The day Shaun Moore and Todd Caldwell moved into their downtown semi, the kitchen ceiling collapsed.
“The house was pretty close to derelict when we bought it, and the kitchen was the worst of all,” says Moore, citing the lack of a foundation and insulation, plus serious electrical and plumbing issues. Luckily, the couple had planned to demolish the space, and collaborated with Public Studio’s Tamira Sawatzky on its rebuilding.
Moore, who co-owns Canadian furniture and housewares destination MADE, and Caldwell, a floral and landscape designer, knew they wanted a contemporary room but also wanted it to feel warm. Affordable walnut cabinets, slate floors, Carrara marble countertops and an oversized window overlooking the back garden keep the kitchen cozy.
“Our one crazy splurge was the radiant heat floor,” says Caldwell. “It was worth it, though. Our dog Boris loves it, and it’s amazing to come home to on a cold day.”
Everything in the kitchen is built in, including a bench where Moore and Caldwell sip their morning coffee and where guests gather during parties. They’ve accessorized the room with pieces from MADE, including Annie Tung and Brad Turner’s Stack Of Plates light and Jeremy Hatch’s Best Before porcelain milk carton.
“We love our kitchen,” says Caldwell. “If we did it again, though, it would be good to have just one more lower cabinet with a work surface.”
But, then, who doesn’t crave a little more counter space?
