If a home is a sort of theatre of life, then the kitchen arguably takes centre stage. That’s certainly true of La Firme’s remake of an Old Montreal condo: Stepping out of its dark hall and into the bright kitchen is like coming out of the wings and onto a lit dais where the scenography is a study in contrasts.

The condo extends from the black-painted and -tiled entrance to three large vaulted windows on the opposite perimeter. Flowing along this layout, the kitchen grounds the open-concept space by connecting the hall and the living room. Since the client (who had worked with La Firme on a previous Old Montreal apartment revamp) loves to cook, the architects capitalized on the linear footprint to create a galley kitchen not unlike one you’d find in a restaurant.

While the old kitchen was large, it — and the rest of the condo — had walls that were inserted at odd angles, cramping the space and interrupting the flow of light. “Now, moving around and working in the kitchen is seamless,” says Louis Béliveau, the project lead and firm co-founder. “Everyone has their own station.”

Montreal studio La Firme appointed the new kitchen with an island made from four slabs of Dedalus marble, whose dramatic streaks of black, beige, grey and green tie the room together.

The dark–light spatial drama continues in the monochrome materials. A shiny black volume abutting the kitchen offers a stark contrast to the white tones of the room’s oak floors, semi-translucent Corian counters, structural brick wall (painted to match the Corian), powder-coated steel shelving, and warm white oak ceiling. Acting as a mirror, the black-tinted glass reflects and seemingly amplifies the kitchen.

Behind the volume of black-tinted glass is a sauna that disappears from view when the internal light is turned off. Custom lighting by La Firme.

But here, La Firme added a surprising plot twist: Concealed behind the dark smoked glass wall is a sauna; when it’s not in use and the light inside is turned off, the space is imperceptible, but flick the switch and it steals the limelight.

The showstopper, otherwise, is the kitchen island. Clad in Dedalus marble, it’s a riot compared to the rest of the palette. “It’s a more intricate stone, and is the focal point of the project,” says Béliveau of the pronounced grain in light to dark greys and softer shades of brown. Yes, the island provides a work surface
and storage (including a wine cooler and a beverage fridge). But best of all, it serves up a delicious swirl recalling all the materials used by the architects, and in so doing, it manages to unify while standing out. Talk about bringing down the house.

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H 7680 BP 30-Inch Built-In Oven by Miele

With 18 operating modes — from Defrost and Auto Roast to Maxi Broil, Slow Roasting, Browning and others — this 30-inch built-in oven from Miele completely takes the guesswork out of cooking. Other features of the Wi-Fi-enabled oven include rapid preheat and cool-down, automatic programming, a soft opening and closing door and fingerprint-resistant surfaces; its sleek design means it can be seamlessly integrated into any space.

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Pro Harmony Induction Range by Thermador

The two or three — depending on the model — large cooking zones of this induction range collection from Thermador feature HeatShift (which changes power levels by moving cookware rather than adjusting dials) and MoveMode (which lets pots and pans move to different areas without needing to adjust settings), making it a snap to cook multiple dishes at once. Inside, up to three telescopic racks are easy to access and support the heaviest of dishes.

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Series 9 24″ Integrated Triple Zone Refrigerator by Fisher & Paykel

The Integrated Triple Zone refrigerator from Fisher & Paykel has been engineered to preserve food, reduce waste and minimally impact the environment. Three different storage zones are controlled by three different evaporators, and each can toggle between Pantry (12°C), Fridge (3°C) and Chill (-0.5°C) in up to nine configurations. This level of control ensures food preservation by extending shelf life and aides in energy conservation. The fridge can be fronted in stainless steel or clad to match existing cabinetry.

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48-Inch Built-In French Door Refrigerator/Freezer by Signature Kitchen Suite

A metal interior and precise food preservation system minimize temperature fluctuations to keep food at its best in this Signature Kitchen Suite fridge. The fuss-free design allows the unit to sit flush with cabinetry, and cleverly concealed internal LEDs illuminate every nook and cranny of the four adjustable shelves; four convertible drawers have five temperature presets (from 5°C to -22°C) and dual ice makers for both spherical and frustum shapes.

