I remember the first time we visited the LR Residence. Situated in the penthouse with stunning views over English Bay and with a large deck from which to enjoy the sunset, the apartment was a stunner. It’s too bad the same could not be said of the kitchen. In dark wood with dated features and trapped behind a small wall and doorway, the kitchen seemed out of place with the bright and airy living space. So, how to design something that would match the beauty of that view?

We first knocked down the wall to clear away any obstruction to windows and light and raised the bulkhead by as much as possible to add to the feeling of bright openness. With the rich, wide plank oak floors throughout, and a large wooden dining table, we felt we didn’t need to add any more wood to warm the place up. As the kitchen was the furthest from the windows, we wanted something light, not dark, so we opted for ultra matte white Polaris from Abet. This is a very durable product, yet it has a soft appearance that is almost cloud-like, congruous to its new penthouse home. We used the 12mm version of this product for the countertops, showcasing the thin edge.

We also took advantage of some new advances in hardware to fabricate all the doors and drawer fronts out of the same material. The thinness of edge was showcased throughout. This lent a very large and voluminous kitchen a lightness not usually seen in kitchens of this size.

We kept design elements minimal and consistent throughout, the white only being broken by the black cylinders of the Bocci plugs, appliance pulls, glass door hardware, faucet, and again with the black circles of the Pitt burner cooktop.

Smart use of space and technology is apparent as soon as you start using the kitchen, from the automatic touch-less opening of the waste drawers, to the touch sensitive operation of the faucet, to the seamless integration of the appliances and touch-dimmable lighting.

Lastly, to avoid the kitchen appearing too stark, we grounded it with three slabs of natural marble. This served to bring in some earthy warm greys to the otherwise black and white palette and also to bring in some random figuration to balance the rectilinear aspects of the cabinetry.

With the marble tastefully lit, along with the mirrored and smoked glass liquor cabinet, the kitchen is subtle yet dramatic. It is large and spacious without feeling heavy or imposing. And with unobstructed views to the mountains and sea beyond, the kitchen is finally befitting of its heavenly location.