An ode to natural elements and contrast.

Image Source: Nile Onile

Toronto-based designer and owner of Studio Ode, Nike Onile’s apartment kitchen was once home to outdated fixtures like pinkish laminate countertops, black cabinet doors, and a white oven. Now the artist’s kitchen is an exposition of mixed materials and ceiling-high cabinets. Online’s kitchen remodel is an ode to contrast with black and white tones and a gold industrial style kitchen faucet from VIGO. Let’s take a tour of this incredible transportation.

KNOCKING DOWN WALLS

Onile’s kitchen renovation was motivated by the need for more light during the pandemic. After knocking down a partial wall that blocked a lot of natural light from entering the galley kitchen, the artist created a brighter space. She also removed a small bartop that made space for a peninsula similar to a kitchen island with a sink. Since removing the partial wall took some kitchen cabinets with it, she was able to make up for the lack of storage space by installing ceiling-high cabinets.

making SPACE FOR STORAGE

Onile extended the upper kitchen cabinets to the ceiling to make room for more storage after removing the bulkhead above the refrigerator. She chooses black cabinets with push-to-open doors because she likes things to look seamless. Lower kitchen cabinets were also added to the peninsula where the microwave and undermount kitchen sink lives. Online also utilized some floating shelves she’d been holding on to by asking her contractor to make the wall perpendicular to the peninsula the exact length of the planks to fit perfectly on the wall.

MIXING MATERIALS

Sticking to a neutral color palette of primarily black and white, Onile brought in different elements of nature with a mix of materials. The most significant investment was the Dekton countertops and backsplash, a man-made material comparable in price and aesthetic to marble, the perfect canvas for VIGO’s Edison faucet for the kitchen sink with a soap dispenser in matte brushed gold coordinates perfectly with the subtle touches of gold. She added matte gold hardware that coordinates perfectly with the faucet and adds a pop of color. Over the peninsula, Onile had her contractor build out a bulkhead and then wrapped the structure in oak boards, giving it an intentional look. She was able to hang a linear fixture there that illuminates the entire kitchen.