The inspiration behind designer Tim W. Scott’s kitchen was functionality. Scott, a partner at Toronto-based XTC Design, says, “I tried to create a cohesive design that worked well and was comfortable to be in. I envisioned having the main focus be the kitchen and then have a lounge area for a quiet space with a fireplace.” There is an integrated feel and flavor throughout the space, according to Scott, with the flow of the finishes coordinating but not matching. “Everything is getting simpler. Things are not as busy or ornate,” he says. “Traditional has become more streamlined and simpler. Details are becoming more important.” Those details are most obvious in the kitchen. “I [used] a Miralis product for the cabinets called Rough Chic,” he explains. “It has the look of a distressed barn door, but done in a very contemporary kind of way. It offers a combination of rough and textured along with the glitz and chrome.” The chrome is in the hardware and faucets, while the backsplashes and countertops are white quartz.

The lighting fixtures are all steel and glass, in keeping with the subtle look that Scott was going for. “The whole space is comfortable to be in; it is not distracting to the eye,” he says. “Most of the time you see something very dramatic in a kitchen, like a large exhaust vent over the cooktop. This kitchen does not have that; it’s more of a calming kind of space.” While most of the details in the home are indeed subtle, one not so subtle detail is the living area’s three-sided, 6-foot tall stone fireplace. Although the fireplace is a striking addition to the space, it does not overpower it. Scott did add one dramatic touch, though: “I have done some unique things with lighting,” he says. “So all of the mounted cabinetry is going to look like it’s floating.”