An Open Family Kitchen in Toronto — Kitchen Spotlight

dwell1.jpgIn 2011 Toronto architect John Tong bought an old back alley dairy and turned it into a home. By “hacking Ikea shelves, repurposing his boutique-hotel designs, and scooping vintage treasures from the trash and the auction block” he turned the industrial building into a fun playhouse for his kids. The “rough-and-ready” kitchen, made with reclaimed wood cladding, is open to the rest of the home to encourage the whole family to hang out together. It’s relaxed and functional.
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In Defense of “Kid Food”

2013_01_18-KidFood.jpgI started my parenting journey like a lot of mothers do: with joy, optimism, and mounds of unrealistic expectations. Lofty goals regarding all the nutritious foods my kids were going to eat were quickly met with frustration as my two-year-old daughter repeatedly refused my offers of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. For months, I resisted the temptation to provide easy alternatives, but recently, after noticing that her diet had reduced to a stagnant combination of dairy and grains, I began to take a different approach. More



Get the Look: Sophisticated City Kitchen — Style & Renovation Resources

This kitchen has a rich, sophisticated city vibe that blends elements you might find in a 1920’s mansion with a few modern touches. Love the look? Want to emulate some of it in your own kitchen? Here are sources to help you get the look. Fill in the blanks in the comments!

Artwork: ______________
Cabinet Hardware: Ice box handles from Koontz in West Hollywood with a custom stain finish. “Find a piece of furniture whose finish you like and show it to a floor guy and tell him ‘this is what I want.'”
Backsplash + Countertops: Custom made 1 1/2 inch solid mahogany stained and treated with a bar top finish, much like you’d find in a Boston pub. “They will age and patina and get banged up and vary in color with heat and water stains.”
Dishwasher: Viking
Dishware: Patterned Italian plates and serving dishes are a pattern from Deruta, Italy
Faucet: ______________
Island: Made by Alpine Steel (a commercial restaurant supply) on Venice near Western, in Los Angeles. “Give them the dimensions you want, and they’ll make it – very inexpensive high quality stuff.” Covered with a marble slab.
Lighting: ______________
Microwave: Viking
Paint – Walls & Ceiling: ______________
Range: Viking
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
Sink: Kohler

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