Kitchen of the Week: Cooking for Two in Ontario

A young couple’s obsession with midcentury design and cooking drove this kitchen remodel in an 80-year-old home in Ottawa, Ontario. Jason Labelle, designer and owner of Dalton Distinctive Renovations, says not only was the space originally carved into three separate rooms, but each one had a different floor level. The project became a feat of engineering as well as design.

Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Size: 1,430 square feet

Photography by Evan Armorer

“It’s an older house that had two additions constructed in the 1970s,” says Labelle. “In some cases there was more than 3 inches difference in the floor levels.” A 23-foot support beam was needed when the walls came down between the rooms.


The couple wanted a modern style and a much larger kitchen, as they like to cook together and entertain their family and friends. The cabinets are mostly undercounter drawers, crafted from white lacquered MDF. “They wanted a sleek design,” says Labelle. A concrete tile floor, set with 24- by 24-inch tiles and warmed by radiant heat, enhances the loft-like style.


Because the kitchen is for both eating and entertaining, one island serves as the prep area, and the other is for plating and eating.


The jointed faucet flips between the dual sinks. “The problem is, they both wanted to use running water at the same time,” says Labelle. “So we are currently adding another faucet, just like the original one.”


A jointed faucet adds flexibility when filling large or small pots.


The clients selected the brown-black tile in the backsplash. By keeping the cabinets under counter, the designers could add windows for views to the backyard. They also added small cubbies beneath the cooktop to store small tools of the trade: spatulas, tongs and potholders.


At the back of the kitchen, a walnut pantry is paired with walnut shelves and a desktop. “They are pretty tech savvy, and they are always checking a recipe or making a list on the iPad,” he says. “This gives them a place to do it.”

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The bar has storage for all kinds of beverages — wine, liquor, coffee — and their accoutrements. “The husband is a coffee connoisseur,” Labelle says. “We installed an espresso machine with a constant water feed. It fills automatically and is always ready to go.”

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