Just before Christmas we finished up a beautiful custom kitchen renovation in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The homeowners, Royce and Donna, were so wonderful to work with. As new empty nesters they were feeling ready to invest in the kitchen they’ve always wanted and to create a space for family gatherings.
Royce and Donna told us that they chose Henhouse because we were willing and able to incorporate personal elements into the design. As antique collectors, they have many special pieces that they saw fitting into their new kitchen.
The Henhouse team loves a creative a challenge and finding ways to mix old and new is one of our favourite ways to work. Aside from being practical, using what you have and mixing it with the new results in a space that is unique and personal. It’s also a great way to make a new renovation fit in with the whole home.
This apothecary unit had been in use for many years as storage for tea and has always been a special piece for Royce and Donna. We gladly incorporated it into this coffee/ snack station. It offers great storage for small items like spices, coffee and tea, but more than anything it offers a large dose of personality.
The colourful native artwork is dear to the couple’s hearts. Set in this little nook, against a neutral backdrop, this beautiful work is perfectly highlited. We added other pops of colour with accessories and dishware as accents.
Another item that we worked into the design was this incredible old butcher block. It has such a beautiful patina. How lucky that it was sitting in the basement waiting to be given a new life! We added a custom countertop that wraps around one corner. This is a lovely spot to have a snack, or prepare meals as a family.
At this end of the kitchen, we created a space to relax and admire the garden. Royce and Donna are avid gardeners and wanted to be able to appreciate the fruit of their labour as much as possible. To access the view we added windows, then dressed this little nook with two cozy armchairs and an end table.
We created a more open kitchen and dining area by removing a wall between the two rooms. The table, chairs, bench and hutch are all antique pieces that the homeowners have had for years. The gorgeous painting is by local artist Jeremy Vaughan (Teichert Gallery).
We kept all of the paint colours soft and neutral through the kitchen and dining and installed cozy cork flooring, which is warm and soft underfoot.
Take a look at what this kitchen looked like before, the transformation is amazing!
It is our pleasure to create a space for our clients that suits their home, and enhances their life. We can see the cozy mornings spent in the armchairs, watching the birds and the seasons. We can see family gathering at the table, or chatting at the island, and little ones playing on the soft cork floor. This is why we love what we do!
After we finished this project we received this sweet letter:
“It has been such a pleasure working with you. You have a clear vision of the end result and it has been so rewarding to see what has been in my head come to life. I know that the space you created will be the ‘heart’ of the home. Your professionalism and attention to detail did not go un-noticed, so thank you. Henhouse was definitely the right choice for us, well done! Best wishes for a fantastic holiday season and Merry Christmas!”
-Donna & Royce