Today’s kitchens have evolved beyond showcasing a single design style. Instead they focus on an artful mix of style, comfort, ease and technology to provide a personal, one-of-a-kind experience.
For this design feature, we are showcasing a great example of retro, midcentury appliances being used in a more contemporary kitchen setting to create a visually stunning look with plenty of high performance functionality.
Something Old, Something New
When homeowner Whitney Anderson and her husband bought their home in Alberta, Canada, it was filled with original design elements from the 1990s, and was very much in need of a renovation. They agreed that the first project they would tackle was redesigning the kitchen to make better use of the space.
The goal of the remodel was threefold: 1) enlarge the kitchen by removing an existing wall, 2) make the kitchen more functional, and 3) create a relaxed, coastal feeling – all with the aim of creating the couple’s dream kitchen. Once the layout was finalized and the electrical was installed, transformation of the kitchen began.
The first order of business was to select the appliances. The homeowners wanted to add fun, interesting elements to their kitchen and ended up choosing the Elmira Stove Works Northstar collection in Robin’s Egg Blue.
According to Anderson, who is a member of the team at Wolf Creek Cabinets in Alberta, “We wanted the appliances to have the largest visual impact in the kitchen, so we designed everything else around them. The idea was to make the other elements beautiful, but not too busy, as we didn’t want them to compete with the appliances.”
A Balanced Design
Next on the agenda was adding new wood cabinetry in a darker shade to bring the kitchen out of the past and give it a more contemporary look. Cabinets in colors such as dark brown, slate or black can make a dramatic statement. These hues can also create a more functional kitchen, as darker cabinetry requires less maintenance and won’t show wear and tear as easily as white or lighter wood cabinets.
In this case, the darker cabinets provided a counterpoint to the vibrant pop of color from the appliances, resulting in an eye-catching design that wasn’t overwhelming.
Adds Anderson, “We’re really glad we chose the Northstar appliances because they are truly beautiful and we plan on keeping them for a long time. We felt they were a better investment than standard, stainless steel appliances, which are functional but not nearly as interesting.”
Other elements included the addition of quartz countertops, a herringbone backsplash and wood flooring in cooler tones that complement the cabinetry, along with new, more contemporary light fixtures.
Anderson says the new kitchen has changed the way her family lives. “We went from spending time in separate rooms to being together in the kitchen, which has become our new gathering space. I am happy we took on the challenge. The space is beautiful, unique and will suit our needs for many years to come.”
Incorporate Elmira Stove Works appliances into your kitchen design renderings! Elmira Northstar and Antique appliances are catalogued on the 2020 Design 3D CAD cloud platform.
