9.28.2011

CENTRAL CONDOMINIUM : DESIGNING KITCHENS

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
Part of my work with Central was to help unit owners select finishes for their kitchen. We created color schemes that best suited their needs and budget, based on the available samples. The owners had to choose from a group of nine cabinet samples, eleven countertop samples and fifteen backsplash samples. The available colors were neutral for the most. It's always a good idea to choose a neutral palette for items that are fixed and use bright colors as accents for items that can easily be changed at a reasonable price (in case you grow tired of a particular color).

Central Condominiums Kitchen cabinet selections
Central Condominiums Kitchen countertop selections
Central Condominiums Kitchen countertop selections

Needless to say, there are a lot of possible combinations : 1485 to be exact (just for the kitchen). That's a little more than 6 times the amount of available units! So it would have been possible to make sure that none of the kitchens in the building would be identical.  Granted, not every sample works well together and some finishes were more popular than others. Still, the owners had a lot of choices and it was fun putting various combinations together during our meetings. 

All in all, there is an interesting range of color combinations for kitchens throughout the building. The installation of the kitchen happens after the walls have been primed. Prior to fabricating the cabinets, the kitchen suppliers visited the site and checked the dimensions of the kitchen space in various units, marking down the position of each appliance.
Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design

After carefully checking the dimensions on site, the kitchen suppliers started delivering and installing the cabinets a couple weeks ago. On a recent visit to the site, I took pictures of the progress in some units where the kitchens were almost completed. The surface still needs to be washed, but you can still see how different combinations of color can alter the mood of the spaces, as shown below:

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
With a medium colored cabinet, the white glass backsplash and white countertop brightens and freshens the look.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
The metal backsplash is a nice contrast against the dark textures cabinets and the dark counter. Once the track lights are up, it will look spectacular.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
The lighter cabinets with the warmer countertop and backsplash softens the look of the space and gives it a bit more traditional look while staying contemporary.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
Using the same traditional style counter with the darker cabinet and complementary glass backsplash, modernizes the look a little more than the previous combination.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
The dark countertop and backsplash mixed with the lighter cabinet gives a very graphic look due to the high contrast. This look is more dynamic and will look great with a bold accent color.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
It's possible to go completely dark with a dark cabinet, dark countertop and dark backsplash. With the white appliances contrasting the dark finishes, this combination will require a good balance of color with the accessories. Using stainless steel or black appliances instead, this space could look very sexy with dark walls to get more of a lounge ambiance.

Central Condominiums Kitchen dark cabinet white glass backsplash white counter interior design
The darker cabinets also look great against the white countertop and white glass backsplash, which softens the look of the kitchen and brightens the space. 

9.13.2011

CENTRAL CONDOMINIUM : INSIDE THE COURTYARD

Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
As some of you already know, the amenities at Central 1 include an interior courtyard. This feature essentially allows everyone living in the condo to have a shared backyard in the city. While the priority is to complete the units, work is also being done in the courtyard. I've been taking pictures of the courtyard as subtle changes occurred, documenting the process. Last week all the original construction material was gone and some workers were preparing the ground. I have enough pictures to show you a bit of the evolution of the courtyard so far.

Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
Previously the courtyard was the perfect location to store various building materials. There was even a little "office" (blue box on the right). The big red structure on the right is for the crane used to lift items. It's really high.

Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction

Once most of the windows of units facing the courtyard were in, almost everything was taken out. You can see the  concrete slab underneath.
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction

Last week, it lookeds like rigid insulation was added on the side wall and the ground was water proofed. I'm looking forward to see how this looks later on. Also given the fact that the building is so close to the neighboring house, some of the workers were also repairing the roof of the house next door, which was much needed.
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction
Modern Ottawa Central 1 Condominiums courtyard construction

9.11.2011

INSPIRED BY NEW YORK

moodboard color story New York loft modern grey yellow
I recently came up with this simple mood board for the design of a condo I'm currently working on. I plan to use a neutral color palette with grays and whites, warm it up with natural wood and add some interest with bright yellow accents. As I was putting this together, I realized that my mood board is in line with one of the design trends from imm cologne named Surprising Empathy. Below is a collection of materials that was put together by a team of experts earlier this year to illustrate that particular trend. I guess I'm on the right track :)
trends 2011 surprising empathy

9.05.2011

CENTRAL CONDOMINIUM : LOS ANGELES MODEL

Central Condominium Modern Ottawa Central Condominium floor plan Modern Ottawa
The construction process is going well at Central and the rooms are taking shape. The Los Angeles is another available model that faces North. It's a two-bedroom-two-bathroom unit. There are seven units with this floor plan in the building.


It's nice to see the finished walls. It makes a big difference. You can see below a before and after of the view of the entry from inside the unit. It's not completely done but it's well under way. You can also see a portion of the master bedroom with the closet opening on the right and the smaller opening leading to the ensuite on the left.


Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa


For a lot of the units, the cabinets are in. Here you can see below the popular Tuxedo finish in one of the Los Angeles units.


Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa

This model has a compact kitchen tucked in a nook. I took pictures of this nook at different stages of construction to see the evolution of that space. The fridge will be placed in the large opening on the left and the stove and fan will be placed in the opening on the right. In front of these cabinets, there will be an island attached on the wall to the left that will house a sink and a dishwasher. You can see the pipes protruding from the side of the wall and some of the cabinets are already installed. The owners had a choice between different types of appliances. From the look of it, it looks like this one will have a slide-in stove.
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa


The tiles in the bathroom are also being installed. For example in the ensuite below, you can see the Beta in Crema tiles on the floor and on the wall. In this particular unit, the owner has decided to upgrade the tiles on the wall surrounding the tub, so the tiles on the floor and the tiles around the tub are the same. It gives a nice effect. The grout should follow soon after.
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa


There's also work being done on the outside. The frames for the railings on the balconies are also being installed.
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa
Central Condominium Construction Modern Ottawa