From Bungalow to Bistro: How a Stoney Creek Family Transformed Their 1970s Kitchen into a Modern Entertainer’s Hub

Below is an in-depth case study of how a Stoney Creek family took their late-1970s bungalow kitchen and turned it into a spacious, functional, and visually stunning entertainer’s hub. We’ll cover their initial layout and pain points, the design goals, the step-by-step renovation process, key choices, budget breakdowns, and lessons learned—providing a roadmap for any Burlington-area homeowner considering a similar transformation.

1. Background: The Pre-Renovation Kitchen

• Home Type: Single-storey bungalow, built in 1978, located in the heart of Stoney Creek.
• Original Kitchen Footprint:
  • Approximately 11 × 14 feet.
  • Enclosed by full-height walls on three sides, with a small “eat-in” peninsula jutting into a compact dining alcove.
  • Cabinets were dark, laminate-faced, with a builder-grade tile countertop (white tile with dark grout).
  • Appliance lineup included a 1980s gas range, a refrigerator nearing 15 years old, and a small single-bowl sink with no garbage disposal.
  • Flooring was original 1978 sheet vinyl, heavily worn around the sink area.
• Pain Points:
  1. Cramped Layout: The peninsula blocked sightlines, and only two people could comfortably work side by side.
  2. Poor Lighting: A single overhead fluorescent fixture and no under-cabinet lights made prep tedious, especially in Ontario’s winter gloom.
  3. Outdated Finishes: Cream-and-brown laminate cabinets felt dated, and the white-tile countertop showed age cracks.
  4. Lack of Storage: No pantry, no “mess zone,” and limited counter space made it difficult to host even a small gathering.
  5. Separation from Living Spaces: Guests in the living room (directly adjacent) felt cut off; the narrow doorway between kitchen and living hindered social flow.

The family—two working parents and two school-age kids—entertains extended family several times a year and loves hosting friends. They decided a full gut-out and reconfiguration was needed to make the kitchen an open, functional hub.

2. Design Goals & Vision

1. Open-Concept Entertaining Space
   • Remove walls separating the kitchen from the adjacent family room to allow for sightlines, conversation, and ease of traffic flow.
   • Create a large, 8-foot center island with bar seating for 4–5 people.
2. Modern, Timeless Aesthetic
   • Replace dark, 1970s cabinetry with crisp, painted white shaker-style cabinets on the perimeter.
   • Introduce a moody, matte charcoal island for contrast, drawing inspiration from contemporary bistro design.
3. Maximize Storage & Functionality
   • Add a walk-in pantry (converting a small coat closet next to the kitchen).
   • Include a dedicated “mess zone” with counter space, open shelving for cookbooks, and a built-in charging station.
   • Incorporate deep drawers and roll-out trays for pots, pans, and easy access.
4. High-Performance Appliances
   • Upgrade to a 36″ professional-style induction range (Wolf) and a 48″ French-door Sub-Zero fridge integrated behind cabinet panels.
   • Add a panelized, under-counter Miele dishwasher and a dedicated steam oven for entertaining.
5. Enhanced Lighting & Ambiance
   • Install recessed LED pot lights on a dimmer controlled in three zones (prep, cooking, entertaining).
   • Under-cabinet LED strips along perimeter counters.
   • Three pendant lights (hand-blown glass) over the island.
6. Durable, Easy-Care Surfaces
   • Quartz perimeter counters in a white Carrara-marble look.
   • A contrasting black quartzite waterfall island top.
   • Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring in a warm oak tone running seamlessly into the adjacent living space.
7. Local Character & Materials
   • Source cabinetry from a Stoney Creek millwork shop (AA Cabinets & Millwork), emphasizing custom storage solutions.
   • Use tile backsplashes from a Hamilton tile showroom (Tile Town Hamilton) that offered a contemporary 3 × 12 matte white subway tile.
   • Incorporate reclaimed barn-wood floating shelves salvaged from a nearby Ancaster farm (via Habitat for Humanity ReStore).

The overall picture: transform a closed-off, dated kitchen into a cohesive entertainer’s space—modern, warm, and functional.

