I’ve been working on a big project that I’m excited to finally share with you! It’s a work in progress that began back in November.

This is the exterior of the home I’ve been working on in West LaHave, Nova Scotia. I took this photo early this year, thank goodness that snow is all gone now!

Over the past few months, I’ve been working away at designing a custom kitchen, and three custom bathrooms for this newly built home. I’ve also done some interior design work, including colour design and a furniture layout design. Like I said, a big, big project- and of course, I’m loving every minute!

For now, I’ll going to focus on the kitchen, and I’ll share more about the bathrooms and interior design in upcoming blog posts.

The homeowners are a wonderful couple from Ontario. They fell in love with the area while visiting friends who live in the beautiful coastal village of Lahave, Nova Scotia.

They decided to build their dream home on a scenic piece of waterfront land and chose Gillis & Company Timber Framing to design it, and create the stunning wood framing that you see in the photo above. The house was constructed by the skilled people of StoneHaven Builders.
After seeing the home in person, I knew I had to design a kitchen that really accented the beauty of the natural timber framing, and also incorporate elements that reflect the coastal landscape.

I chose a soft and natural colour palette of watery greys and blues. Penny round marble mosaic tile will create a feature wall behind the stove, and white subway tile will be used for the backsplash.

Here is a little before and after of one corner of the kitchen. More photos to come once the kitchen is complete!

The henhouse team hand built and finished the custom cabinetry. The lines are clean and simple, I really wanted to accentuate the strong architectural features of the space, and not compete with them.

The island is a really special piece. It’s a focal point, and I chose finishes that would make it stand out. The quartzite top is gorgeous, and was a last minute find that I fell in love with (more on that story later!).

 The peninsula was designed to look like a sideboard, and can be used for storage and display. It also helps to define the kitchen from the living area in this open concept space. The top is cherry, and we went with a slate paint colour to tie into the stone flooring the runs through parts of the main floor.

Things are still progressing with this project and I can’t wait to see it all come together. More posts about this dream home to come soon!

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 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!