This charming 1928 Tudor-style home sits on a cozy residential street in St. Catharines, Ontario, in a neighborhood formerly called Cottage Grove. “Communal gardens line the streets and give the area a very English country cottage feel,” says Justine Alexandra Dunk, Principal Designer & Founder at Justine Alexandra Design. “In the mid-80s, the previous owners built an addition on the back of the home which has a more modern feel.”

The homeowners are a professional couple in their 60s who love to cook and host family and friends. “They wanted a refresh to the ground floor to make the interior decor more cohesive and aligned with their personal styles,” Justine shares. 

The ‘80s-era addition had left the house feeling detached from, and lacking in, the historic details and character of the original property, so they settled on two key components for the scope of work. “The first was to unify the original 1920s home with the modern 1980s addition using design elements to highlight the historic character of the home,” the designer explains. “And second, to design a more aesthetically elevated and functional kitchen for cooking and entertaining.” The renovation involved a full gut of the existing kitchen, as well as new flooring, baseboards, fireplaces, lighting, paint and furniture throughout the ground floor.

The original kitchen layout had minimal countertop and storage space, and awkward placement for modern appliances. “It did not permit effective use of space – especially for a couple who love to cook and entertain,” Justine recalls. “We re-worked the layout, adding an additional wall of counter and open shelving, and relocated the fridge along the brick wall. Original elements such as the exposed brick were kept intact and complemented by the modern black and white tones of the new cabinetry and stone counters.” 

Justine brought in unlacquered brass cabinetry hardware from deVOL and plumbing fixtures from Perrin & Rowe, which infuse the space with a heritage feel, while the Miele appliances add an industrial element and mid-century lighting brings a modern flair. “For the cabinetry, I opted for a slim shaker-style door profile that offers the perfect mix of traditional and modern,” she explains. “The black is quite striking in the space and also timeless. Because of the large windows and natural light at the back of the home, doing darker cabinetry did not overly darken the interior.” They added a beautiful white quartz counter with subtle dark veining throughout. “The clients wanted a surface that would be highly durable and easy to clean, but still have an elegant look.” 

The project took just under a year from initial design concept to completion. “The clients were thrilled with the finished space and very happy they followed my advice for the revised kitchen layout,” Justine reflects. “They noted that the space felt larger, more harmonious, much more functional and that it really increases the pleasure of cooking and entertaining others in their home.”