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Or sign-in if you have an account.Hardware from Handle This! in Newmarket embellishes cabinetry in the kitchen, which also features a hand-trawled plaster hood and oak details. Photo by Mike Chajecki Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.Anyone can kick off a reno by annihilating an entire main floor, but what’s the talent in that? Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe magic trick with this renovation is that not a single wall was demolished, yet the home feels entirely different. Designer Michelle Berwick, who runs an eponymous firm in Newmarket, is behind the project, which came together with Cambro Contracting and Wheelers Studio for the millwork. Trimming the apron sink in oak elevates the everyday, while the soft-brushed gold faucet and brass hardware have a classic feel. Photo by Mike Chajecki “Sometimes adding custom cabinetry and reconfiguring a room is more than enough to make a space sing and make it functional,” says Berwick. The 2,500-square-foot stone-and-siding abode belongs to Berwick’s long-time clients, busy professionals with three young boys. Fifteen years ago, the couple had purchased it from a builder who had razed a house, then erected a banal replacement before selling it to Berwick’s clients. Over time, the drab dark floors, shiny espresso kitchen cabinets and brown granite countertops started to feel dated, while the plain white walls in the vaulted great room were a missed opportunity. The builder had made little use of the cool canted ceiling, which was stippled in pot lights. A dedicated drawer faced with breathable gold mesh holds tubers and onions. Photo by Mike Chajecki Worse, “the kitchen didn’t function well,” Berwick says. “It was all doors and very (few) uppers.” On the plus side, the kitchen was spacious. “She wanted a neutral cream scheme but something that had interest, that wasn’t going to be boring,” says Berwick. She notes the wife’s affection for a “modern preppy” aesthetic. “She loves plaid and classic details,” she says. “She wanted a reno that in 10 years’ time will look current.” Flush with dynamic details, the new kitchen includes quartz countertops, an oak island, an oak pantry with a breathable gold-mesh drawer for tubers, a rippled-glass coffee garage and putty-toned cabinetry. The great room has a timber-clad ceiling, bespoke shelving and panelling; Wheelers Studio crafted all of the home’s custom millwork. Photo by Mike Chajecki Skinny shaker doors are bejewelled in a plethora of brass knobs and cup-shaped handles from Handle This! in Newmarket, and there are plenty of drawers, giving the kitchen the appearance of a modern apothecary. “The kitchen is set around the hand-trawled plaster hood,” says Berwick. “It’s a showpiece.” Behind it is a green-and-white checkerboard backsplash and nearby an oak-trimmed niche for pepper and salt mills. Berwick seems to have a thing for niches. Two vertical oak cabinets are recessed into the adjoining dining room, which is plastered in the prettiest pale plaid wallpaper. “We used every bit of wall space we could,” she says. “The top portions conceal electrical and internet components.” Taupe and cream checked wallpaper from York Wallcoverings adds charm to the dining room. Photo by Mike Chajecki Custom millwork elevates the great room, too. “That room was white drywall everywhere, but we clad the ceiling with wood, which warmed things up,” says Berwick. Built-in cabinetry for displaying books and pottery stretches across a wall, as an upgrade to a once-plain surface. The designer also installed a stone-finish fireplace that acts as a focal point in the room; brought in new oak floors that replaced the dark dust-collectors; and carried out a staircase refresh that entailed painting the treads and the posts and adding new black pickets. “All of those elements,” says Berwick, “make it feel grand, special, warm and cosy.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.