Like us, our clients share a passion for great design that is tailored to to suit their lives, quality craftsmanship, timeless aesthetic, and an eagerness to work with designers and builders whose skill and attention to detail are unparalleled.

At henhouse, we continue to work with wonderful clients and we are so proud  to build quality furniture and kitchens for them that becomes part of their lives and will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Since closing our retail storefront this February, we have been busy designing, building and installing four kitchens in and around the Halifax area and creating at least a dozen custom furniture pieces. We have thoroughly enjoyed having more time to focus on each project and we look forward to this new phase of henhouse.

Inspiration photo for a kitchen we just finished up in Bedford.

The photo above is the inspiration for a kitchen that we recently  finished in Bedford. Our clients were  inspired by this showroom kitchen in the UK and wanted to create a similar vibe in their oceanfront home here in Bedford, NS. When they came to us with their vision, we were more than happy to bring it to life, but with our own spin of course!

Before: demo time!

After: Provence meets the Maritimes!

Before the demolition took place (pictured above) we got to work on the design. To capture the aesthetic in the inspiration photo, we played up the idea of a house in Provence and designed a large free standing armoire, an over scaled range hood with rough-hewn corbels, and chose colours in soft blue and yellow. We decided to hand finish the armoire and corbels with layers of paints and stains to achieve the warmth and elegance that is found in the grand homes in France.

Tucked away: the oversized island discreetly contains a microwave, and panelling over the dishwasher face hides it from view.

The fridge is contained in a pantry-like surround, while the pull out freezer drawers are cleverly installed beneath the countertop next to it and concealed with panelling.

We wanted the gorgeous La Cornue range to be the focal point of the kitchen, so we decided to conceal all of the other appliances. We did this by covering the dishwasher, pull out freezer drawers, and fridge behind panels and the microwave drawer sits on the end of the island tucked out of view.

The statement armoire provides storage and serves as a beverage centre.

Undertaking a renovation or new home construction can be an overwhelming task. Having trustworthy professionals, who really care about your project from start to finish is truly the key to success. Henhouse can help you create a kitchen that will be beautiful, functional, and durable. Here’s a little bit more about our approach:

From start to finish

At henhouse, we pride ourselves in being there for our clients through every step of the process. We are on hand to help right from that initial stage of figuring out the possibilities for your space, and planning for optimal functionality, right up to the final stages where all the little details come together to make the space something spectacular!

Long-lasting quality and long-lasting soul

We also pride ourselves in our quality materials and tried and true techniques. We hand-build everything using solid wood and plywood, and finish everything by hand and use and low VOC paints and stains. Every detail is important to us, like using soft-closing glides and dovetailed joinery, and choosing the cutting edge, top quality fixtures to complete the look.

Collaboration

If you are already working with a contractor or an architect, we are happy to work alongside them to bring our design skills, experience and unique aesthetic to your project. Henhouse’s designer, Sappho Griffin has worked collaboratively with clients, contractors and architects, tackling each of her projects individually and whole-heartedly. Her approach assures that the final product will be top quality and suit her client’s design needs and aesthetic vision.

Get in touch

Want to get started on your dream kitchen? Contact Sappho at sappho@henhouse.ca to set up a consultation!

Happy New Year friends! We hope you enjoyed the holidays! The hens were glad to spend some time with family and friends over the last couple of weeks. We’re glad to be back in the shop now, and we want to thank all of you who supported our business in 2012. It really means so much to us when you choose to shop at henhouse. We could go on about that topic, but we have some exciting things to show off here!

Last year we were lucky enough to complete not one, not two, but FIVE custom kitchens for five lovely families! It was hard work but we did it, and we’re so pleased with the results! We hope our customers are equally pleased, and we wish them many years of happy times spent in their kitchens!

Take a look at some of the work we completed in 2012!

