DESIGN Adrienne Dansereau, Atelier Dansereau
PHOTOGRAPHY Phil Bernard

Designed by Adrienne Dansereau of Atelier Dansereau, this home is located in Montreal, on a peaceful street just outside the city’s downtown core. At first glance, this kitchen is all about timeless simplicity, with a balance of rich walnut and warm white. On closer examination, however, there is a subtle mix of design details and textures that work together harmoniously to create a layered, relaxed style.

“Our goal as a team in designing this kitchen and living space was to create a home that feels timeless, calm, and deeply connected to natural materials. The warmth of the walnut, the softness of the creamy whites, and the quiet texture of the panelling all work together to add depth and character without ever feeling overdesigned,” says Adrienne.

Let’s take a closer look at the details and materials that give this kitchen layers of depth, warmth and character.

One of my favourite design choices in this kitchen is the rich walnut cabinets with their shaker profile. Wood has been making a comeback for a few years, but typically we’ve seen spaces where the cabinets and the floors are an exact match -think white oak cabinets with white oak floors. In Adrienne’s design, the warm walnut wood paired with the white oak floors are not an exact match, which makes the space feel layered and collected. And though the MDF panelling provides an unexpectedly classic backdrop to the modern white hood fan cover and smooth quartz, the creamy palette unifies the finishes and gives the space a harmonious vibe.

Designer Tip: Play with texture. Follow Adrienne's lead and consider mixing rift-sawn wood cabinets with smooth quartz and panelling to add personality to your kitchen. For a subtle variation, paint your panelling in a hue that’s slightly deeper than your walls.

There are so many lessons in balance in Adrienne’s design.

The Bosch Benchmark® Induction Slide-in Range in stainless steel is centred in the kitchen and balanced by a bank of drawers on either side, as well as black sconces.

When it comes to balancing dark and light, Adrienne’s design shows how thoughtful contrast can define a space. In the kitchen, the lower cabinets are walnut, while the uppers and tall pantry cabinet are soft white. In the front entry, this is reversed: the tall closet cabinets are walnut with a smooth slab profile—a subtle way to delineate the entryway from the kitchen.

And the traditional, curvy lines of the black wall sconces are balanced by the ultra-modern white ceiling lights.

Designer Tip: Mixing ultra-modern and classic design elements to create a balanced, sophisticated space. Follow Adrienne’s lead and consider switching light and dark upper and lower millwork between rooms.

Adrienne's mix of metals is another subtle way she adds sophistication and character to the space. The brushed brass pulls and knobs are demure, just so pretty, and provide lightness and a touch of glamour to the walnut. The hinges on the front door reference the shape and tone of the cabinetry hardware. Talk about attention to detail!

Even the stainless steel 800 Series French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator, placed near the pony wall window, bounces light around the room. The entryway herringbone tile floor, with its soft grey tones, nod to the nearby stainless-steel fridge. The grey tones in the kitchen runner and banquette cushions also echo the cool tones of the stainless steel the fridge, range, polished gooseneck chrome faucet and front entry tile.

Designer Tip: Create a storyboard to get an overall vision of how all the details—hardware, faucet and floor tile—will work together. Details make a space come alive, so include even the small details, like door hinges.

For me, there are three major design moves that make the space feel open and airy. First, there’s the pony wall with its large window, which lets natural light from the entryway illuminate the kitchen. Then, in the dining room, there’s a second pony wall with a sliding door. “The pony wall in the dining area separates the dining area from a small home office. It allows natural light to filter through while maintaining a sense of privacy and spatial definition,” says Adrienne. Finally, the white upper cabinets, panelling and porcelain make the space feel open and airy.

Designer Tip: To keep your kitchen feeling open and bright, consider using dark lower cabinets and light upper cabinets that are painted the same colour as your walls.

Adrienne’s repetition of black accents is yet another subtle, thoughtful and purposeful part of her design. The black sconces pick up on the front of the Bosch oven door, dining room chairs and banquette cushions. Even the styling on the shelves and counters—the candle holders, black salt and pepper shakers, and large vase—keep the eye moving and gives the space an uncluttered, pulled-together look.

Design Tip: Make a connection with an accent colour. While black is classic and sophisticated, bold colours like turquoise or coral add vibrancy. Do vary the tones, though, to keep your space looking layered and collected.

Happy decorating and designing!

Sam