From Maltais & Fitch… Our Manotick Cape Cod kitchen project was such a joy to work on. Like all of our projects, we started by paying attention to the taste and inspiration of the people who live in it, as well as the home’s unique architecture. These two factors guide every design decision that we make. We believe a home should feel cohesive from the moment you open the front door, connecting the interior to the exterior. It should feel like it all makes sense. This particular home, built almost 50 years ago by an architect, was where the family lived and raised their children until just last year. It’s a cozy red brick Cape Cod on a treed lot, with classic Cape Cod dormers, and a mix of white siding and board and batten. Timeless and beautiful, but maybe more “elevated cottage” than grand or formal. Our goal was to bring that storybook coziness from the outside to the inside, while blending it with our love for classic English country homes.

The first step was to reintroduce separation between spaces. Before the renovation, the home had a more open-concept layout, with one long space in the back for the kitchen, dining and family room. To create some definition, we added cased openings between these areas, which actually made everything feel more spacious and intentional. With the kitchen now a clearly defined room of its own, we were able to do so much more. We paneled the walls with tongue and groove, replaced the tile floors with warm hardwood throughout, and added a larger window to bring in more natural light and highlight the beautiful views outside (always worth the investment, in our opinion). Creamy white inset cabinets with exposed hinges and a range alcove that has enough space for a dish or two on either side (also important, in our opinion). We chose natural, living finishes that will patina over time and enhance the home’s character. Uncquered brass hardware and plumbing, soapstone countertops along the perimeter, and a honed carrara marble worktop on the island.