3. Phase 1: Layout Reconfiguration & Rough-Ins

3.1 Demo & Wall Removal

• Wall Removal:
  • Demolished a 6-foot load-bearing wall between the kitchen and family room.
  • Installed an engineered LVL beam (18″ tall, 2-ply) supported by two steel posts recessed behind future cabinetry. Engineering report and structural permit (City of Hamilton) cost: $1,200.
• Temporary Living Arrangements:
  • Family set up a “pop-up” kitchen in the garage with a countertop microwave, mini-fridge, and hot plate—maintaining basic meals while the main kitchen was offline.
• Debris Removal:
  • Rented a 10 m³ dumpster ($450) for all demolition debris (cabinets, drywall, old flooring).

3.2 Plumbing & Electrical Rough-Ins

• Plumbing:
  • Relocated sink drain 5 feet to align with new island; added new PEX supply lines for island sink and prep faucet.
  • Installed a dedicated water line stub for a future coffee station.
  • Rough-in plumbing: $3,200 (including permit and inspection).
• Electrical:
  • Ran new 20A circuits for the induction range (220 V), steam oven, and under-cabinet lighting.
  • Added six new LED pot light locations (on separate dimmer circuits).
  • Upgraded the electrical panel to 200 A to support new loads: $4,000 (including ESA permit and inspection).

3.3 HVAC & Ventilation

• Range Hood Ducting:
  • Framed and roughed in a 10″ round duct to the roof for a future 36″ hood.
  • Installed a temporary vent cap to keep debris out until hood arrived.
  • HVAC prep: $800.

At the end of Phase 1, the old kitchen was entirely removed, the space was open to the family room, and rough-ins for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC were complete—providing a clean slate for cabinet layout.

4. Phase 2: Cabinetry & Countertops

4.1 Cabinetry Selection & Installation

• Supplier: AA Cabinets & Millwork (Stoney Creek).
• Perimeter Cabinets: Painted maple shaker in Benjamin Moore’s Snowbound (OC-117). Included soft-close drawers, full-extension undermount slides, and 42″ uppers with toe-kick lighting.
• Island Cabinets: Custom-fabricated in matte charcoal (Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore). Cabinet framers coordinated the LVL beam’s steel posts to be hidden behind tall pantry units on either side.
• Walk-In Pantry: Converted an adjacent coat closet (3 × 4 ft) into a pantry featuring floor-to-ceiling shelving and a barn-door track (sliding door mounted on a reclaimed barn-wood slab).
• Cabinet Cost: $28,000 (material, fabrication, and installation)

4.2 Countertops

• Perimeter Countertops: White Carrara-look quartz (MSI Calacatta Nuvo, 2 cm) with eased edges: $4,000 (30 sq ft total).
• Island Countertop: Black quartzite (MSI Bluetooth Black, 3 cm) with waterfall edges on both ends: $6,500 (18 sq ft plus waterfall overhangs).
• Template & Install Lead Time:
  • Quartz delivered in 3 weeks; quartzite slab had a 4-week lead time—AA Cabinets scheduled other trades to minimize waiting.

5. Phase 3: Flooring, Backsplash & Final Touches

5.1 Flooring Installation

• Material: Shaw LVP in “Oak Harvest” (waterproof, 7 mm).
• Coverage: Approximately 240 sq ft (kitchen + open flow into family area).
• Installation: Completed over two days by a local team (Hamilton Flooring Solutions): $3,000.
• Key Detail: LVP planks were installed continuous through the former doorway, visually connecting the two spaces.

5.2 Backsplash & Wall Treatments

• Tile Choice: 3 × 12 matte-white subway tile with charcoal grout (Tile Town Hamilton).
• Accent Nook: Behind the range, inserted a 6 × 24 charcoal-glass mosaic strip (two rows): provides subtle drama.
• Installation: Two tile professionals (Tile Masters Hamilton) completed backsplash in 5 days: $1,800 (materials + labour).
• Walls & Paint:
  • Walls repainted in a warm greige (Sherwin-Williams’ Accessible Beige).
  • A single matte-black chalkboard paint panel (Moore & Giles chalkboard paint) on the pantry door interior for grocery lists.

5.3 Lighting & Hardware

• Pendant Lights (Island): Three hand-blown glass pendants from Ann Sacks (ordered via Lee Valley Tools Burlington): $1,200 including installation.
• Under-Cabinet LED Strips: Installed beneath perimeter uppers: $600.
• Cabinet Hardware: Bar pulls in brushed brass from Lee Valley Tools: $400 for 30 pulls.
• Recessed Pot Lights: Final trim kits and LED bulbs installed by electrician: $800.

