DESIGN Jamie Banfield, Jamie Banfield Design
PHOTOGRAPHY Janice Nicolay

Designed by Jamie Banfield, this townhouse kitchen is situated on a quiet, tree-lined residential street in New Westminster, British Columbia. The neighbourhood is charming and “filled with character homes and a warm community feel,” says Jamie. Like its location, this kitchen is nature-inspired and designed as a place for entertaining and unwinding with family and friends.

“Our goal was to create a warm, hardworking family kitchen that felt timeless, connected to nature, and highly functional for everyday living,” says Jamie. “The footprint wasn’t large, so every inch had to work hard but still feel calm, bright, and intentional.”

Let's take a closer look at this British Columbia beauty.

Not surprisingly, this kitchen has been celebrated in magazines and all over social media. What I love most, and likely the first thing you'll notice in this space, are the three different millwork finishes. Though three distinct finishes could, in theory, feel busy and visually jarring, the result is the complete opposite. This kitchen's vibe is peaceful and calming. First there's the serene cabinetry colour combo— Nordic lakeside blue, pale oak and soft white with touches of black.

Then, there are the kitchen's modern lines, which, true to Nordic design, are clean and simple. And finally, there’s Jamie’s use of natural materials—oak floors and oak-finished cabinets, sand-tone linen stools, grey-veined quartz counters and backsplash—that all add depth, texture and warmth.

Design Definition: Nordic design fuses modern comforts with rustic simplicity. The use of colour is precise. Spaces are clutter-free, featuring clean lines, pale walls, and natural materials. Pops of colour are usually nature-inspired, such as sage green or muted blue.

The island and range hood, with their deep grey-blue slatted detailing, are a purposeful and intentional part of the design, used to draw the eye. The nature-inspired grey-blue gives the space a feeling of balance and harmony. As an aside, in colour psychology, blue is associated with feelings of tranquility and relaxation. It's no surprise that Jamie used blue on the island, the largest design element in the room. The deep-blue island anchors the space and visually widens the room.

The blue-grey range hood similarly gives the Bosch 800 Series stainless steel range presence and creates a focal point with wow factor. This kitchen is not just a utilitarian spot to cook, but one where the design and style provide a place for friends and family to gather and relax while a meal is being prepped and cooked.

Jamie's masterful use of symmetry further emphasizes the range. The hood is flanked by symmetrical white upper cabinets, centred under the top row of oak cabinets, and bookended with an oak gable on the left and an oak fridge cabinet on the right.

The island is also a lesson in symmetry. Each of the four seats and the above pendant lights are equally spaced apart. Jamie does point out, however, that he strategically placed the island sink off-centre, "to allow one, two or even three people to comfortably prep and cook at the same time”.

Designer Tip: Follow Jamie’s lead and use colour with precision. Consider using colour and millwork details on your range hood to create a standout focal point and beautiful spot to cook.

This kitchen is storage heaven. Jamie takes advantage of every square inch with floor-to-ceiling cabinets. There is no open storage, yet the space doesn’t feel heavy or loaded with cabinets. Jamie’s design is strategic. The top row and bottom lower oak-finished cabinets seem to flow into the French-door-panelled Bosch Benchmark Series Refrigerator and tall floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets, keeping the larger storage cabinets out of the kitchen’s main work zone.

The soft white cabinets bring a visual lightness to the space. The cabinets flanking the hood meld with the white quartz. The slim-depth cabinets near the patio doors blend with the walls and ceiling, while their shallow depth allows for easy access to the backyard through the patio doors.

Designer Tip: Consider mixing cabinetry finishes and depths, as well as forgoing open storage, to keep your kitchen feeling light, bright and clutter-free.

This kitchen is bathed in natural light. "The existing patio doors and full-height windows are a huge asset. They capture beautiful natural light throughout the day and overlook a lush green backyard,” says Jamie.

To reinforce the space’s connection to the outdoors, Jamie chose finishes in soft colours, added natural textures, and designed the kitchen to frame the view.

Designer Tip: Capitalize on natural light. Work with your contractor, designer, or kitchen planner to create a kitchen with architecture that frames the view.

Energy-efficient appliances, low-flow fixtures and sustainable materials are standard in Jamie's designs. But his approach to sustainable design also includes creating a space that will stand the test of time.

“For us,” says Jamie, “sustainability starts with designing a kitchen that truly lasts: timeless materials, thoughtful storage solutions, and a layout that supports the homeowners’ lifestyle for years to come.”

The laminate cabinetry, light quartz countertops, and wood flooring are durable, long-lasting and timeless choices that will age gracefully.

“Meanwhile elements like the painted range hood and island may evolve with colour trends, but these can be refinished by a professional with minimal effort”, says Jamie.

Cabinetry hardware and fixtures can also be swapped for a quick refresh.

“Longevity is an often-overlooked aspect of sustainable design, and we always consider how finishes and fixtures will perform not just today, but a decade from now,” says Jamie.

Designer Tip: Think like a sustainable designer and select fixed finishes that you will love for a long time. Experiment with trends in what Jamie describes as “non-committal” finishes, such as hardware, faucets, light fixtures and upholstery fabric.

Happy decorating and designing!

Sam