A large curving island which echoes the waves of the sea outside shapes the design and performance of this Vancouver Island kitchen. This couple wanted their next home to have a highly personalized kitchen — one which would permit them to host family dishes where they can all cook and hang out together. Ines Hanl of The Sky is the Limit Design worked with the customers’ want list to design a kitchen which will honor the home’s timber-frame structure, the beautiful surrounding landscape and their personal style. “It’s nothing for the faint of heart, for certain!” Hanl states.
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The Sky is the Limit Design
Hanl combined the customers’ design ideas with another organic West Coast design that reflects the surrounding homes and surroundings; she used driftwood, pebbles, different types of timber and flowing shapes that mimic the water outside. “It may easily take on a hippie taste, which has been a true risk factor for me personally,” states Hanl.
The customers wanted the curves of the massive S-shape island to have a constant live edge during. Working closely together with local company Live Edge Design, Hanl discovered five pieces of maple to unite, making the flowing shape. The adjacent cleanup island is an answer to the island. A small curving all-natural edge allows it to tie in with the S shape.
Pebbles, tile, countertop: Jivko; bar top: Live Edge Design and ThinkGlass
The Sky is the Limit Design
The flowing shape and dwell edge not just evoke the outdoors, but the island provides sufficient space for socializing and cooking.
Limestone with a subtle green undertone contrasts with the reddish tones of the timber. Pebbles break up the conventional limestone tile design, washing through the front of the room as though they were swept from the water outside.
Bar stools: Restoration Hardware
The Sky is the Limit Design
The table to the built-in banquette is a custom blend: the customers’ daughter’s nightstand with a round glass top. The combination of materials in the seating areas — leather seats, pebbles, metal bar stools and sconces — helps keep the existence of timber in check.
Wooden stools: customers’ own; light: Tech Lighting, Terzani
The Sky is the Limit Design
A ThinkGlass attribute counter brings in the feel of frozen water — a common element in cold Vancouver winters. The drum-shape cabinet hides an exhaust manifold.
“I am quite careful when mixing woods, because I find they are easily able to struggle for attention with each other,” states Hanl. Taking inspiration from the art of marquetry, she chose several distinct woods with distinct tones and grain patterns: fir cabinetry, maple countertops and scraped hickory accents.
The Sky is the Limit Design
The shape of the prep sink echoes the canister characteristic counter on the smaller island. Hanl chose a broader than standard Shaker doorway for the toaster, accenting with hand-scraped feel on the bar back. “This gave me the most heavy dimension and scale I was searching for to balance the sheer size of the space,” she states.
Hardware: Victoria Specialty Hardware; Bundle: Cantu
The Sky is the Limit Design
This ThinkGlass stove backsplash adds yet another element of visual interest. Hanl had the thickness of the charcoal-brushed granite counters doubled to continue the balance together with the timber cabinetry.
The seamless induction cooktop is flanked by a convection oven and undercounter refrigerator drawers. The customers wanted their bigger refrigerator at the pantry, but Hanl knew they’d need some things at hand while cooking. “I struggled a bit with this particular arrangement,” she admits. “Only showing the stainless steel of the oven into the left seemed to make the entire unit lopsided. That is why I opted for the stainless/black glass fronts on the refrigerator drawers.”
Backsplash: ThinkGlass; oven, range: Wolf