5.4 Appliance Final Hookups & Accessories

• Major Appliances Installed:
  • Wolf 36″ induction range with integrated downdraft – $6,500 (range) + $1,200 installation.
  • Sub-Zero 48″ French-door fridge behind custom panel – $9,000 (fridge) + $650 panel install.
  • Miele under-counter dishwasher (panelized) – $1,600 (dishwasher) + $300 install.
  • Miele 24″ steam oven built into a tall cabinet – $2,500 + $300 install.
• Accessory Finishes:
  • Reclaimed barn-wood floating shelves above the coffee station (Habitat for Humanity ReStore find): $150 hung by AA Cabinets.
  • Matte-black wall-mount faucet over the island prep sink: $450.

6. Total Budget & Timeline Overview

• Permit Fees & Inspections:
  • Building permit (non-structural + structural review): $1,200
  • Plumbing permit & inspection: $350
  • Electrical permit & ESA fees: $300
• Contingency (≈ 6% of Total): $5,150 covered minor subfloor repairs (small water damage under old sink) and an unforeseen gas-line reroute (due to current code requirements).

The entire project—from demolition through final appliance hookups—spanned roughly 10 weeks of active work. Because of lead times (cabinetry and stone tops), the family lived with a partial kitchen for about 5 weeks, using the garage pop-up kitchen and ordering take-out a few times each week.

7. Key Lessons & Takeaways

1. Early Coordination Minimizes Delays:
   • Ordering the quartzite island top before final cabinet install date ensured no downtime waiting for slabs.
   • Scheduling plumbing, electrical, and tile trades in parallel (whenever possible) shaved 2 weeks off the timeline.
2. Prioritize Structural Work First:
   • Removing the load-bearing wall in Phase 1 opened up the space psychologically and spatially. All subsequent phases flowed around that decision.
   • Had they delayed demo until after cabinet selection, they would have risked misaligned cabinet depths.
3. Invest in Cabinet Quality for Long-Term Value:
   • Spending $28,000 on custom shaker-style cabinets (with full-extension soft-close drawers) eliminated the need for replacement for 15–20 years—avoiding the “flip-and-replace” cycle common in lower-budget remodels.
   • AA Cabinets’ 3-year warranty on workmanship provided peace of mind.
4. Balance Appliance Aspirations with Budget Realities:
   • The family splurged on Wolf/Sub-Zero not only for performance but for the resale cachet in Stoney Creek’s upper-midrange market.
   • They negotiated a spring “Appliance Sale” discount (10% off combined price) by purchasing during April, saving $3,400 overall.
5. Embrace Borrowed Character: Reclaimed Elements
   • The reclaimed barn-wood shelves (costing only $150) added warmth and local character—connecting the new kitchen to neighboring Ancaster farm heritage.
   • Such small adds can anchor a fully modern kitchen in local tradition.
6. Living Through a Phased Reno Requires Flexibility
   • Setting up a pop-up kitchen in the garage was critical; otherwise, they would have been without any cooking facilities.
   • They maintained a “laundry-room” sink on a utility cart to wash dishes during the second half of Phase 3.

8. Before & After Summary

9. Final Thoughts

By approaching their 1970s Stoney Creek bungalow kitchen as a multi-phase project, this family was able to:

• Spread Costs & Disruption: Avoid front-loading all expenses in a single phase; tackle structural and mechanical upgrades first, then move on to cabinetry, finishes, and appliances.
• Maintain Functionality: A temporary “pop-up” kitchen ensured they could keep cooking basic meals throughout several weeks of demo and rough-ins.
• Achieve a Cohesive, High-Function Outcome: Thoughtful sequencing ensured that cabinetry and countertops fit precisely over new plumbing/electrical rough-ins, eliminating costly re-cuts.
• Inject Local Character: From reclaimed shelves sourced nearby to cabinetry fabricated in Stoney Creek, local materials and talent grounded the kitchen in its Hamilton context.
• Create a True Entertainer’s Hub: The final open-concept design—with a center island, integrated high-end appliances, and seamless flow into the family room—now accommodates large family gatherings and holiday dinners with ease.

For any Hamilton or Burlington homeowner looking to transform an older kitchen incrementally, this “Bungalow to Bistro” case study illustrates how careful phasing, early planning, and strategic local sourcing can yield a stunning, functional, and lasting result.