![DecorPad 2[3]](http://static1.squarespace.com/static/57dd8e37be6594df5a84ae1e/58e5630809e1c4385b0e2af6/58e5632309e1c4385b0e331b/1491428131278/DecorPad-23.jpg?format=original)
I always like a bright kitchen with big windows. In these kitchens the window is right above the counter. It's a great look if you have the space for it. You sacrifice upper cabinets, but I think the window and natural light is well worth it! Washing the dishes in these sinks would't be so bad!
Images: 1: Brooklyn Home Company 2: Decor Pad 3. Unknown (Pinterest) 4. Brooklyn Home Company 5. Unknown (Pinterest)
This old lantern has been with me for many years and has traveled around to a few different places. I found it in Toronto many years ago, and it wasn't wired, so I had the wiring and internal chandelier components added. Originally it was in my dining room in Toronto.
About 7 years ago, I was very inspired after working on this shoot with Suzanne Dimma, for Style Department. I found my lantern shortly after this!
I had it my kitchen for many years (below). I still love the fixture, it's a classic piece that can work in different rooms and I like the character it adds.
When I was renovating my 1844 house, the main floor under went a huge transformation. I really wanted to open up the main floor, there were many small rooms and doors throughout the space. There are great views at the back of the house, so I wanted more windows and doors to access the back area. I was also trying to contain all the plumbing in the original foundation of the house, which meant the kitchen sink had to go within a certain perimeter. The results took a long time to evolve to where it is now. Here are some before shots from the very beginning, looking back to the window at the back is around where the double doors are now. The original kitchen was small and narrow and was the yellow room at the back.
When the walls started to come down and the renovation was underway!
Now the posts are in, as you can see here.
Then the double doors are put in at the back of the house.
Now the doors are painted black.
Getting close, the cabinets, counter and faucet is in.
And here is how it looks today! So happy with how it looks now, and hard to believe where I started!
The before pictures of this kitchen really say it all! Here are a couple of pictures of how the kitchen looked initially, it hadn't been changed in many years.
The plans were to gut this kitchen – remove the old cabinets and everything else in it. The layout stayed the same (roughly) but a new floor was put in and we also opened up a 'window' in the wall opposite the sink so the kitchen was brighter and more open to the living room. This made a big change to the whole house. We added new cabinets, counters, all new appliances, new sink/faucet, hardware, lighting and backsplash. Pretty much everything! Here are the results.
When I was planning my kitchen renovation, it took me a long time to decide on the kitchen cabinets. I have lower cabinets everywhere, and open shelves at the end of the kitchen but not many upper cabinets. I went back and forth on white lower cabinets versus a medium grey colour on the lowers only – I really couldn't decide. In the end I decided on white and the results are above. And here is another shot looking towards the dining room.
But in my kitchen inspiration file there were a lot of kitchens with darker lower cabinets, here are some of my favourites!
