Quebec Homeowners Say Goodbye to an Open-Plan Kitchen
“After” photos by Duclos Photo
Kitchen and Dining Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their 16-year-old son
Location: Beaconsfield, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Denis Gobeil of Cuisines Vima Design
The homeowners purchased their house in a suburb of Montreal because they wanted to live along the Lake St. Louis, a lake at the junction of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. But they didn’t care for how the kitchen and dining space were originally set up as an open space featuring a large island. They hired Cuisines Vima Design to design and oversee a remodel that separated the cooking zone from the dining area.
Kitchen and Dining Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their 16-year-old son
Location: Beaconsfield, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Denis Gobeil of Cuisines Vima Design
The homeowners purchased their house in a suburb of Montreal because they wanted to live along the Lake St. Louis, a lake at the junction of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. But they didn’t care for how the kitchen and dining space were originally set up as an open space featuring a large island. They hired Cuisines Vima Design to design and oversee a remodel that separated the cooking zone from the dining area.
Before Photo
Before: Here’s a look at the open kitchen and large island prior to the renovation.
Before Photo
Before: The dining area flowed right into the kitchen space, which the homeowners did not like at all.
After: This photo shows the dining space and refrigerator area after the renovation; the tall black wall with lighted shelving separates the dining area from the kitchen. This portion of the kitchen and dining area (outside of the enclosed galley) totals 232 square feet.
The request to separate the cooking area from the dining area is unusual for their clientele, says Amber Ardizzone, project manager at Cuisines Vima Design. “Here everybody is opening up the spaces. They’re one of the first clients that wanted to have it all closed in.”
In this case, the new kitchen layout is rooted in the homeowners’ long tenure living in Singapore. In Southeast Asia, it’s common for homes to have separate wet and dry kitchens — the wet area is used for heavy cooking of potent-smelling foods, the dry for baking and lighter cooking. These days, some homeowners in Southeast Asia separate their kitchens to have one hidden space for heavy cooking for the family and another open area for entertaining guests.
Pro tip: When first meeting with a kitchen designer, expect to get some questions about how you cook and how you live. “We discuss their habits – if they cook a lot, and for how many people,” says Denis Gobeil, designer with Cuisines Vima Design. “We’re trying to find out the way that they live and what would please them.”
In this space, the refrigerator and microwave wall (on the right in this photo) serves as a transition from the dining area (or dry kitchen) to the main (or wet) kitchen. The appliance above the microwave is a coffee maker.
Find a kitchen designer near you
The request to separate the cooking area from the dining area is unusual for their clientele, says Amber Ardizzone, project manager at Cuisines Vima Design. “Here everybody is opening up the spaces. They’re one of the first clients that wanted to have it all closed in.”
In this case, the new kitchen layout is rooted in the homeowners’ long tenure living in Singapore. In Southeast Asia, it’s common for homes to have separate wet and dry kitchens — the wet area is used for heavy cooking of potent-smelling foods, the dry for baking and lighter cooking. These days, some homeowners in Southeast Asia separate their kitchens to have one hidden space for heavy cooking for the family and another open area for entertaining guests.
Pro tip: When first meeting with a kitchen designer, expect to get some questions about how you cook and how you live. “We discuss their habits – if they cook a lot, and for how many people,” says Denis Gobeil, designer with Cuisines Vima Design. “We’re trying to find out the way that they live and what would please them.”
In this space, the refrigerator and microwave wall (on the right in this photo) serves as a transition from the dining area (or dry kitchen) to the main (or wet) kitchen. The appliance above the microwave is a coffee maker.
Find a kitchen designer near you
Here’s another look at the enclosed kitchen, which is a galley-style space. The refrigerator stands beyond the enclosed portion of the kitchen, and the homeowners can shut the pocket door so cooking oils and vapors don’t escape the cooking area and make the fridge greasy. The galley space is 118 square feet.
The homeowners wanted a mix of natural materials and dark finishes that would give their kitchen and dining area a sophisticated restaurant feel. The upper cabinets are made of a fingerprint-proof, scratchproof synthetic material made of paper and resins; the lowers are walnut finished with a matte clear coat. Flat front cabinetry gives the space a contemporary look.
The backsplash tile has a slightly raised texture that adds interest to the space against the simple flat cabinetry. Black quartz counters with white and gold veining bring more texture into the space. The floor is large-format (24-inch by 24-inch) porcelain tile, made to look like wood.
The lower cabinet on the right side of the sink conceals a dishwasher; the cabinet to the left is the trash and recycling pullout. The far end of the right side of the kitchen houses double wall ovens.
Find kitchen backsplash tile in the Houzz Shop
The homeowners wanted a mix of natural materials and dark finishes that would give their kitchen and dining area a sophisticated restaurant feel. The upper cabinets are made of a fingerprint-proof, scratchproof synthetic material made of paper and resins; the lowers are walnut finished with a matte clear coat. Flat front cabinetry gives the space a contemporary look.
The backsplash tile has a slightly raised texture that adds interest to the space against the simple flat cabinetry. Black quartz counters with white and gold veining bring more texture into the space. The floor is large-format (24-inch by 24-inch) porcelain tile, made to look like wood.
The lower cabinet on the right side of the sink conceals a dishwasher; the cabinet to the left is the trash and recycling pullout. The far end of the right side of the kitchen houses double wall ovens.
Find kitchen backsplash tile in the Houzz Shop
The other side of this kitchen houses the cooktop and to its left a teppanyaki, a Japanese-style iron griddle. The upper cupboards to the left of the range contain oils, flour and spices for cooking. The large cupboards beneath the cooktop hold pots and pans.
The full-length door leads to the back patio.
Find cooktops in the Houzz Shop
The full-length door leads to the back patio.
Find cooktops in the Houzz Shop
Here’s a closer look at the large refrigerator and adjacent wine refrigerator, which stand just outside the main kitchen space.
The dining area doubles as a workspace. The middle bay of the curio cabinet has a black flat-panel door that opens upward; behind it is a television. The drawer beneath the television contains the homeowner’s laptop.
The custom dining table has a quartz top in the same pattern as in the dry kitchen. A thick glass leg supports it.
The custom dining table has a quartz top in the same pattern as in the dry kitchen. A thick glass leg supports it.