For designer Kayla Bidgood, Grandma chic “It lasts a lifetime” isn't just a way to describe a space with ruffled cushions and chintz wallpaper; she sees it as a synonym for longevity. “I think of my grandmother, who had a kitchen for over 30 years,” says Bidgood, who founded her eponymous studio in 2011. “She kept it in perfect condition; there was a lot of thought put into it.” This approach to design, creating spaces that are intended to last a lifetime, is something Bidgood and her team aim for with every project. But in one recent renovation on Vancouver Island, it was all too true.
A young couple, now with two children, bought a 1920s home that was straight out of a storybook, inside and out. The interior was a pastel-hued time capsule, decorated with delicate lace, intricately patterned wallpaper and ornate ornaments. Bidgood immediately knew the home was fit Bidgood has great respect for the home's owner: “She has a very soft-spoken and gentle demeanor, so it's really important to me that the spaces we design reflect the people we're designing them for,” she says. Bidgood wanted the space to be functional for a growing family, while still maintaining a cozy and timeless feel.
Bringing everyone together
Part of the existing kitchen's appeal was its size; Bidgood appreciated that the area was separated from the formal dining area, giving it a more intimate feel. But to give her clients a little more prep space, she extended the sink wall just a little. This small addition created perfect nooks in each corner of the room for small, out-of-the-way appliances.
Decorate your retro cabinets with bright pastel colors
Incorporating curved cabinetry not only seemed like a safe choice for a family with young children (the fewer sharp corners the better), but also because the woodwork harkens back to the era in which the home was built. The slatted doors above also pay homage to old-fashioned kitchens with similar openings for airflow. “They have function, but they also give it such beautiful curb appeal,” Bidgood says. To ensure the woodwork would last 30 years or more, Bidgood chose sturdy birch crates. Meanwhile, a palette of pastel periwinkle and butter yellow added some much-needed freshness to the space. “You don't often see these soft pastels in kitchens, but they have a softness to them,” the designer adds.
Find local stones
Knowing that 100 years ago it wasn't all that common to import marble slabs from Italy to use for kitchen countertops, Bidgood searched nearby for stone, and luckily there was a quarry on Vancouver Island that produced marble in three colors (black, white and grey).
“We really wanted that sense of craftsmanship, that local people had made all these cabinets, and that the stone itself was from Vancouver Island,” she says.
Preserving the quirks that still make sense
The cabinetry in the dining nook was original to the home; Bidgood and her team simply painted it the same yellow as the rest of the room and replaced the knobs. But the real relic from the past is the ironing board that pulls down from the wall. The designer kept this funky detail because, on some days, having an ironing board in the kitchen really comes in handy. “In fact, in the morning, I'm ironing my shirts while I'm making breakfast for the kids and having my coffee,” she points out.
Keeping up with trends with lighting
The dining room's makeover boiled down to a series of cosmetic tweaks. Bidgood installed a new gas insert in the fireplace, surrounded it with checkerboard tiles, covered the walls in floral wallpaper, and installed a chandelier with a skirted shade with red stitching. When blending old and new, Bidgood often embraces the old with built-in elements (like the millwork) and plays around with the furniture and lighting. “That's because it's easier to change those things,” she notes. It also keeps the home from feeling like a history museum. “It's less creative if you're just making a replica of the period,” she adds. “I like to take something that's appropriate for the home and make it contemporary.” Grandma would love it.
