By Susan Kelly
Photography by Kassandra Arbour
When first viewing their home in the coveted Midtown area of Toronto, homeowners Nida and Karim Awadia knew its cramped, outdated interiors would need a total gut job. And that every one of its 12 rooms had to be reimagined to create a home for the family, which includes four children.
Design inspiration for the pair of young professionals sprang from their love of exploring other cultures, cuisines and landscapes. “We have a strong affinity for Spanish modern design and the principles of wabi-sabi,” says Nida Awadia, a writer and yoga instructor. The former blends a traditional Spanish aesthetic with contemporary minimalism, while Japanese wabi-sabi design mindfully finds beauty in simplicity and imperfection.
Awadia says they sought a creative and “harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements within each room, allowing contrasting styles to meet and create a unique, cohesive design” throughout the home. For instance, the couple instructed the architects to incorporate Alhambresque arched doorways; one such opening leads into a pantry off the open-concept kitchen. They also included many textured walls, such as the dramatic floor-to-ceiling stone-clad wall in warm tones that defines the adjacent dining area.
Space was allocated at the rear of the home for the spacious 24-by-12-foot kitchen overlooking the backyard. For its design, the Awadias turned to Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry of Toronto, which specializes in custom English-style framed “furniture for the kitchen,” handcrafted in its workshop and showroom in Newmarket. “English-style cabinetry was the perfect choice here due to the fact the clients were looking for a traditionally refined and authentic-feeling space,” says Kassandra Arbour, senior designer at Bloomsbury. “The sitting room, for instance, evokes the ambience of an Oxford library.”
The designer proposed “elevated Shaker-style” cabinetry with subtle bevelled edge details to give the desired transitional look. The upper and lower cabinetry is painted in a rich, creamy off-white shade, while the island is a dark stained oak, creating the warm and inviting atmosphere the couple requested.
For the chicly commanding centre island, which seats six comfortably, the designer took cues from the shades of beige and brown in the rock wall. The entire oak island is coated in a deep walnut stain, a composition that perfectly complements the white oak wide-plank flooring. The island features striking reeded oak doors and end panels, their narrow verticality creating a three-dimensional effect at once elegant, retro and modern. “We also used reeded glass in the upper cabinets and included a subtle reeding detail on the range hood to help tie the overall look together,” Arbour says.
Contrasting black accents add drama, as do the porcelain countertops emulating black-veined white Calacatta marble along the back wall on each side of the range, continuing under the big window that overlooks the backyard. A solid slab of the same material, a durable and practical choice for the family, forms the backsplash. Overhead, modern geometric pendant lights gleam in burnished gold. They complement the faucets of the same material and the beautiful mix of pulls and knobs adorning the cabinets.
Since storage was important to these homeowners, the designer exploited the 11-foot ceiling height, installing glass-front upper cabinets on high. “To access them, we added a library ladder, which also becomes a unique design feature,” she says. The rail to accommodate it creates a black horizontal line, a chic accent. When the wooden ladder is not in use, it is tucked away beside the fireplace. “It has its own little nook and almost becomes an art piece.”
The kitchen features a refrigerator and separate freezer, both full-size and standing side-by-side. The different widths posed a design challenge, but the end result imparts “perfectly imperfect” wabi-sabi charm. Also behind closed doors is a spacious appliance garage, another important feature for the homeowners. “We incorporated both a bifold and pocket doors, which is a nice way to hide things,” Arbour says. “When open, they have their blenders, slow cooker and other small appliances already plugged in. When closed, the electricity automatically shuts off.”
The homeowners enjoyed working with Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry to bring their creative and sophisticated vision to life. Most rewarding, they report that their new kitchen, with its elegant design and earthy textures, does indeed transport them and makes everyday meal preparation feel like an adventure. “Homemade meals are a staple in our household, where we gather around the table to share stories and enjoy the fruits of our culinary efforts,” says Nida Awadia. “Our kitchen is a hub of creativity, where we whip up nutritious and delicious dishes that bring us all together.”