KITCHEN COMMANDMENTS

Design guru Nate Berkus sets the ground rules for your next kitchen update.

AS TOLD TO BRETT WALTHER

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Don’t be too quick to demo A lot of people gut their kitchens unnecessarily. When I watch home improvement shows on TV—many of which are filmed in Canada—I’m always thinking to myself, Why don’t they just paint the cabinets? Instead, they spend more money than they need to by rebuild- 3 ing a kitchen from the ground up. Design is all about what your eye goes to and, oftentimes, painting the cabinets and switching the hardware are enough to make a visual impact.

Add character through counterscaping

Any horizontal surface in your home is an opportunity to do something interesting with accessories, and the kitchen counter is no exception. I tend to reach for vintage one-of-a-kind finds like marble cheese plates and wooden cutting boards that I pick up at auctions, garage sales and antiques fairs. I also love incorporating tons of natural materials, minerals, cacti and pale flowers. The best part? You can swipe everything off the counter and start over whenever you feel like it.

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GOT A GRIPE WITH YOUR KITCHEN? THERE’S AN APPLIANCE FOR

THAT! WE ROUNDED UP THE BEST PROBLEM-SOLVING APPLIANCES ON THE MARKET AT canadianliving.com/newappliances.

Mix metals with abandon

Mixing metallic finishes can be challenging— and not just in interior design. I always think about whether my watch matches my wedding ring or the buckle of my shoe, but if you look at classically designed kitchens from the 1920s up to the 1950s, you’ll see that metals are mixed with abandon. Taking a cue from those kitchens, you might have an unlacquered brass faucet and hardware and combine them with stainless-steel appliances and a porcelain farmhouse sink; the variation gives the appearance of a kitchen that’s been assembled over time.

Invest in timelessness, not trends

Design inspiration for a kitchen should come from the people who use the space, not trends that, five years from now, I’d be embarrassed to have recommended. That’s why there are some common elements in my kitchens: subway tile, painted or wire-brushed oak-panelled cabinet doors and antique kitchen islands. These elements come together in different ways, depending on the architecture of the space, but they’re all timeless design details that elevate a kitchen and make it feel personal.

MASTER THE MIX Brass hardware, a white farmhouse sink and stainless- steel appliances are a no-fail kitchen combo.

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This faucet is touchactivated!

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STYLE FILE

Nate Berkus

CLAIM TO FAME

Berkus made a splash with a small-space makeover on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, earning himself a regular spot as O’s design expert. Gaining international acclaim for his eminently livable designs, he’s since written two books and kicked off a hugely successful line of cheap-chic accessories that still make us miss Target Canada.

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1. LG Studio refrigerator, $4,799, and dishwasher, $1,899, lg.com. 2. Trinsic single-handle pull-down kitchen faucet in Champagne Bronze, $868, deltafaucet.ca. 3. Domsjö double-bowl sink, $349, ikea.ca. 4. Flange and strainer in Champagne Bronze, $135, deltafaucet.ca. 5. Fågleboda handle in Brass, $8 per pair, ikea.ca.

SIGNATURE STYLE

Relaxing rooms bathed in goes-with-everything off-white and dressed in a carefully curated mix of vintage finds and rich, natural textures.

DESIGN MOTTO

“A home should tell the story of the people who live there.”

Berkus contributed to the design of the new LG Studio collection of premium appliances, including this striking pro-style range. “We looked at 17 different patterns for the grills that sit on top of the range before we decided,” he says. Does that mean he prefers cooking with gas over electric? “I couldn’t care less, as long as it looks good,” he laughs. “My husband cooks. I’m the one running behind with the bottle of cleaner.” LG Studio slide-in gas range, $3,499, lg.com.

Got an oven that burns the bottoms of cookies while leaving the tops undercooked? This range’s heating element is on the back wall instead of the bottom for even heat distribution and consistent browning!