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Project Name: Project Kingsway

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Date Completed: January 2020

Architect: SMPL Design Studio (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Interior Designer: Nicole Jacobs, Nicole Jacobs Design

Construction Company: Hummingbirdhill Homes and Construction (Oakville, Ontario, Canada)

Others Involved: Povey Custom Woodworking, Millwork Fabrication

This highly functional and bold kitchen was designed for a busy family in Toronto, Canada by Nicole Jacobs Interior Design. For a modern take on a timeless design, the kitchen uses mixed natural wood tones, veiny stone, bold hues, and mixed metals.

This busy couple with three young children wanted a bold design for their new build in Toronto. They demolished the house that was on the property, and engaged Nicole Jacobs Interior Design for the interiors, SMPL Design Studio for the architectural design, and Hummingbirdhill Homes and Construction for the build. For this new build on a gorgeous ravine-backing property, the clients were looking for an elegant Manhattan apartment vibe. The design had to be sleek and modern, yet approachable and functional for their busy lifestyle. Using polished and sophisticated finishes that were also family friendly was key.

For the kitchen, Nicole Jacobs Interior Design used a combination of wood tones, mixed metals, bold hues and strongly veined stone. Cleverly maximizing storage space and keeping it minimal was a must for this family, as the kitchen opened up to the main inside living and outdoor living areas, and they did not want visible clutter. The adjacent servery and walk-in pantry provide the main storage areas. This allowed the designers to eliminate the need for upper cabinetry on the range wall, which features the grand rift cut oak beams that frame out the cooking wall. Nicole Jacobs Interior Design created a strong focal point in this area as a feature wall, with the veiny stone, rift cut oak, and brass shelving.

The “baker’s height” butcher block counters drop down beneath the windows and offer a spot for baking, which is a favourite pastime for this mother and her kids. Art collecting is important to this couple, and having a space in the kitchen to rotate featured works from their collection by leaning against the shelving or wall, was a must for them. Aside from the black and brass cooker, there are no visible appliances as you view the kitchen head on, offering the elegant atmosphere that this couple was looking for.

Though this kitchen is unique and built for the client, it is a key component of any of Nicole Jacob’s designs to ensure that it has longevity, so that any future inhabitants of the home may keep it and grow with it for years to come. It was important for the designers, with the open concept main floor, to make sure that the kitchen was fully integrated with the other living zones, including the exterior which you can see from every angle of the kitchen. The banquette eating area was built into bay windows, which are directly adjacent two sets of patio doors extending into the living room letting light into the entire space, and merging interior and exterior spaces.