A stainless steel undermount sink was complimented by a brushed nickel faucet.
Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Winnipeg Free Press
The white upper cabinets and quartz countertop are in sharp contrast with the midnight blue backsplash and lower cabinets.
When asked to provide an opinion on how to populate a space aesthetically, a strategic deflection is often the best response. After all, we all have different wants and tastes. For instance, my preferred palette revolves around earth-tones, and the interior of my own house is proof of that. How pleasantly surprised I was at the outcome of a recent kitchen facelift project, boasting a bold, rich and refreshing colour that now strategically dominates the space.
In lieu of replacing the existing upper and lower cupboards, the homeowners elected to simply “reface” the kitchen cabinetry by replacing the existing doors and drawer fronts. The plan also involved optimal misdirection — the upper cupboard doors would continue well past the tops of the existing cupboards, just shy of the ceiling to connivingly further the illusion of tall uppers.
To guarantee success, a faux border upon which upper trim is mounted was fastened to the ceiling flush with the cupboard cabinets in all locations. As such, when the new taller doors are closed, it “appears” as though the doors gently tuck back onto a full cabinet along the top edge as well. Although the tops of the old uppers do not provide any vertical framework, the doors make it seem as though they do. And furthermore, a continuous level above the old cupboards provides a unique space for storage of awkwardly sized kitchen amenities, no longer in plain sight. Along the sides of the uppers, “plant-ons” complete the finishing to the underside of the upper trim, mounted to the newly fashioned ceiling border.
The lower cupboards also received “plant-ons” on every exposed side. This was necessary along the lower cupboards primarily because the lower underwent an extreme colour upgrade, a bold midnight blue. The existing doors were first replaced with the new blue, as well as any incidental trim pieces that fill the gaps between cabinetry sections. And then, the drawer fronts were replaced by using the old fronts as templates to mount the new. It is a laborious task, that requires focus and meticulousness. Once the main areas of the lowers were completed, the toe-kicks below were also upgraded to match the new midnight blue lower cupboards.
Once the quartz countertops were set into place, the kitchen truly began to rise up with a newfound enthusiasm. The quartz chosen for this project is bright white with a hint of faint grey marble-esque veins. The new undermount sink is stainless steel, matching the brushed nickel finish of the new gooseneck faucet. The upper cabinet doors above the sink area are the only ones with glass, and truly set the sink area apart from the rest.
Once the final task of installing the backsplash began, the homeowners’ vision became clearer to me. The navy-midnight blue tile was an identical match to the chosen lower cupboard colour. And once the tiles were in place, subsequently grouted with a mid-grey resin-based grout, the new kitchen aesthetic was complete. The blues are separated by white, and it looks so right! What a beautiful upgrade and transformation for the homeowners.
I will admit, the midnight blue choice for the lower cupboards seemed a tad odd to me from the onset. Most kitchen projects include matching cabinetry throughout — I’ve never renovated a kitchen that included different coloured uppers, and lowers. In all honesty, the prospect of dual-coloured cabinets isn’t something I would have ever considered, or suggested. However, the results of this kitchen facelift are undeniable. The homeowners had a vision, and I feel privileged to have been chosen to help them realize their desired kitchen facelift. The bold elegance of midnight blue lower cabinets along with complementary tiled backsplash against the white of the uppers and quartz countertop is nothing short of spectacular.
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