This family home was ready for a complete remodel of the main floor. Located in the heart Mississauga, which is a suburb just outside of Toronto, ON. The homeowners had already lived in this home for a few years and had a very good idea of how they wanted to use the space. Their goal for this renovation was to have something light, airy and ‘simple’ which translated in our minds as clean lines, modern and minimal. Nothing too fussy. They were happy with the general layout of the kitchen as well as placement of most of the appliances which helped keep the costs down. They wanted to take down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room for a better flow and more natural light throughout the whole main floor. This also gave us a the ability to give the kitchen a slightly bigger footprint for a little more breathing room. Removing that wall was probably the biggest change we made. It easily makes the main floor feel twice as big as before and allows for clear slight lines to the natural view at the back of the house.
The homeowners opted for the Ikea Sektion kitchen cabinets with Voxtorp door fronts in a matt white. The doors come with integrated handles which keeps with the minimalist aesthetic. We were able to install 40" uppers by removing the bulkhead that was above the cabinets. We installed a very durable vinyl flooring in a grey wash oak finish. This is a busy family of 4 with young children so this flooring will stand up to years of wear and tear. The counters are a beautiful quartz stone with a thin grey veining. The backsplash is a glossy 3x12 tile which has this elegant wavy surface that really is stunning in natural light.
The staircase was completely transformed. Originally, the stairs were covered in a carpet that had seen better days. The posts and railing were a standard honey oak that you find in most builder homes. The stringers and risers were painted in Benjamin Moore Decorator's White to match the rest of the trim in the house. The treads were capped in hardwood and stained to match the new flooring. The pickets were replaced with new iron pickets. The stairs are the first thing you see when you walk in the house, what was once an eye sore is now a total showstopper. All class all the way. The fireplace got a clean modern update in a large porcelain tile.
Trim is the unsung hero of any renovation. Its like the saying “love is in the details”; upgrading the trim elevates the whole room. We replaced the baseboards, and trim on both floors with a 5" trim in a modern profile. All of the trim and doors were sprayed in Decorator's White for a smooth finish. We also replaced all the door handles to a modern lever in a black matt. The whole main floor got a few fresh coats of Benjamin Moore Silver Cloud.
The thing with minimalist designs is that although it may seem uncomplicated, the execution has to be flawless. There is nowhere to hide. Mistakes or rough patches stand out like a sore thumb. When it’s done right, the end result is smooth, clean and looks effortless. That was certainly our goal here. Over all, this house feels like a brand new home. The flow is much more functional and allows for tons of natural light to fill the whole space. It was a pleasure working with this family and we hope they will make many new happy memories in the years to come!