Take two distinctly different houses, one a tall, elegant, and formally appointed Victorian-era home, the other a casual, even quirky, 80-year-old storey-and-a-half still full of original character. Add the desire for a new kitchen, stir in the same designer, allow the mixture to simmer-and the results may surprise.
“Kitchen renovations are the most difficult for home-owners, because they involve such long-term decisions,” comments Sarah Richardson, who renovated these two spaces along with her Design Inc. team, while the hgtv show documented the progress. “The stakes are high, so kitchens tend to be restrained. Bold design strokes are not usually in the cards.”
Perhaps that explains why, given their outwardly diverse appearances and configurations, the kitchens belonging to Tim Lillak and Eva Salem wound up being more alike than not. “The projects were amazingly similar in many ways,” agrees Sarah, “but the execution of each is completely different.”
Tim wanted a cool cottagey vibe in his kitchen, recalls Sarah, but a clean, modern version of the classic style. Having lived for four years with a cramped 1950s space, he was well aware of its downfalls: a poor layout, lack of flow, and a dearth of counter space. Add to that an imposing bulkhead, poorly positioned pipes, and a dark and awkward basement access. Renovating would prove quite a challenge. What he did have was a little space to annex from an adjacent room, and a handsome-and separate-dining room, a showcase for period elements like the wall panelling that defines the home's age.
Similarly, Eva was dealing with dysfunctional prep space and an unworkable, raised eating area in her own modest kitchen. The clumsy-even dangerous-access to her basement came under scrutiny, and was ultimately shifted to beneath the main staircase. With a six-month-old baby on the scene, safety and practicality were big concerns. And like Tim, Eva and her husband, Patrick, had a separate and ample dining room where they enjoyed entertaining and displaying their exquisite china, stemware and silver.
Not surprisingly, both Eva and Tim had wish lists that included an easygoing feel, increased work surfaces, improved flow, more storage, and enhanced cooking and entertaining functions. Both anticipated gutting their kitchens-and yet both were taken aback by Sarah's desire to knock down the walls between kitchens and dining rooms. “I'd always loved the idea of a formal dining room,” Tim says, echoing Eva's sentiment. Now a convert to Sarah's open, cohesive plan, he acknowledges that the space has become the home's main focal point.
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