This perfect greige kitchen in Whitby, Ontario is a beautiful blend of modern sophistication and timeless charm. Kaitlynn, of K. Mitchell Design Co., reimagined the layout of this space to create enough room to entertain, dine, and yes even cook, in this kitchen. See how she brought it all together in the gorgeous photos below.
From the designer… Our clients purchased this home in a sought-after, established suburban neighbourhood in Whitby, Ontario. They came to us looking to create a more functional space that felt timeless and collected while offering better function to the existing footprint. To help our clients, who enjoy cooking and entertaining often, the goal was to create a spot for family and friends to feel welcome and gather comfortably. We put emphasis on creating better storage solutions, ensuring plenty of countertop space and a more cohesive layout. The use of high quality materials and finishes was a priority to our clients, music to any designer’s ears. They wanted to move away from the popular white kitchen trend while still capturing the essence of a light and airy vibe.
Our inspiration for this design concept was rooted in a warm, neutral colour palette with natural and organic textures. Our biggest challenge was ensuring this narrow space didn’t feel closed in. In order to make this space feel more open, it was necessary for us to move away from the U-shape layout and create an L-shape instead.
We knew we wanted the stove wall to be the focal point and symmetry was key to ensure we created balance. With your eye being drawn to the upper cabinetry, we wanted to ensure we allowed for breathable space around the cabinets without compromising storage, hence the use of the beautiful hutch-style millwork. Another challenge was that we only had three inches of extra space to comfortably move around the island. By incorporating the kitchen and eat-in area as one, we were able to create a larger workspace and a longer more inviting island that seamlessly transitions from prep zone to an eat-in dining table. This not only helped us add more storage and seating but overall made the room feel bigger. By recreating the layout we restored this space from lack lustre to a functional transitional gem.
Some of our favourite features in this kitchen are the mixture of new and thrifted pieces to add character and interest to the space. We love the sophisticated blend of neutrals, pulling in greige and a soft white colour palette in combination with the rich lacquered brass metals. The warm wood tones and natural decor pieces really help add those textural elements and dimension to the space. We wanted this to feel mature, inviting with a lived in vibe and I believe we accomplished just that.
Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: K. Mitchell Design Co. · Photography: Ashley Adams · Stylist: Jessica Frendo-Jones of Southway Home · Millwork: Imagine That Kitchen
