By Susan Semenak
Photography by Larry Arnal
Val Franso loves to get creative. In the decade since he took over Cabernet Kitchens & Fine Cabinetry from his father, Mike, Franso has put together a large and varied portfolio of home renovation projects all over Ontario. “There’s nothing we will say no to,” he says.
Now in its 30th year of operation, the Woodbridge-based firm specializes in custom design and manufacturing of cabinetry for full home remodels, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and customized walk-in closets and mudrooms. Its team of 12 cabinetmakers, installers and designers prides itself on attention to detail and a reputation for reliable work. They promise “a luxurious experience and outcome” to all their customers. So, not only will the finished kitchen or bathroom look fabulous, but the homeowners will be supported and consulted every step of the way.
“There are so many things to think of in a home renovation project, from the cabinet door styles to the interiors, the wood choices and layouts and colour palettes,” Franso says. “As a client’s needs and tastes emerge with the help of our designers, the team is able to create a set of drawings to create a visual blueprint. All along the way, we are there to smooth out the process.”
No two interiors Franso has ever built look exactly alike. That’s a result, he says, of his disdain for cookie-cutter places. “We can get really creative with spaces of all sizes and shapes,” he explains. “We are not afraid to take on a big, bold project with personality. And always, we are focused on function and beauty.”
Franso and his team put their mantra to work in a stunning kitchen project they recently completed in Kleinburg, a charming village in Vaughan. The house wasn’t old, but it lacked charm. The owners had purchased it in a resale and knew from the start that it was in desperate need of revamping and reviving—especially the kitchen. “The place looked dull,” Franso says. “The kitchen had typical white ceramic floors and white cabinets. It had no personality.”
The new owners wanted something spacious and modern, with plenty of natural elements. They approached Cabernet to help them transform the kitchen and powder room into an inviting contemporary space. They also tasked Cabernet with tackling updates for the mudroom and upstairs laundry room.
What the clients, who are avid hosts, wanted, above all, was to create a warm and welcoming space where friends and family could gather. The original kitchen was taken down to the studs. Franso says his first mission was to remove a bulkhead around the perimeter of the room that made the space feel cramped despite its generous square footage and 10-foot ceilings.
Franso then created a focal wall, a long stretch of panelled doors that spans the length of the kitchen and extends from floor to ceiling, that is the space’s crowning glory. The sleek doors, which conceal the fridge, pantry and coffee nook, are clad in rift-cut white oak boards in a chevron pattern. “It is stunning and dramatic. A wall of art,” Franso says. “It wasn’t easy to do, but it is fabulous.”
In the kitchen’s centre, a 14-foot-long island, topped with creamy quartzite in Silk White, has a dropdown seating area that is roomy enough to comfortably accommodate six people. On the floor, oversized 36-inch square porcelain tiles in natural tones and textures mimic grey volcanic rock. The bottoms of the custom-built wood cabinets are painted a deep, warm grey (Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain), while the upper cabinets each got a coat of pale white paint with silvery undertones (Benjamin Moore Dove Wing).
Finally, the Cabernet crew transformed the powder room off the kitchen into a small but dramatic jewel box, reminiscent of a boutique hotel lobby. With a black vanity, ostrich wallpaper and a black stone sink, “It’s dark and moody,” Franso says. And as with everything Cabernet does, it’s one of a kind.