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Cosmopolitan Kitchen by Danver

Rendered in Piet Mondrian–inspired colour blocks, the Cosmopolitan Kitchen by Daniel Germani is a sleek and modular solution for spaces large and small. The latest unit to be added to Germani’s collection for stainless-steel kitchen cabinet-maker Danver, the minimalist design offers plenty of storage and prep space while maintaining a refreshing simplicity. The benches can be equipped with a grill or be prepped for two Invisacook induction elements (sold separately), with the operating panel neatly tucked away in a drawer. A fixed lower shelf of powder-coated metal slats and walnut-finished drawer interiors complete the refined look.

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Àtria by Abimis

When introduced in 2021, Àtria, by Studio Delineo and architect Massimo Rosati, was the first kitchen from Abimis dedicated entirely to outdoor use. Defined by strong architectural lines and simple profiles, the versatile system has been expanded throughout the years with new modules, configurations, materials, accessories and colours. Shown here at the Garage Nardini bar and restaurant in Italy, the stainless-steel unit is elegantly appointed with bright green handles and framing (including a lower shelf) and features an integrated sink, induction hob, handy back shelf and large storage units.

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Phil by Ethimo

With an unconventional cylindrical shape and compact footprint, Phil aims to simplify the art of outdoor cooking. A collaboration between Milan-based Maltese designer Gordon Guillaumier and outdoor furniture–maker Ethimo, the collection includes three separate modules — a sink, an induction hob and a barbecue — that can be used separately or together to maximize functionality in even the smallest of settings. Made from metal in Olive Green or Sepia Black with handsome teak accents, the circular islands are ergonomically sound at 95 centimetres tall and 75 centimetres wide — and with the option for casters on the two cooking versions, they can be easily moved where needed.

For Madrid architectural designers Antonio Mora Ramos and Eduardo Tazón Maigre, co-founders of Studio.Noju, finding a unit available for purchase in Torres Blancas was more than just the chance to live in an icon of Spanish Organicism by architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza. It was an opportunity for unabashed creativity. “This was a personal and professional investment,” says Tazón Maigre. “Some projects don’t give you the opportunity to be as bold or experimental as we would want to, but this one gave us the chance to truly showcase our way of designing.”

While one of the defining features of the raw concrete massing of 1960s cylindrical volumes is the open-air “garden terraces,” decades of renovations had closed off a large portion of them in the duo’s 400-square-metre duplex (one of only eight in the building). Recovering those outdoor spaces became a main priority of the complete renovation. On the second level, that ambition resulted in the transformation of the balcony adjacent to the main bedroom into a semi-open terrace devoted to bathing. “We wanted this space to have a different character,” says Tazón Maigre, “to create a special bathing area with views and lots of greenery. It’s hedonistic in a way.”

Each of the 5-by-15-centimetre olive green ceramic tiles (part of the Bejmat collection from WOW Design) were hand-laid by an expert installer, a meticulous and laborious endeavour that speaks to Studio.Noju’s attention to detail and appreciation of craftsmanship.

A sinuous glass wall follows the “curved language and fluid circulation” of the building’s design, separating the exterior from the interior without compromising transparency. “It’s an in-between space that is not fully exposed, nor fully contained,” says Tazón Maigre of the reimagined terrace, which can be accessed from the bedroom by a tilt-and-turn glass door. With the perimeter open to the elements, the glass installation helps make the space suitable for use year-round; semi-sheer sound-absorbing curtains from Vescom offer privacy and protection (for both people and plants) from the direct glare of the sun.

Olive-green ceramic tiles clad the floor, half-walls (which double as planters with built-in irrigation systems and seating elements) and the showpiece Toba bathtub from b10, whose shape was determined by the “curved geometry” of the entire apartment. Complementing and adding a layer of warmth to the lush colour of the tiles and abundant plantings, the original wood shutters were sanded and polished to reveal their authentic patina. Capped by the rotating circular shapes of the concrete balcony above, the new bathing area is exuberant and inviting, offering a secluded escape overlooking the bustling city.

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Origini by Gessi

Divided into five “triads” of colour, material and finish, the Origini collection from Gessi references archetypal forms of the past to introduce new personalities to the bathroom. The monochromatic Origini Warm, for example, mixes warm and dark bronzes with soft pink, while Accent balances glossy ochre with matte black and brushed brass. Also offered in Neutral, Materic and Nature, the series comprises basin and bath mixers, spouts, showerheads, shower columns and accessories.

