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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Last summer, Toronto-based interior designer Cynthia Soda of <\/span>Soda Pop Design Inc.<\/span><\/a> posted a before-and-after photo on Instagram of a small kitchen she had recently revamped. It was a Tuesday, so naturally a #TransformationTuesday post was in order. She was in the middle of a client meeting when her mother called to tell her that actress <\/span>Amy Davidson<\/span><\/a> of <\/span>8 Simple Rules<\/span><\/i> fame had commented on the photo, and included the raised hands emoji, which had to be a good sign, right?<\/span><\/p>\n\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Davidson wrote, \u201cOh my goodness!!!! I can\u2019t! This is amazing!!! Can we work together next?!!\u201d So Soda did what any savvy entrepreneur would do in 2018 \u2014 she slipped into Davidson’s DMs. \u201cI said, \u2018Hey, if you\u2019re serious, send me a note. Here\u2019s my email address and phone number.\u2019 And not 12 hours later, I got an email from Amy saying she absolutely needs help with her kitchen and she would love to work with me,\u201d recalls Soda. \u201cIt took me a while to realize this was actually real and I was not being Punk\u2019d!\u201d [Editor\u2019s note: This is a legitimate concern as Davidson appeared on <\/span>Episode #3.3<\/span><\/a> of Punk\u2019d in 2004].<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlmost serendipitously, that summer we had planned to go to California on a family vacation. We hijacked our vacation a little bit and I went out to Studio City [in Los Angeles] to meet Amy and measure her place,\u201d says Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The project was intended to be a cosmetic kitchen makeover. \u201cBut it had some functional issues that weren\u2019t going to be resolved with new paint on the cabinets,\u201d says Soda. \u201cSometimes the problem runs deeper than just making it look pretty!\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Davidson was in desperate need of storage (she didn\u2019t even have a proper pantry), and her existing kitchen island made the small space feel cramped. Soda provided her client with two design plans \u2014 one an extensive gut reno and the other a more pared-down, but efficiently organized overhaul. Davidson ultimately chose the second, which kept the wall between the kitchen and dining room intact, and incorporated an eat-in kitchen area with a bench for extra seating.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really all about that clean, simple aesthetic,\u201d Soda says of the kitchen\u2019s neutral palette. \u201cEspecially in a small space, I like it to look seamless and cohesive.\u201d While some design enthusiasts have grown tired of the all white kitchen trend, Soda sees it differently: \u201cIt\u2019s like a blank canvas for your life to make a mess on!\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The first order of business was selecting the Bosch suite of appliances. \u201cWith any renovation project I’m working on, I always tell my clients, \u2018The first thing you need to do is figure out what appliances you want in here.\u2019 I can design a whole entire kitchen with standard appliances, but if you want to incorporate anything out of the ordinary, I need to know because that\u2019s going to impact where I can put things and how the kitchen is going to be laid out,\u201d notes Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The flecked quartz countertop and matching backsplash were sourced from Wilsonart, while the golden-toned hardwood flooring came from Carpet One Floor & Home. Soda chose thermofoil flat panel cabinets and dressed them up with hardware from one of her favorite manufacturers, Emtek.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI like to use the analogy that hardware is like jewelry for your cabinet, so you can always be a bit playful with it. We used different styles of cabinet hardware \u2014 like studs, pulls and hooks \u2014 that all work really nicely together,\u201d explains Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n When conceptualizing the design of the kitchen, Soda opted to \u201cextend the existing footprint,\u201d by adding cabinets underneath the windows (formerly the eat-in kitchen area). You\u2019ll notice the counter height then dips a few inches, acting as sort of a built-in buffet. \u201cAmy\u2019s son, Lennox, can help her bake here because it\u2019s not super high,\u201d notes Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This bank of cabinetry seamlessly flows into the new eat-in kitchen area, which features ample storage, a dark blue accent wall, and a comfy bench cushion. \u201cEven the bench has latched, pull-out drawers underneath, so Amy\u2019s got even more opportunities to store stuff in there!\u201d says Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n As Soda and Davidson became fast friends, more design opportunities arose. The duo decided to take on the ground floor powder room, too. \u201cIt was a sad little powder room, so we wanted to make it a happier little powder room!\u201d laughs Soda. The need for storage was also apparent in this space. \u201cWe used the length of the powder room to create a long, narrow unit with sliding doors. It provides more storage, but everything is neatly tucked away,\u201d says Soda.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n To give the powder room some much-needed character, Soda wrapped two of the walls in shiplap. \u201cWe didn\u2019t cover the whole space \u2014 we wanted to treat it a different way than what you\u2019d normally see,\u201d says Soda. The finishes in the power room are another point of interest. \u201cCynthia encouraged me to mix metals, which was very scary for me!\u201d says Davidson. Soda paired a round gold mirror with a black matte faucet, gold cabinet hardware, and a farmhouse-inspired, black and gold light fixture.<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0ographr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n With Soda\u2019s guidance, Davidson also picked out two new chais for the luxe seating area adjacent to the kitchen. \u201cLast week, Amy texted me a photo of something else she wanted to buy and was like, \u2018I can\u2019t buy anything without you now! I\u2019ve got you right where I want you!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n