This kitchen, sourced from a European company, is compact and modern, with lots of storage and smaller European appliances.

In April 2009, Nancy and Sean Flynn were looking to move from the suburbs into a more central location but hadn’t had much luck. Until, that is, their real estate agent mentioned a house that had just come on the market in New Edinburgh. Sean quickly called Nancy and asked her if she’d do a drive-by on her way home from work. “I can’t believe I did this,” says Nancy now. “But it looked so inviting that I stopped the car and knocked on the door to ask if I could see inside.” She immediately knew “this was it.” The Flynns would win a tense but quick bidding war later that week, and in July 2009, the young couple, with their two children, moved into their cozy 90-year-old house. Though they have modern tastes, the Flynns loved the bones of their house and had no plans to try to erase its heritage. But they also had no intention of keeping the outdated kitchen and bathroom. The couple discovered the Bulthaup kitchen company in a magazine ad and travelled to Toronto, where they saw their actual kitchen functioning in a real home setting. “We knew it was for us,” says Nancy, adding that they then worked with designer/carpenter Paul Denys and staff at Bulthaup, measuring their space and playing with different configurations. The resulting kitchen is compact and modern, with lots of storage (though no overhead cabinetry) and smaller European appliances. Best of all, the entire reno, which included the removal of one half wall, took just three weeks from start to finish. “We absolutely love this kitchen,” says Nancy. “Even when it’s messy, it looks nice.”

Design: Bulthaup (Toronto) and Paul Denys Builds Designs | Contractor: Paul Denys Builds Designs | Cabinetry: Bulthaup ‘B1’ | Sink: Bulthaup | Faucets: Arwa Appliances: Miele (dishwasher and oven), AEG (induction cooktop), Liebherr (refrigerator) | Table: Design Within Reach (Toronto) | Chairs: Ottawa Business Interiors | Bench: Ottawa Business Interiors | Artwork: Caroline Blum, through Red Chair Kids | Flooring: Original to the house