A version of this article originally appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of OUR HOMES Hamilton and Area, p.42. Find local businesses in our Hamilton directory.

A Stoney Creek couple searched for a home for their family for two years before deciding to build something new. They knew what they wanted in their kitchen – classic cabinets with an island in walnut – but to get the rest of the interior just right, they worked interior decorator and staging specialist Luisa Giaitzis of Absolute Simplicity.
Learning that the owners’ favourite colour is red, Giaitzis developed the home’s colour palette around it so that they could really enjoy the space.
Built-in cabinets and an entertainment unit in the open-concept family room were constructed by Laurentide Kitchens & Bath to fit the fireplace (A&R Heating and Cooling) in the classic-contemporary mood the couple wanted. Polished walnut accents in the built-in shelves mirrors the walnut base of the kitchen island at the other end of the family living space.
Along with the dark-toned quartz of the main countertops, the wood of the island helps anchor the off-white kitchen, also by Laurentide. Extra storage space is concealed by doors with simple curved detailing that reflects the pattern of the glass-front cabinets flanking the range hood. White cabinets extend to meet the 10-foot ceilings, and each is accented with Swarovski crystal-studded door pulls, for a bit of fun.