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mudroom cabinetry with built in seating
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Calgary
Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Calgary

These luxury authentic flat-weave collection represent an ancient method of creating a faux animal hair pile which was widespread amongst nomads from Central Asia to Turkey. Woven with cotton warps and Angora goat hair wefts. The goat hair creates the long haired fur-like look. Angora goats are named after the Turkish province of their origin, Ankara and these goats produce the fibre known as mohair. The lustrous hair of the angora goat occurs in every natural shade ranging from black through browns to white, thus making possible a wide variety of colour-schemes with no dyes.
More about Mohair…
Mohair is one of the oldest textile fibres in use. The Angora goat is thought to originate from the mountains of Tibet, reaching Turkey in the 16th century. Mohair is warm in winter as it has great insulating properties, while remaining cool in summer due to its moisture wicking properties. It’s possible to use double-side, hairy side for winter, woven side for summer. It is durable, naturally elastic, flame resistant, crease resistant, and does not felt.
It is a luxury fiber, like cashmere, angora and silk, and is more expensive than most wools that comes from sheep. Mohair is composed mostly of keratin, a protein found in the hair, wool, horns and skin of all mammals.
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The Setup
The homeowners of this Barrington Hills residence approached Drury Design with a clear vision: transform their existing kitchen into a space that would better serve their active family of four. With two young children who are homeschooled and love to bake with their mom, plus two dogs, this kitchen needed to function as the true heart of the home.
The existing kitchen was functional but didn’t maximize the potential of the beautiful natural light and scenic views available through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The space was locked between the dining room and family room, which limited structural modifications, but the homeowners wanted to create a more family-friendly environment that would complement the warm walnut built-ins and furnishings in the adjacent dining room while staying true to the home’s overall aesthetic.
Design Objectives:
Create a highly functional workspace that accommodates multiple family members cooking and gathering simultaneously
Maximize the connection to the beautiful outdoor scenery and natural light through thoughtful design choices
Establish a cohesive color palette that complements the existing walnut elements in the adjacent dining room without becoming too tone-on-tone (aka “matchy matchy”)
Improve the seating arrangement to take advantage of the stunning views (rather than facing away from the windows)
Work within the existing architectural constraints, including a curved soffit that could not be removed
Increase storage capacity while maintaining clean, uncluttered sightlines throughout the space
Design Challenges:
The curved soffit presented a design dilemma of whether to echo the curve throughout the kitchen or work with it in a more subtle way
The relatively low ceiling height required careful consideration to avoid making the space feel cramped or cave-like
The existing hardwood floor could not be refinished, which meant the new kitchen footprint had to match or exceed the original layout exactly
Finding the right balance of warm and neutral tones to complement both the existing walnut elements nearby and the natural outdoor views proved challenging
The refrigerator placement was constrained by door swing requirements, which affected the entire layout and prevented centering the sink on the back wall
Rethinking the original seating, which faced inward toward the kitchen (turning backs to the beautiful windows and outdoor views)
Pendant lighting from the previous kitchen obstructed views to the outdoors despite the abundant natural light available
The Renewed Space
Design Solutions:
The curved soffit was embraced subtly through the full slab backsplash, which echoes the curve without requiring curved cabinetry or architectural elements that might feel forced
Low ceiling challenges were addressed by using lighter painted cabinets for some tall elements, including the double oven, pantries, and refrigerator area, creating an airy feel while reserving the darker stained walnut for the center section and island
The floor constraint was managed by designing the new layout to cover all previously unfinished areas while maintaining the exact footprint, with only minor touch-ups needed in a few areas
The color palette balances warm walnut stain (harmonizing with the dining room built-ins) with soft, neutral painted cabinets – avoiding stark white that wouldn’t complement the home’s warm aesthetic
Refrigerator placement was optimized with a slim pullout pantry to the left, allowing proper door clearance while maintaining the desired layout flow and enabling the main pantry to be positioned adjacently
The seating was completely reimagined with a built-in banquette facing the windows, allowing diners to enjoy the outdoor views while providing flexible seating for two to four people
Decorative pendant lighting was eliminated in favor of recessed can lights, preserving the unobstructed views to the beautiful outdoor scenery
This kitchen transformation demonstrates how thoughtful design can dramatically improve functionality for a busy family while honoring existing architectural elements. The children immediately began cooking and baking with their mother in the new space, and the window-facing banquette has become a favorite gathering spot where the family can enjoy both meals and the beautiful outdoor views.

Family room - mid-sized contemporary open concept dark wood floor and brown floor family room idea in Sacramento with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and no tv

Design ideas for a large modern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard concrete paver walkway for spring.

Scott Horvath
Home design - transitional home design idea in DC Metro
Home design - transitional home design idea in DC Metro
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