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Sharifa and Hafeez Habib dreamed of having a kitchen where they could cook and gather with their daughters and extended family, but their tiny farmhouse in Etobicoke, Ont., just didn’t have the square footage. When they decided to build a new home on their woodsy lot in 2023, they agreed that the kitchen needed to be the heart of the home. The space, designed by Jack Creasy of Jack Creasy Design with beautiful custom cabinets made by Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry, has timeless charm, bespoke details and a fresh burst of color.
Scroll for a look at this elegant kitchen design!
When Sharifa is entertaining family and friends, the island doubles as a grazing station. House & Home: What was the jumping-off point for the kitchen? Sharifa Habib: Long before we began construction, I’d been saving images of kitchens I liked. I kept seeing this beautiful 71-inch Lacanche range and was enamoured by the traditional look. When I found out it could be customized, I knew I had to have it. The rest of the kitchen grew from there. Jack Creasy: The range is matte black with brass accents, so we continued those brass accents throughout the kitchen with the hardware, faucets, lighting and the vent hood, which is finished with a liquified brass that will develop a beautiful patina over time. The hit of black in the servery cabinets also provides continuity.
Designer Jack Creasy (left) with Sharifa Habib. H&H: How did you know Jack would be right for the project? SH: Jack’s style really resonates with me. I tend to lean traditional and remember him posting a photo of a china wall and it just clicked. I like that his style has traditional elements, but with a bit of an edge.
The view from this window shows off the home’s woodsy setting. On display are Sharifa’s favorite china plates, which have golden details that complement the kitchen’s brass accents. H&H: What was on the wish list? JC: Sharifa is someone who both cooks and entertains, so she wanted a space that would work for the daily needs of her family as well as large parties. It had to be beautiful and functional but also feel intimate and cozy. SH: My grandmother was a phenomenal cook, and I needed room to try out some of her East African dishes like Mahamri and Bharazi, a family favorite. I wanted an island where my kids could do homework or guests could socialize, and lots of counter space in case I planned to make a more elaborate recipe like croissants. I’d never had a big kitchen, so we talked with Jack about things that didn’t work in our previous spaces to come up with a more functional design for our family.
The fridge and freezer are integrated for a seamless look. H&H: How did you settle on blue cabinets? JC: A lot of time was spent on getting that blue just right! Sharifa originally brought me a blue kitchen inspo shot, and then we looked at powdery blues with grey undertones that would work with the range. Once we narrowed it down to three blues, we had Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry make painted cabinet samples so we could look at them in the showroom. There’s a lot of blue in the kitchen, so we didn’t want to have any regrets. The blue also contrasts nicely with the pink Sharifa has in her dining room; we used the same pink on the arched door to the servery so the spaces would speak to each other.
The 71″ Lacanche range in matte black with brass finishes is the centerpiece of the kitchen. H&H: How was the range customized? SH: I enjoy cooking, so we had it outfitted it with a gas oven for roasting meats, an electric oven for baking, a vertical warming cupboard and a mix of induction and gas burners — plus an electric plancha! JC: I really like the warming cupboard option with the Lacanche range because it works like a slow cooker. You can use it to slow roast, which is perfect for Sharifa’s schedule as a nurse practitioner. She can pop something in there in the morning and it will be ready to serve when Hafeez gets home with the girls after school. The electric plancha is nice for things like bacon and pancakes.
An arched door in pale pink is a pretty entry to the servery.
Beyond the servery is a pantry painted the same blue as the kitchen, with closed storage and shelves for Sharifa’s cookbooks.
Recessed doors hide a breakfast area with everything the family needs for their morning routine. “It’s important to have zones in a big kitchen so you’re not getting your 10,000 steps in while trying to get the kids off to school,” says Jack with a laugh. H&H: What do you love most about the kitchen? JC: I just love the blue. It makes you smile as soon as you walk in to the room. And I love the details: the inserts in the drawers, the paper towel holder and the hidden elements that make the kitchen functional. I also really like the beautiful end panel on the marble island that adds drama. SH: We spend the bulk of our time at home in the kitchen. It’s where my husband and I have late-night talks while we’re emptying the dishwasher and getting ready for the next day, where the kids do homework and where I hustle to pull together dinner. Important conversations happen here and — at least for us — this is where life unfolds.
The servery cabinets are painted black for a bold contrast and nod to the range. Keep scrolling for elements of the look!
Author: Simone Olivero
Patrick Biller
Jack Creasy Design (design); Dewson Architects (architectural design)
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