Westend turns dark, disorganized kitchen into space of beauty and function
BRIAN MCCULLOUGH
Postmedia Content Works
The True North may be strong and free, but when the main source of natural light in your kitchen is a north-facing window, a little help from Westend Bath and Kitchen might be just the thing to brighten things up.
Westend designer Brenda Kokiv’s Redwood Park customers Jane and Paul had been living with what they called a “dark kitchen” for 35 years, and now that they were retired they decided it was time to do something about it.
“We’d heard about Westend through a friend,” Paul said. “We had every intention of getting three or four estimates, but Westend was first on our list. They impressed us so much that we didn’t go elsewhere. The moment we stepped into the showroom, we felt a level of confidence that remained with us throughout the project.” “We liked everything about them,” Jane added.
“We liked the products we saw, and Brenda was lovely. We went in with a lot of ideas, and she was so pleasant and accommodating, we immediately felt comfortable with her.”
The couple also had Westend update their powder room and main bathroom at the same time as the kitchen, which could have been problematic, but Paul said they were pleased by how veteran installer Rick Cleroux made sure they were inconvenienced as little as possible while the construction was going on. It was glowing praise from a couple who said they critique the home renovation shows on television.
For her part, Kokiv said she could tell from the first visit that she would have fun designing the renovations for the couple. “Jane and Paul were so easy to work with,” she said. “They both had clear ideas of how they wanted their spaces to look and feel, and I really enjoyed spending the time making sure everything was just right.”
Kokiv said the main goal for the kitchen was to maximize storage, and better integrate the dishwasher and microwave. Both appliances were stuck behind a partial wall in the mud room, much too far away from the kitchen’s working triangle. A more sensible room layout, along with a full suite of dimmable ceiling and undercounter LEDs were the first steps in introducing the improved lighting the customers were looking for.
“We also selected materials that would lighten things up and be easy to clean,” Kokiv said. “The marble backsplash that runs all the way up to the ceiling behind the stainless steel hood fan and around the window really adds another dimension to this classic white kitchen. We paired this with Torquay Cambria quartz countertops and painted white cabinetry from Deslaurier.”
Kokiv worked with Jane and Paul to select a cohesive colour scheme that extended to the bathrooms as well. From her customers’ perspective, it was effort well-spent.
“We knew we had a massive job with some tough decisions ahead,” Paul said, “but the judgement and expertise Westend Bath and Kitchen brought to the table made us feel comfortable. We’d go back to them in a heartbeat.”
“Everything looks timeless,” Jane said. “Someone could walk in here 10 years from now and say it all still looks so fresh. Everything is so beautiful and functional – we’ll be enjoying it for many years to come.”
The Westend Bath & Kitchen showroom, located at 1660 Woodward Dr., is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also visit www.westendbk.ca, or call 613-226-7701 to schedule a free estimate.
