Don Mills-Banbury - Kitchen Redesign
A kitchen redesign in Toronto's Don Mills-Banbury area, planned around how the household cooks and gathers, with finishes chosen for daily use and shared meals.
Project Overview
Don Mills-Banbury Neighbourhood - This transformative kitchen is an interior design project in Toronto's first planned and oldest community. The kitchen and counter dining work as a pair - one for preparing food, and one for sharing it.
Barbara approached the space with workflow front of mind: how ingredients move from storage to prep to cooking to table. This expansive surface was planned to feel inviting for everyday meals and flexible enough for hosting.
Photographs of the finished kitchen are shown in the gallery below.
Design Goals & Functional Considerations
The goals focused on a kitchen that performs well under daily use and a dining area that feels connected to it. That meant clarifying prep and circulation zones, improving storage so counters stay clear, and creating a dining arrangement that suits both quiet weeknights and larger gatherings.
In a Don Mills-Banbury home, where space is often at a premium, every inch was planned to earn its place. Barbara worked with the homeowners to understand how they cook and entertain and prioritized the layout around those habits.
Design Approach
Barbara's collaborative process kept the homeowners involved from layout through to selections. She presented layout options and finish directions, and the clients shaped the decisions that defined the finished space.
The workflow-first approach meant the kitchen's function was settled before finishes were chosen - so the materials, lighting, and details that followed support how the space is actually used.
Materials, Finishes & Details
Finishes were selected for durability and warmth, with materials that stand up to a working kitchen while feeling inviting in the dining area. The palette ties the two zones together so the kitchen and dining room read as one considered space.
Specific materials and products are confirmed with each client as part of their project. The photographs here show how the selections come together in the finished kitchen and dining room.
Project Gallery
15 photos - select any image to view it larger
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