Problem Solved!

BEFORE & AFTER
Problem Solved!
DESIGN EDITOR CAMERON MACNEIL PAIRED
UP WITH IKEA TO TRANSFORM OUR MAKEOVER
CONTEST WINNER’S DATED KITCHEN INTO
AN ORGANIZED, FAMILY-FRIENDLY HUB.
Produced by CAMERON MACNEIL | Text b y LIZA COOPERMAN
Photography by ANGUS FERGUSSON
BEFORE
Makeshift
pantry
Problem N o. 1: Dated style
The original kitchen featured bland colours
and outdated cabinets. In owner Lisa
Chiang’s words, it was “ugly, ugly, ugly!”
Solution: The room went from scary to
sleek with a modern update that included
a new floorplan, improved counterspace,
high-gloss cabinets and high-performance
stainless steel appliances. The serene, yet
contemporary design offers a stylish West
Coast bungalow feel thanks to strong
horizontal lines, mosaic tile and a display
of vintage collectibles on a floating shelf.
84 H&H MARCH 2010

Problem N o. 2: Inefficient layout
The biggest offender was the U-shaped
counter (typical of builder-style houses
from the ’80s and ’90s), which cut off the
eating area from the rest of the kitchen. And
the tiny seating space was simply too tight.
Solution: Trading in the crammed
U-shape for a spacious L-shape and large
central island and shifting the layout made
the space feel infinitely bigger. The new
island features a convenient second sink, and
doubles as an eating area and a work surface.
Ikea
curtains
reincarnated
as slipcovers
With its many challenges and rewards, renovating a kitchen can feel like
giving birth. For this year’s Ikea Kitchen Makeover Contest winner, Lisa
Chiang, it was literally so. The morning demolition began, she went into
labour with her second child. “I got to the hospital at 4 a.m., and was home
by 10 a.m., just in time for a tile delivery,” she laughs. Of course, the monthlong
process was slightly chaotic: the crew began jackhammering the floor
on day two. But luckily baby Tyler slept through most of it. “It was a bit of
an ordeal, but it was worth it!” says Lisa.
The accountant and her husband, Randy Woo, an electrician, moved
into the house in northwest Toronto last July. While they liked the large
family room and backyard, the kitchen was another story. They were
desperate for better storage and more counterspace, and eager for an
open-concept layout that would work for meal prep, dining, entertaining
and as a future homework area for the kids. Among other dream elements
for these avid cooks was an eating island and a second sink.
“I wanted to create a modern, but natural and warm, space,” says
Cameron, who planned the new look using Ikea’s kitchen resources. He
devised a palette of serene hues to evoke a relaxing, Zen-like oasis with
a slightly vintage feel. The couple are thrilled: “Now, I like going down
to the kitchen,” says Lisa. “It’s motivated us to do the rest of the house.”
OPPOSITE AND ABOVE: Abstrakt high-gloss
grey cabinets, Nexus brown cabinets (on
island), Marginal wall shelf, Hanstone Aurora
Snow countertop, appliances, Metrik
SEE SOURCE GUIDE
CAMERON’S PLAN:
A FRESH LOOK THAT MAXIMIZES
COUNTER AND STORAGE SPACE.
handles on doors, Henriksdal barstools in
Oak, Ikea Stockholm Blad Brown curtains
(used for slipcover fabric), Bagvik faucet, Ikea;
installation through Ikea Installation Services.
A full-height,
built-in pantry
offers more
storage than
the tiny old
makeshift one
Ikea Kitchen
Makeover
Contest
winners Lisa
Chiang and
Randy Woo
with children,
Tyler, 4
months, and
Carlee, 2.
H&H MARCH 2010 85

Among the kitchen’s
appliances is a fully
integrated dishwasher
housed behind a panel
that hides seamlessly
in the cabinetry.
IKEA SHOPPING LIST
FROM CABINETS TO APPLIANCES,
IKEA IS ONE-STOP SHOPPING.
CABINETRY
Abstrakt high-gloss cabinets in grey
(17 linear feet at $159/linear foot) plus
interior fittings: pullouts, drawers, etc. $9,500
Nexus cabinets in brown (7 linear feet
at $119/linear foot) plus interior fittings:
pullouts, drawers, etc. $2,500
Marginal wall shelf $25
COUNTERTOPS
Hanstone in Aurora Snow $7,000
APPLIANCES
NUTID refrigerator $1,999
FRAMTID slide-in gas range $1,349
NUTID wall oven $999
NUTID microwave $799
LUFTIG range hood $599
EXTRAS
Metrik door hardware (21 packs at $10/pack) $210
Henriksdal barstool in Oak (four at $84 each) $336
Ikea Stockholm Blad Brown curtains used
as slipcovers (two packs at $90/pack) $180
Bagvik faucet $190
Ikea Installation Service $3,850
TOT AL $29,536
Problem N o. 3: Insufficient lighting
Two undersized, outdated ceiling fixtures were
the only sources of artificial light in the old
kitchen, which made it hard for the family
to see when prepping food and dining.
Solution: Cameron introduced eight recessed
halogen ceiling fixtures and under-cabinet
lighting, plus two industrial-style pendants,
which helped revitalize the space. He kept the
windows’ original wide-slat shutters to bathe
the kitchen in natural light.
The island is full of smart, practical
storage, such as pullout drawers for
dishes and baking supplies. Plate
holders and dividers make
organization a breeze.
Rationell interior cabinet
organizers, plates, bowls,
canisters, placemats,
glasses, Ikea.
Problem N o. 4: Lack of storage
Shallow cabinets in the old kitchen forced
the growing family to use a makeshift pantry,
set in a corner far from the working part of
the kitchen, to house dry goods.
Solution: By adding an island, which boasts
two sets of drawers, and a new pantry, Cameron
managed to double the room’s storage. He also
included double-depth cabinets above the
fridge and microwave, but kept other upper
cabinets to a minimum for a clean, streamlined
look. Finally, a sink with a drain and plumbing
at the back fit more storage below.
86 H&H MARCH 2010 SEE SOURCE GUIDE

BEFORE
The island’s Hanstone fine quartz countertop
pops against the wood island and features a
waterfall effect, extending down one side to
the floor. A family-friendly choice, the ultradurable
counter is stain-, heat- and bacteriaresistant,
as well as easy to clean and
maintain. Nexus brown cabinets, Hanstone
Aurora Snow countertop, Ikea.
see
houseandhome.com
Problem N o. 5: Cluttered counters
The original countertop was cluttered with
appliances, making it virtually impossible for
the homeowners to both cook at the same time.
Solution: By adding more storage with the
double-depth cabinets and new island, and
seamlessly incorporating the appliances into
the overall design (including a stacked
integrated stove and microwave), Cameron
reclaimed valuable counterspace and turned
the kitchen into a clutter-free haven.
Browse photos and get design ideas in our
Kitchen Design Guide. Click DESIGN.
H&H MARCH 2010 87