Kitchen #1:

The owners of this historic north-end Halifax home purchased it with big plans in mind! They recognized the unique character of the home, but it needed many updates! They contacted us to help with their outdated kitchen, and we got right to work. Together, we came up with a design and layout that would maximize space, work with the existing character, and take advantage of the garden views. We reoriented the kitchen to face the garden with a u-shaped layout, closed off the back door, and added three new large windows.

Now with the sink facing the views and the back door moved to the side of the kitchen, it is a pleasure to wash the dishes! We kept the original closed off pantry but added some nice butcher block surfaces and some shelving to maximize storage.

The finishes in this kitchen are so warm and welcoming. To maximizes visual space we chose a butter yellow for the uppers, blending it in with the new wall colour and a blue/grey for the lower cabinets which anchor the space. Sage quartz counters look sleek and clean. Good lighting is important in a kitchen where a blend of task and accent lights can create just the right atmosphere. The display area over the sink and windows is lit and is the perfect spot for the homeowners to display their collection of beautiful ceramics.

Kitchen #2:

We are in love with this one! This sleek, contemporary kitchen is just stunning. It’s the perfect balance of warm and cool. This was a complete transformation from a builder’s box kitchen that had poor storage and terrible layout. We re-imagined this space to suit our European clients’ tastes and needs.

To enlarge the space,  a bathroom and a side wall were taken out and  new windows were added over and next to the prep sink. The island, which houses a cook top and boasts a unique circular butcher’s block, is positioned in the centre of the space. Now the kitchen has two distinct zones: one for cooking and one for clean up.

The finishes are wonderful with a crisp painted white against a custom stained birch to match the new walnut flooring. This is a kitchen built for maximum efficiency and beauty!

Kitchen #3

This kitchen was made for a newly built house in Halifax. Simple stream lined cabinetry mixed in with accents of rough-hewn stained birch on the extra large pantry, island and open shelving, give the right mix for the hip couple who own this wonderful space. Magnetic chalkboard panels on the pantry doors and side of the fridge are a fun accent just waiting to be filled with notes and lists for family members. We love the mix of “old” and new in this space which makes for a relaxed atmosphere.

Fun custom details like the pot filler above the stove, the rustic open shelving, and the bead board add so much character and warmth. A spice drawer next to the stove is so handy, while pull-out shelving takes advantage of awkward corners. 

As you can see, each kitchen is as unique as the customers who we design and build them for. It’s always a unique experience with each client, and that’s what makes our job so fun!

We are passionate about our kitchens, and we look forward to creating more. Do you dream of having a henhouse kitchen of your very own? Get in touch with us!

Happy Sunday! And extra happy because it’s also father’s day!

We have something special to share with you today…

Recently, we had the pleasure of revisiting a kitchen we created a couple of years ago in Amherst. It’s always such a treat for us to return and take a look at how the homeowners have settled into their new kitchen and made it their own. We love to see the personal touches they add after we have finished our work!

The homeowners have such a great style and they did an amazing job making their kitchen feel like home. One unique feature is their beautiful collection of coloured vintage glass. During the design phase, the couple told us they had been collecting these pieces, and wanted to work them into their new kitchen. We think the lit upper cabinets are a perfect way to show off  their collection.

The kitchen is fully equipped with spectacular luxury details, some of which include the spice drawer insert, a pop up Kitchenaid mixer, towel bars by the sink, and special storage for heavy pots under the stovetop.

Here are some more detail shots. Look at that stove and pot filler! Stunning! The island is a great spot to prepare food, and the bar seating on the other side allows for guests and family to gather and chat. A telephone desk outfitted with a chalkboard keeps this kitchen fun and organized!

The full henhouse treatment! These furnishings (including the chairs) are built by henhouse. The pine buffet and hutch looks great filled with the family’s service wares. We love the rustic painted legs on this harvest table; it fits right in.

An extra storage space lies beyond the unique door seen in the bottom right photo. Made from a re-finished vintage door, we painted and antiqued it, then had new caramel coloured glass installed.

Thanks so much to these customers for inviting us back. The kitchen is looking wonderful!