![\"Spacious](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/apartment_therapy_ca_566\/14654c079df247ca5cba16265546faac.jpeg\"\/)
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The design idea for this Nova Scotia kitchen renovation was delightfully specific: “Ralph Lauren Polo Club meets Martha Stewart,” says Victoria Armour<\/a>, cofounder of Stil James<\/a>.<\/p>\n Luckily, she understood the assignment. The client, a mother of three teenagers, wanted a space where the extended family could gather and make memories, and what better room to start with than the kitchen?<\/p>\n They Wanted to Add European Details to Their Craftsman-Style Home<\/p>\n “It was very craftsman-style when she bought the home,” Victoria says of the original room. So they got to work on the new aesthetic: “British-inspired, layered, but leaning slightly feminine.”<\/p>\n The home’s main level is open-concept, so the kitchen, dining room, and living area needed to speak to one another while still feeling defined and unique. Since the layout worked, a full gut reno wasn’t necessary, and they were able to retain much of the original millwork.<\/p>\n Details like connecting the trim with the ceiling and installing a panel-ready fridge made the kitchen feel complete. Victoria’s biggest challenge was making the kitchen feel brand new, so she introduced fresh colors to help.<\/p>\n “We started by looking at a few color palettes that fit into our aesthetic and saw she was really drawn to the blues,” Victoria explains. “Next up was the stone; she fell in love with the honed Taj Mahal quartzite \u2014 practical, beautiful, and easy on the eyes.”<\/p>\n To continue tying the two rooms’ color palettes together, Victoria used Farrow & Ball’s “Selvedge” on the island and Matchstick on the cabinetry. The custom Kravet stools<\/a> with Mulberry blue check fabric and blue-painted legs also go well with the living room’s blue hues. The Zellige tile backsplash and unlacquered brass hardware add a vintage touch to the space, too.<\/p>\n It took seven months to complete the renovation, and though there were a few design hurdles along the way, it made the experience that much more rewarding.<\/p>\n “It was exactly what [the client] was hoping for. The quality of the original kitchen was excellent, but it wasn’t to her taste,” Victoria shares. “This kitchen is a true testament that with the right design direction, not everything needs to be a total rework. She loves to host, and this kitchen has become the true center of the home for weekend trips and holidays.”<\/p>\n Inspired? Submit your own project here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: “English Cottage-Inspired” Touches Revive a Craftsman-Style Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n Shop This Before & After<\/p>\n Paints<\/p>\n Farrow & Ball’s “Selvedge”<\/p>\n Farrow & Ball’s “Matchstick”<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n 6 IKEA Hacks for the Most Disorganized Among Us<\/a><\/p>\n Before and After: Black and White Paint Covers Up a Wood Paneling Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Spacious](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/apartment_therapy_ca_566\/d7bf0635cef978bf422fa4086ebbe1bb.jpeg\"\/)
The Layout Worked, but the Design Details Needed a Refresh<\/p>\n![\"Modern](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/apartment_therapy_ca_566\/f0f2610938a23e8215e9fb3b2858c4b9.jpeg\"\/)
First Step Was Finding Paint That Fit the New Aesthetic<\/p>\n![\"Modern](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/apartment_therapy_ca_566\/743bfb963577f250b4e0c70de8365461.jpeg\"\/)
The Kitchen Is Now the Center of the Home<\/p>\n