One of the most central parts of our home in the sky is our kitchen. Like many condos, we have one main living space where we prepare food, dine, work and unwind. One of the benefits of buying a pre-construction condo unit is that you have the ability to select your finishes… and we even went one step further and asked the builder to not install a backsplash so that we could install our own! After nearly a year and a half of living in this condo, we finally had a beautiful marble backsplash installed! I’m here to share our entire design vision, as well as some extra finishing touches that complete and personalize our space in this condo kitchen makeover.
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For this condo kitchen makeover, the backsplash we selected is a Calcutta marble with champagne gold metal details in a chevron print. We purchased 17 square feet (accounting for 10% wastage) from Rivalda Ceramic Tile in Vaughan. We ordered this tile right before the pandemic hit, and saw it in their showroom and fell in love! Because this is a small space, we really wanted to make a statement. We have no regrets on this decision, and I think the backsplash will make our unit stand out. The standard tile backsplash was boring and came in either a concrete flat beige, black or glossy red! I didn’t like any of the options available, so I knew this was the right decision.
Getting a marble backsplash installed in a condo
After purchasing our materials, we kept the tiles stowed away in our closet for months. This is my one regret, I wish we had installed it sooner to enjoy! We ended up finding a tile installer on the HomeStars website, which is basically a Yelp for independent contractors and installers. The installer provided us with a quote immediately and started the job the next day! It was a very simple, streamlined experience, and was cost-effective too. If you would like a recommendation for my backsplash installer, feel free to send me an email or DM on social media.
I think a lot of people are nervous about taking on small upgrades in their homes, but I encourage you to take the plunge! It’s a lot more affordable than you think, and is well worth the investment.
As for getting condo approval, because this was not flooring and the equipment was not extensive, I did not need any special permission from my condo board, as we did not have a renovations rule in place yet! Definitely check with your condo management and consult the rules so that you’re informed on what kind of permission you need in order to do the work, and make your condo kitchen makeover an easy process.
Delta Marca Champagne Bronze Gold Faucet
One of my favourite features in this condo kitchen is my beautiful Marca gold faucet from Delta Faucet Canada. We purchased this faucet in Champagne Bronze from Home Depot (here’s the link to Home Depot US), and it was well worth the investment. I love how the champagne colour of gold matches the backsplash and pulls everything together. I also really enjoy some of the features including the hose, sprayer and laminar flow!
My condo came with a standard faucet which didn’t have a hose, and I can fully say that this upgrade to a Delta Faucet was life changing! It’s perfect for spraying down fruits and veggies (a must in a pandemic), washing the sink in under 10 seconds and for watering plants! Like the backsplash, I wish I made this upgrade sooner, and the beautiful aesthetics don’t hurt either!
Smeg Toaster & Smeg Kettle Review
The first thing I bought for this place was my Smeg Retro Toaster in pastel green. I know it’s a luxury item but it is easily my most favourite possession in the kitchen! Because I am gluten-intolerant, I rely on toasting bread often for meals. I love that the Smeg Toaster has many settings, solid construction and a beautiful aesthetic to leave out on your counter.
Once you purchase a Smeg Toaster, I can guarantee that you will want a matching Smeg Kettle too! I love that this kettle boils water fast and feels really solid. The lever on both the Smeg toaster and kettle is very weighty and satisfying! I truly believe that appliances you use every day are worth investing in, especially when they double for their aesthetic quality. I’d love to get a set of Smeg small appliances in light blue for the cottage one day too!
Le Creuset Dutch Oven in Sage
Another must-have in our kitchen is our Le Creuset Round French Oven. This pot is truly a work horse and we can cook everything from pasta to a whole roast chicken inside. Because the French Oven is made from enamelled cast iron, it can be used on gas, induction and regular ranges, as well as be put in the oven. I love its versatility and that it’s a kitchen classic.
Finishing Details in the Condo Kitchen
To pull the entire look together, we also invested in some matching gold details. I couldn’t believe how incredible these gold wall plates look with the matching marble and gold backsplash. If you have dirty, stained wall plates in your kitchen – switch them up in a new colour or finish and it will give your whole space a refresh!
We also swapped out the standard pendant lighting in our condo and installed a beautiful gold light fixture from Lowe’s Canada (similar style available here). This light fixture was very affordable at under $200.00 and really uplifts the space with its retro vibe and provides ample light. Upgrading your light fixtures in your condo is a great investment to add more light and design in a standard condo unit.
I hope you enjoyed this roundup of my condo-friendly kitchen. While the “condo wall kitchen” can often feel bland and cookie-cutter, adding a personal backsplash, some colourful appliances and new lighting can take your space to a whole other level. Let me know in the comments below what your dream kitchen looks like!
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Disclosure: all items purchased by me! This post contains affiliate links.
