I think we all can agree that one of life's best guilty pleasures is pizza. When Monogram Canada approached us to do a custom kitchen installation at IDS18 that features their first ever residential, ventless pizza oven - well, there was no hesitation. This was definitely a design we could all sink our teeth into! The best part of a kitchen designed with 'za in mind? Getting to make a pie with Tommy, the team and Rick Mercer! Step inside our Couture Pizzeria (pssst - don't miss Kitchen Concept #2 - Resort, featuring Monogram's sleek Column Refrigerator!).
Kitchen Concept #1: Couture Pizzeria
As a designer, I’m constantly looking for fresh sources of inspiration to take with me into every new space. Monogram Canada’s residential, ventless pizza oven (the first of its kind!) was the key component in this kitchen; and when it came to brainstorming the overall design direction, I realized I didn’t need to look further than what was going in the oven itself. All of the colour choices you see in this vibrant, glossy kitchen were inspired by a can of tomatoes - the key ingredient in any good pizza! Bold reds, greens, and a hint of black and white were combined to create a classic pizzeria aesthetic with a modern twist.
January 19, 2017 | Interior Design Show, Toronto
Getting Graphic with Tile
Picking tile can often shape the entire direction of a room, and this kitchen was no exception! We chose 1x3 ft Forbo Marmoleum black and white marbled tiles for the floor, which allowed us to define our design by crafting a graphic pattern and gave the space a touch of elegance. The backsplash is a white ceramic tile installation that echoes the floor pattern and incorporates a silver grey grout, creating a rustic, hand formed look. Finally, the pizza surround features a glossy green hexagonal glass mosaic tile with bright white grout, and a stainless edge for an industrial feel.
TIP: If you’re going bold in both tile and cabinetry, always choose your tile FIRST! It’s easier to match paint to tile than vice versa - in this installation, we had our cabinetry colour matched to the tile.
Design is in the Details
Best part of any bold, colourful design? Curating all of the little accents to tie it together! We went with oversized stainless knobs centered on the cabinet doors and drawers to further the modern retro vibe, while incorporating stunning striped handmade Portuguese ceramics from Casa Cubista for visual interest. The only thing better than embracing the black faucet trend was finding a black faucet with a white accent (you know how much I love touches of white on anything!). The Rubinet faucet we chose comes in hundreds of colours - download their iOS app to explore creating your own custom combination!
Gather Round the Custom Counters
Since pizza tastes best when shared with good friends (and paired with wine), it was important to incorporate a large, casual place to gather and chow down! The counters are Vanilla Noir by Caesarstone - just shy of 1 1/8” thick and installed with a radius arc and a waterfall edge profile down both sides.
TIP: When getting custom counters cut, always keep the scrap pieces. In this kitchen, the leftover slabs were repurposed and cut into shelving, which is one of my favourite ways to reduce waste.
Ridgely Studio Works supplied the spiral mass pendants and counter stools in a mirrored colour palettes: white with red cords for the pendants, and red bases with white tops for the stools. Fun fact: Lazy Susan cutting boards from Canadian Tire were sprayed lacquered white to create the seats for these custom stools; when you’re in a time crunch, you gotta get creative!
Source guide: Couture Pizzeria
Monogram Canada Appliances: Integrated Glass-Door Refrigerator • Advantium Speed Cook Oven • Accessory Drawer • 30" Wall Oven W/ Euro Handle • 24" Euro Handle Dishwasher • 24" Stainless Steel Wine Reserve • 24" Beverage Centre • 36" Induction Cooktop • 36" Slide Out Hood • 30" Pizza Oven
Furnishings and accessories: Ridgely Studio Works: spiral nest pendants, stools and red bowls • Caesarstone: 'vanilla noir' counters • Saltillo: backsplash and tile on pizza oven • Richelieu at Lowe's: hardware • Pro Glo Paints: colour on paint cabinets colour matched to tile • Forbo Marmoleum: flooring • The Door Store: vintage enamel bowls, jugs, and accessories • Casa Cubista: ceramics available at Saudade • Vintage Fine Objects: artwork