1995, Fall, CHATELAINE: RENOVATES Kitchens & Baths 20 Brilliant Canadian Renos
Bird’s-eye View
When a building contractor who specializes in kitchens and bathrooms decides to renovate his own kitchen, how does he begin? By consulting his wife, of course. “Susan wanted some classic elements, while I liked brick and country,” recalls Colin Bird. “So we combined.” The matrimonial blend, thoughtfully orchestrated by designer Jan Regis, won an NKBA award.

By Jeff Richardson

Talk about coincidences! When Susan Bird and designer Jan Regis spotted the kitchen table in the window of a shop in Toronto’s Bloor West Village, they could hardly believe their eyes. “It was uncanny,” Regis recalls. “Its checkerboard top, green trim and fruit motif combined three elements we had already chosen for the room.” The table’s black-and-white checkerboard mirrors the vinyl flooring, which Susan Bird selected for its timeless appeal. “Black and white never goes out of style,” Colin Bird says, “but to keep it from seeming to stark, we chose pickled green for the countertops, cabinetry and fretwork.”

The original kitchen, left, was so small that, when the Birds moved into the house, they had to leave most of their cookware in storage. The solution was to extend the back wall ten feet (3 m) into the yard, creating a spacious new kitchen 18 by 15ft (5.5 x 4.5m). Using a washed stain on the oak cabinetry and woodwork allows the wood grain to show through, making it seem more natural and relaxed, says Colin Bird. “The white cabinets, especially the glass-fronted arched uppers, appear a little more refined and traditional, but not heavy. Visually, there’s lightness to them.” The cupboard beneath the pullout ironing board contains a double recycling bin.

“Cook top, oven, microwave, salad sink and counter are all close together”
To give an authentic look, reclaimed bricks were sliced in two directions, then applied to drywall.
The Birds chose white ceramic tiles for the backsplash behind the cook top. “It’s a very functional corner, with cook top, oven, microwave, salad sink and counter space all close together.” Says Bird. Accent tiles repeat fruit and vegetable motifs from a tile mural above the exposed oak beam of the cooking arch. Message centre cubbyholes, cookbook shelf and wine rack are among the practical features of the desk area. Beside it are the broom cupboard and pantry. Colin Bird positioned the working areas so that they would be visible from the hallway to the living room. Instead, the vista is through glass doors to the garden. “When you enter the kitchen from the hall, you don’t see the cooking arch until you turn around,” Bird says. “It’s a wonderful surprise.” Using fretwork and crown moulding provided by the cabinet manufacturer, Bird built a hanging pot rack over the kitchen island. Copper pots hook onto copper piping that was polished, then lacquered. Verdigris light fixture above the table was chosen for its color and vintage appeal.