Counter Intelligence
What I Chose for My New Kitchen Countertops
Silestone by Cosentino Kitchen Countertops in Ariel. A beautiful monochromatic mosaic marble backsplash from Ciot is the jewelry that adorns the pristine white quartz countertops used throughout the kitchen. Kitchen cabinetry by Parand Design in soft gloss with nickel handles by Berenson Hardware continues the clean modern look.
A well-planned layout is crucial to create an easy flow in a spacious open-plan kitchen designed for more than one cook and lots of family and friends! In my new home, it was important to me to design a kitchen that spoke to my design aesthetic and lifestyle – a social place where everyone, including me, could enjoy cooking, dining and entertaining in style and comfort. As an avid cook with a large family and three active dogs – and a couple of doggie cousins, I wanted my kitchen to be bright and feature high-performance, easy-to-maintain, durable surfaces. I chose Silestone by Cosentino Ariel countertops for all the surfaces in my kitchen including the large island, breakfast bar and secondary island, for a seamless look that’s light, airy, and a breeze to clean.
If the kitchen is where you spend most of your time with family cooking, dining and entertaining, think as big as your budget and space will allow. You’ll save time and money if you choose durable work surfaces in timeless, simple designs that are easy to keep clean. Quartz is a non-pourous, food-safe, scratch-, stain- and scorch-reistant surface that’s perfect for any busy culinary kitchen. It’s not only practical for islands and countertops for preparing and serving food, with so many designs and colours available today, quartz provides a gorgeous surface for informal dining and entertaining in the kitchen. Always hire a reputable kitchen designer who is well-connected to a qualified team of reliable, certified trades, contractors, and suppliers to ensure a successful installation of all your kitchen finishes.
My second island comes in handy as an additional surface for baking, gift wrapping and serving up cocktails and appetizers when entertaining or just hanging out with friends.
A small breakfast bar is one of my favourite places in the kitchen. It’s where I sit and enjoy the view over morning coffee and croissant each morning. And even better, it goes without saying that my beverage station with a wine-lovers Thermador wine reserve column, beats out the breakfast bar by a nose…or a glass of wine! Creating zones in my kitchen has added convenience distributing the activities – and bodies – throughout the kitchen, especially good when I have a houseful of family and guests. Countertops: Silestone by Cosentino in Ariel , Cabinetry by Parand Design , Floors by Lauzon.
A pantry is a must for any culinary kitchen offering additional storage for large baking & cooking items, bulk foods and kibble for 3 dogs.
l love my walk-in pantry. Rather than incorporating it into the kitchen proper, I positioned it outside my kitchen, just behind the appliance wall. Along with floor-to-ceiling open shelves and cupboards, I also added a small coffee station featuring a Silestone Ariel countertop that comes in handy for preparing snacks and beverages when entertaining.
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Photos by Paul Chmielowiec, paulc.ca