When the time came to remodel a 1980s home in downtown Toronto, Canada, the homeowners turned to Eurodale Design + Build and Thornton Design for a modern kitchen remodel as part of a main level overhaul and upper-level addition. Typical of homes in the area, the original kitchen was narrow and not well-suited for modern family living. The primary goal for the space was how to make it seem larger. So, a collaborative team that also included the cabinet-making expertise at Distinctive by Design played with the layout until they landed on the best design for meal prep, entertaining, or simply reading emails or doing homework. Some extra square footage was incorporated from an adjacent room along with the addition of a new modern kitchen island as well as a beverage station with tons of extra storage.
Modern Kitchen Expansion
Laura Thornton of Thornton Design says, “With small homes, it’s important to think through how the space is going to be used. What was once a cavernous hallway is now opened up to a light, airy space with a large, modern kitchen island and added seating.” She also notes that when an island is the centerpiece of a space, you want the island countertop to be a piece of art. Mission accomplished with this beautiful Cambria Inverness Gold quartz design.
Why Include Cambria in Your Modern Kitchen Remodel?
“The Cambria Gallery – Toronto is down the street,” says Thornton who regularly attends events there and says she always leads with recommending Cambria for countertops. “Cambria’s quartz is the purest and the designs look the most accurate,” says Thornton. “It glistens and has all of the beauty of stone and none of the maintenance. No client ever says, ‘You know what I want? Maintenance. Plus, the transferable Full Lifetime Warranty sells itself.”
Brendan Charters of Eurodale Design + Build also loves Cambria quartz countertops. “I put Cambria throughout my own home years ago,” says Charters. “It’s a premium product with beautiful designs and we intentionally partner with brands with elevated quality that goes beyond product to the overall experience. We’ve probably done in excess of 100 projects with Cambria and I can only recall three warranty claims, and Cambria addressed all of them. This creates great customer satisfaction and long-term trust. When we recommend Cambria, and our clients have a good experience, that affirms that our recommendation was the right one.”
Inverness Gold Quartz: The Perfect Addition to This Modern Kitchen
And when Thornton first saw Cambria’s Inverness Gold, she says, “I fell in love instantly and knew we wanted to use it. For this project, the clients wanted watery blues and yellows in their kitchen and I love the clean white background and the texture of this design. It looks like it should be rougher than it is. People want to touch it. It’s a real conversation starter. Plus, the veining gives some hidability so busy people can run out in the morning and not feel like they’re leaving a mess. It’s a subtly beautiful classic design that the homeowners won’t tire of. It’s also neutral enough that it doesn’t matter what the next homeowner loves—this design will match anything. We made this space look a little more modern but this quartz design could also pair with a more traditional style.”
Cambria design shown: Inverness Gold
Complete Your Kitchen Modernization
Other modern elements in this kitchen update include white oak hardwood floors throughout for a sense of space and flow. White painted custom cabinetry built by Distinctive by Design and stained wood open shelving near the beverage station add to the feeling of openness. Trendy Zellige tile—a variety of glazed terracotta often from Morocco—provides a bit of a weathered vibe and a pop of color. A wood wrapped range hood and wooden counter stools add a touch of relaxed organic comfort and complement the wood flooring. And the addition of that beverage station adds additional kitchen prep space and appliance garages to keep otherwise unsightly countertop clutter out of sight. The outcome of this remodel is a more spacious, beautiful, functional, and modern kitchen that’s inviting to anyone who loves cooking, entertaining, or just hanging out.
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