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Mason House | Modern Open-Concept Kitchen Renovation

Shrink your thinking - small is beautiful

This kitchen renovation in Ottawa served as the catalyst for the entire Mason House project. By removing restrictive walls in our Old Ottawa East home, we were able to create a bright, open-concept hub that connects the cooking area to the dining and living spaces.

The design focuses on high-performance materials and professional-grade functionality without losing the warmth of a family home. It is a perfect example of our design-build philosophy: creating spaces that look beautiful but work even better. As part of a larger home renovation, this kitchen now serves as the functional heart of the residence.

The material palette set this kitchen apart. Cabinets are crafted from smoke-tinted and natural bamboo, a fast-renewing resource, while the countertops are backlit solid glass that can be fully recycled in the future, a striking pairing captured in the gallery photos. A bright new window was positioned behind the cooktop so the cook stays connected to the outdoors, and a solar tube disguised as a recessed light keeps the room bright without daytime lighting. Efficient LEDs are integrated inside and under the upper cabinets, with motion-activated toe-kick lighting guiding late-night trips. One of the trickiest challenges was fitting professional-grade appliances, including a compact energy-efficient German dishwasher, into a modest footprint without losing storage. The result helped redefine what kitchen renovations Ottawa homeowners expect from a modern custom kitchen, and it earned the GOHBA award for Best Modern Custom Kitchen.

Project Summary

Location: Old Ottawa East, Ottawa
Primary Service: Kitchen Renovations

Ready for a new kitchen? Explore our Kitchen Projects or view the full Mason House whole-home transformation.

This project won the GOHBA Best Modern Custom Kitchen award. Read the full award spotlight.

Close-up of Mason House backlit blue glass countertop with cooktop

Lighting: A bright new window is positioned behind the cook top to reduce the need for day-time lighting and to feel connected to the outside. A solar tube disguised as a large recessed circular light fixture means there is no need to turn on lights on sunny days. To brighten the space further, efficient LED lighting is integrated inside and under upper cabinets and under staircase landings. Under-the-counter and toe-kick LED lighting comes on with a timed motion-activated switch which also allows a hands-free push to open lower cabinet drawers.

Wide view of Mason House modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances and dining table

Cabinets & Storage: Cabinets are created from smoke-tinted and natural bamboo, which is sustainable and fast growing. Extra drawers are built in to the toe-kicks, and blind corner pull-outs squeeze the last bit of usable space from the kitchen. A frosted glass sliding panel hides pull-out shelving and makes access to toasters, blenders and staples a breeze. Hands-free compact garbage and compost bins maximize under-sink space, along with custom built pocket shelves for scrubbers and cloths. The hinged peninsula bamboo table on wheels doubles as another counter surface, and custom glass shelves are built into an upper cabinet door to create quick access to preferred oils and vinegars. An integrated aluminum groove in the frosted glass back-splash allows for flexible placement of wall mounted holders for a cook book, rolls of tin foil, wax paper, and recyclable paper towel, as well as a place for keys. Back splash outlets are tucked up under upper cabinets for easy and clean access. The addition of a custom-made olive wood magnetic knife block frees up precious drawer space while providing safe and easy access to the knives when needed.

Mason House kitchen with glass cabinets, backlit blue glass counters and range hood

Mason House kitchen with dining table and wooden staircase

Mason House modern kitchen with bamboo cabinets and backlit glass countertops

Mason House kitchen with dining table and chairs by the window

Close-up of Mason House bamboo cabinets with blue backlit glass countertop

Mason House kitchen with built-in ovens and glass-front pantry

Appliances: The compact energy efficient German 18” dishwasher can clean a place setting for 8-10 easily. In this small kitchen we incorporate 3 quick-cooking energy efficient 24″ wall ovens; a convection oven, a microwave oven and a steam oven. They eliminate the need for most counter-top cooking appliances and therefore allow more space to be used for other things. The steam convection oven replaces such appliances as slow cookers, bottle sterilizers, rice cookers, and vegetable steamers and reheats food more evenly than a microwave. It’s a snap to clean, can cook multiple dishes at the same time without flavor transfer, and can align timing so they all finish at the same time. The convection oven, with its heating elements, can cook up 60 cookies at a time on 5 shelves or a 15 pound chicken on a hidden rotisserie. The ‘auto roast’ function of the oven allows you to get on with other things while it sears the outside of your cut, then slow cooks it to fall-off-the-bone perfection. The green choice of a 24″ induction cook top allows for full drawers to be placed below it. To maximize floor space, the fridge is recessed 4″ into the wall behind it. A green low energy DC kitchen fan vents quietly and quickly to the outside.

Mason House kitchen sink area with window and glass countertops

Mason House L-shaped kitchen with sink, window and dining chairs

Counters: Back light solid glass countertops, that can easily be recycled in the future, cap off this kitchen with a choice of colour to suit your mood. Right-sizing or shrink your thinking. Small is beautiful.

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Mason House | Modern Open-Concept Kitchen Renovation

Shrink your thinking - small is beautiful

This kitchen renovation in Ottawa served as the catalyst for the entire Mason House project. By removing restrictive walls in our Old Ottawa East home, we were able to create a bright, open-concept hub that connects the cooking area to the dining and living spaces.

The design focuses on high-performance materials and professional-grade functionality without losing the warmth of a family home. It is a perfect example of our design-build philosophy: creating spaces that look beautiful but work even better. As part of a larger home renovation, this kitchen now serves as the functional heart of the residence.

The material palette set this kitchen apart. Cabinets are crafted from smoke-tinted and natural bamboo, a fast-renewing resource, while the countertops are backlit solid glass that can be fully recycled in the future, a striking pairing captured in the gallery photos. A bright new window was positioned behind the cooktop so the cook stays connected to the outdoors, and a solar tube disguised as a recessed light keeps the room bright without daytime lighting. Efficient LEDs are integrated inside and under the upper cabinets, with motion-activated toe-kick lighting guiding late-night trips. One of the trickiest challenges was fitting professional-grade appliances, including a compact energy-efficient German dishwasher, into a modest footprint without losing storage. The result helped redefine what kitchen renovations Ottawa homeowners expect from a modern custom kitchen, and it earned the GOHBA award for Best Modern Custom Kitchen.

Project Summary

Location: Old Ottawa East, Ottawa
Primary Service: Kitchen Renovations

Ready for a new kitchen? Explore our Kitchen Projects or view the full Mason House whole-home transformation.

This project won the GOHBA Best Modern Custom Kitchen award. Read the full award spotlight.

Completed 2016

Location Rideau Gardens, Ottawa

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