic that felt crisp but not cold. “Grey cabinets are perfect because they act as a neutral tone, but are also unique enough to stand out,” says DeCotiis. White uppers were added to break up the grey, while gold hardware in the handles adds warmth to the cooler palette.

Since the family room is on the smaller side, the nook also acts as additional seating if necessary. Despite being its own little corner, DeCotiis notes that it still feels part of the kitchen as a whole.

“I love how the kitchen is centered on the main floor and you have a view of the dining room and family room,” she says, “It’s a lovely place for family to gather, but also a great place to entertain, once we can do that again!”

When designing a kitchen, Maria recommends not over-accessorizing. To combat clutter and make your space more versatile, create kitchen “zones” of sorts. Ensure every item or area is decorated with both purpose and character. Rather than fill your space with knickknacks, highlight items that are special and have a purpose. Less is more in a space as busy as this!

Overall, the kitchen is DeCotiis’ favourite part of this North Van home. “I love the mix of contemporary elements with the more traditional black marble bar backsplash and the brass hardware,” she says, “I don’t usually select such a simple light fixture above an island, but in this case, I love the way it adds just the right amount of impact.”