Style at Home editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin was called in to help with the renovation of her friend’s Newmarket, Ont., kitchen, she was faced with some major layout challenges. Every corner of the room was angled, and four doorways in the space seriously limited the options. So rather than fight it, Erin left the layout as is and opted to focus strictly on the aesthetics. “I really tried to make it suit the homeowner’s personality,” Erin explains. “She loves to cook and entertain and often throws casual dinners and cocktail parties. She’s the sort of person who always wears heels and pearls and looks fabulous, even when cooking.”

Inspired by a swanky cocktail lounge look, the transformation began with new Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry in a warm black-brown finish. The large central island was topped with black granite with glimmering flecks of gold. A glass mosaic backsplash adds a shimmer all around the room, with a dark mosaic border in shades of aubergine that inspired the dramatic deep purple ceiling. On one of the walls, rather than cram in more cabinetry, Erin created a bar from glass-front uppers set on legs. The newly made-over kitchen is a definite gathering space for friends and family. “She always has people over, especially now!” says Erin.

Key elements in this kitchen include:

• Black-brown Shaker-style cabinetry
• Nickel-plated knobs and pulls
• Glass mosaic backsplash in two colours
• Black granite countertops
• Glass and crystal pendant lights
  
  

Kitchen cabinetry
Despite the room’s awkward layout, lots of storage was squeezed in thanks to floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. On this pantry wall, the cabinets were adjusted to fit perfectly flush with the French door-style refrigerator.

Kitchen island
A pair of glam pendant lights over the kitchen island has plenty of presence and, when combined with the purple ceiling, lends the space a moody lounge vibe. The massive island houses several drawers for pots and pans and a sleek wine fridge, which is super-convenient for hosting dinner parties.
Kitchen cabinetry
Warm black-brown cabinetry and shimmering glass mosaic tiles create an effect reminiscent of an evening gown and jewellery. The integrated dishwasher lends a continuous feel.
Tying in the space
The six-burner gas range makes cooking for a crowd a breeze. The two-tone glass mosaic backsplash ties in the purple ceiling and brings some dimension to the overall space.
Sleek bar
This sleek at-home bar was cleverly created with glass-front upper cabinets and polished aluminum legs to make it look like a piece of furniture. The subtle leopard pattern on the Roman blind is a cheeky nod to the homeowner’s love of all things animal print.
Top kitchen design tips
1 Embrace your space’s awkward features and make them the highlight of your design instead.

2 Don’t be afraid to really let your personality shine when deciding on a look.

3 Give big box store cabinetry a customized feel by taking it floor to ceiling and adding crown moulding to the tops.

4 Use cabinetry to create stand-alone furniture pieces.

5 Select the same tile in two different colours for your backsplash – one as your main and the other as an accent feature.