WESTEND BATH AND KITCHEN MAKES ROOM FOR A VIEW
Opened wall turns cramped galley kitchen into main floor showpiece
It takes a moment to reconcile the Before and After photos of Brenda Rockburn and Jacques Lamothe’s newly renovated kitchen. Can this really be the same room?
The images taken before the full makeover by Westend Bath and Kitchen show a cramped, galley-style kitchen more typical of a highrise apartment than a classic 1960s suburban bungalow in Ottawa’s Crystal Beach neighbourhood.
Before, all that was visible of the kitchen from the main entranceway was a sterile wall of white cupboards smothering a sink and cooking area along one wall. The barrier wall opposite, separating the kitchen from the living room, eliminated any possibility for an overall welcoming view.
“It was tight,” admits Jacques, a consultant. “The first impression you had when you walked into the house was that everything was closed off.”
Brenda, a special education elementary teacher, says they knew they would be making changes when they bought the house in late 2013. “I like an organized kitchen,” she says, “and this workspace was terrible. I was so frustrated. The countertop and backsplash were arborite, the floor was peel-and-stick tiles over old linoleum, the tap squirted all over the place if you turned it a certain way, the stove cooktop was rusty – it was awful.”
The couple turned to Westend Bath and Kitchen for help, and met with designer Valerie Laba and contract installer Moe Savard. “They made us feel comfortable right off the bat,” says Brenda. “They guided us gently, and let us lead the way. We had our vision, but it was Val’s expertise in design and Moe’s knowledge of construction that fine-tuned that into what we have here.”
What they “have here” is nothing short of an astounding reinvention of their main floor. Along with new appliances and a more effectively designed cooking area with special drawers for spices and utensils close to hand, the barrier wall has been opened up to accommodate a sparkling new quartz-topped counter and double-bowl sink station that redefines the transition from kitchen to living room. More natural light now finds its way into the kitchen.
“Removing the wall gives an airy, 360-degree view of the main floor,” says designer Valerie. “Moving the fridge to the opposite wall allowed for a completely wide-open counter space that is great for preparing meals while conversing with family and friends.”
The counter’s under cabinets feature convenient side-by-side recycling and waste bins, and plenty of storage space for the slow-cooker and other large pots. “The possibilities for customizing the cabinet interiors are nearly endless,” she adds.
Jacques appreciates the less claustrophobic view through to the living room. “You need one focal point in the kitchen, and for us it was this counter,” he says. “The way it was before, everything was closed off. The open concept has changed the whole main floor. It’s a completely new house.”
Brenda has nothing but good things to say about Westend installers Moe Savard and his brother Randy. “They were superb,” she says. “They really accommodated our family schedule, and paid attention to quality and aesthetics. You hear horror stories, but we had none of that.
“Our vision has been realized,” says Brenda. “I have to pinch myself that it really happened. Valerie put it all together for us.”
Visit Westend Bath and Kitchen south of the Queensway Maitland exit at 1660 Woodward Dr. The showroom is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the website is open all hours at www.westendbathandkitchen.com. New possibilities in home renovation are just a phone call away at 613-226-7701.