MARRYING MODERN AND TRADITIONAL
The Killingers wanted their home to be a more welcoming space for gathering with friends and family.
St. Thomas Reno Delights Homeowners
When Dan Reith and Brian Helmer set out to renovate the kitchen and ensuite bathroom in their historic Rosebery Place home, they did not have a specific vision in mind. But, says Reith, they knew they wanted the changes to create “a timeless ambiance and one that would be in keeping with the age and era of the house, built circa 1939, while still offering a modern flair.”
BEFORE: Dark and dated, the original kitchen badly needed an update.
A wall of walnut cabinetry provides storage and hides the refrigerator and freezer.
A La Cornue range, custom range hood and wall of Brazilian quartzite add functional beauty to this room devoted to the preparation of food in a luxurious environment.
To be able to watch the seasons change out the window is absolutely stunning.
They expressed that wish to their renovation team - interior designer Suzanne Steele, Braam’s Custom Cabinetry and DUO Building Limited – with instructions to get creative. The results more than met their expectations. Says Reith: “They made it happen.”
A La Cornue range, custom range hood and wall of Brazilian quartzite add functional beauty to this room devoted to the preparation of food in a luxurious environment.
One of the major kitchen innovations involved replacing two windows with a wall of glass panes overlooking the backyard. “We opened the back wall right up with a huge window,” says DUO project manager John Relouw. “It’s a beautiful backyard, landscaped with a pool, and this gives a beautiful view of it.”
BEFORE
It is a favourite feature for the homeowners. “To be able to watch the seasons change out the window is absolutely stunning,” Reith says. Another highlight is the La Cornue range with a five-burner gas cooktop and two individual ovens, one traditional electric and the other convection. Reith says they first saw one in Braam’s London showroom and they exclaimed: “That’s it!” Black metal with brass fittings, it melds seamlessly with the home’s heritage character. Metal designer Mark Deren, of London, fashioned a matching custom range hood.
The wall behind the range is a focal point, a solid slab of Brazilian quartzite. The natural stone product, in Arctic Ocean pattern and leathered finish, matches the perimeter and island countertops. The black-veined white stone complements Braam’s cabinetry – walnut with brass inlay.
Along one wall, floor-to-ceiling cabinets with a central pantry hutch are bracketed by the fridge and freezer, both tucked behind walnut doors. Braam’s designer Rawda Al-Henedy calls the room “a glamorous and graceful space” that was “fun and unique” to work on. The finished result complements the homeowners’ personalities, she says. “The customframed wood hutch gives the space a charming traditional feel.”
Modern touches, hidden inside the perimeter and island cabinets, include dual dishwashers on either side of an oversize sink, as well as a wine fridge and a built-in ice maker. The latter ensures a constant supply of cubes for summer afternoons around the pool The drop ceiling was raised in the centre to create a tray, allowing for the pendant light fixtures above the island, Relouw says. Engineered black walnut hardwood flooring, laid on a 45-degree angle, was extended into the adjacent great room.
Upstairs, the master ensuite has been described by visitors as “like something in the Ritz-Carlton,” Reith says. “The overall aesthetic is luxury and comfort.”
In the ensuite, an original tub was replaced with an oversize walk-in/rollin shower with dual showerheads and walls of Italian porcelain made to resemble marble. A highlight, Reith says, is the heated marble floor, “a must for any ensuite.” He also appreciates the tankless wall-mounted toilet that provides “additional drying off space.”
Other features include a floating vanity, with under lighting, and brushed copper Brizo faucets, manufactured in St. Thomas by Emco.