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One X FP5 by Kallista

One of three new handle options for Kallista’s One collection of minimalist faucets, tub fillers and shower systems, FP5 introduces pops of postmodern colour as well as a dose of Hollywood Regency glam. The flower-shaped decorative levers of the solid metal faucet (which comes in five signature finishes) are energized with three powder-coated pastel hues — pink, blue and cream — that are at once whimsical and sophisticated.

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Varied Forms by The Watermark Collection

A recently launched sister brand to faucet manufacturer The Watermark Collection, Varied Forms brings a new level of customization to the bathroom. Designed in the U.K. and made in Italy, its inaugural collection includes handles and spouts in different shapes, sizes and materials (there are currently 800 possible variations, with more to come) that can be easily mixed and matched and mixed again, making it possible to change up the look of a bathroom seasonally or on a whim.

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Occasion by Kohler

With chamfered edges, a gently flared base and pentagonal accents, the Occasion collection by Kohler was inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood; the refined facets and angles play with light in an intriguing way. The three handles and two spouts are offered in nine finishes, including Matte Black and Moderne Brass (shown), and can be custom configured to suit a range of styles. Occasion also includes lighting and accessories for a completely cohesive look.

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Pipe by Fantini

Originally part of Boffi’s Ex.Series, Pipe by Marcel Wanders has been added to the Aboutwater Boffi Fantini portfolio (along with two other icons: Eclipse by Studiocharlie and Garden by Piero Lissoni). Defined by a vibrant red handle meant to resemble a flower in bloom, the industrial-leaning collection — first designed by Wanders in 2000 — includes wall- and deck-mount sink and tub faucets, shower mixers, plus multi-purpose hooks, toilet roll holders and a freestanding shower column.

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Shape by Ceramica Fondovalle

A comprehensive collection of thin porcelain slabs from Ceramica Fondovalle, Shape includes basins, shower trays, countertops and tables that can be coordinated or contrasted to floor and wall tiles. An array of effects is offered — from marble and concrete to metal, resin and more — as are different sizes and shapes to create a perfectly tailored space.

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Ecorazzo Handbasin by Clou

To achieve the terrazzo look of the Ecorazzo handbasins, Dutch bathware brand Clou developed a sustainable material that is 100 per cent made from recycled plastic waste. First collected and sorted by colour, the polyethylene is then shredded, melted and formed into the streamlined and compact sinks. The three colourways offered (Terra Light, Midnight Navy and Galaxy Black) feature minor irregularities, making each one unique.

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Ansel Sink by Durasein

Sleek and streamlined, the Ansel sink from Durasein features an unobtrusive integral overflow and can be specified with an extended countertop. Produced in acrylic in Arctic White or Natural White, the sink is non-porous and resistant to staining, mould and mildew, making it suitable for both residential and commercial use.

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Wave Collection by Kast

With undulating forms, playful silhouettes and bold colourways, the three basins in the Wave collection from Kast — Dune (shown), Tilde and Prim — inject a fresh perspective into the bathroom, one informed by Italian Radicalism and postmodernism. All three are made from aggregate- based concrete.

Public restrooms are rare — and the ones that do exist are rarely places of beauty. The Tokyo Toilet project is out to change that. Commissioning work from a roster of starchitects, the initiative (funded by the socially minded Nippon Foundation) has introduced 17 public toilets throughout the Japanese capital’s Shibuya district over the past three years.

Sou Fujimoto’s public restroom design for The Tokyo Toilet — one of 17 installed by the foundation in the city’s Shibuya district — includes private stalls and a sloped sink to accommodate everyone.

Unveiled this spring, the project’s latest outpost is a sinuous structure designed by Sou Fujimoto. After passing through an arched doorway, visitors enter an open-air hallway that positions gendered stalls on one side and a sculptural communal sink on the other. (A third, accessible unit complete with a change table is reached via a doorway at one end of the building.)

The slope of the basin (made of a steel skeleton covered in wire mesh and mortar) presents taps at two heights — one for standing adults and another for children or those in mobility devices — while a combination of inward- and outward-facing faucets allows passersby to quickly wash up or fill their water bottles. Adding to the spa-like experience, a circular cut-out makes space for a tree growing through. Far from being just a place to relieve yourself, the design is also a place of respite from the busy urban environment.