Five years in the making, this was a full transformation of a main floor that had lived in the 1990s long enough. There were warm taupe tones, dated cabinetry, and a layout that didn't work for the way the family actually moved through the space.

The brief was clear: modernize without losing warmth, create a kitchen that functions beautifully for a busy household with young children, and bring a sense of cohesion to a floor that felt disconnected. The design direction was moody transitional and the result is exactly that.

The kitchen anchors the space with two-tone cabinetry of unstained white oak lowers and painted white uppers, with brass hardware and plumbing fixtures, and light fixtures that drew from the overall colour palette. The living room and entryway were refreshed with new paint and updated furniture but the family room is where the moodiness lives. Featuring mid-tone wood half wall panels that developed patina over time, wood ceiling beams, a bold statement wallpaper, and a rock wall with fireplace grounds the entire space by creating a moody cottage feeling.

The transformation was dramatic in the best possible way.