Premier Home Upgrades Inc. is a family owned and operated construction company, providing high-end kitchen and bathroom remodels throughout Southern Ontario since 2011. Specializing in custom carpentry and millwork, they offer expert installation, as well as quality craftmanship and attention to detail from the initial planning stages right through to the finishing touches.
Owner and Operator Airik Lenz and his team recently completed a stunning kitchen renovation for the Barratt Family in Bolton, ON that transformed a non-functional, dated kitchen into an entertainers dream space that the homeowners can enjoy with family and friends.
Cindy and Jim Barratt have always enjoyed entertaining, primarily during the summer months when they are able to take advantage of their large yard and outdoor space complete with cabana and hot tub. They recently found that their current main floor space (and their kitchen in particular) no longer suited their needs. They had entertained the idea of purchasing a home with their daughter and her fiancée, but with rapid rise in real estate prices in 2021 and the competitive nature of the market, they decided collectively that it was not the ideal time for them to make this move. So, after 20 years of living in their home, they set out to undertake a complete renovation to their main floor that would make it more in keeping with their lifestyle.
After interviewing several contractors and even hiring an interior designer at one point, they were frustrated with the process of finding someone reliable who understood what they were looking for. After reading an article about Airik and his team in Living Spaces & Lifestyles, they decided to give him a call and immediately knew they had found the right fit. “We knew immediately that Airik was the right person to help us to design and renovate our main floor space”, said Cindy. “He was honest, had lots of great ideas, and was not afraid to make suggestions if he felt we were on the wrong track. We could not be happier with the finished product”.
Airik and his team started this renovation by removing the old popcorn ceilings to modernize the space and got rid of the old crown molding to make the ceilings look higher. They removed several bulkheads and expanded the kitchen area, taking advantage of the double sliding glass doors to ensure a sun filled space with plenty of light. They installed vinyl plank flooring throughout in a multi-width brown/grey tone that brings continuity and gives depth and warmth to the area. Beautiful as well as durable, vinyl plank flooring is ideal for high traffic living areas and is waterproof and scratch resistant. This was important to the Barratts as their kitchen/living area is also an extension of their outdoor space at times and they often have a high volume of guests moving in and out to the yard.
The stunning white shaker style custom cabinetry includes strategically placed glass inserts, wine nook, coffee bar area, built in spice rack and pot and pan drawers. “Airik and his team were so accommodating and truly made an effort to understand what the purpose of our space would be and what would suit our lifestyle” said the Barratts. “They had excellent suggestions, and they managed to come up with solutions to any little glitches that came up throughout the process. They were strategic and customer oriented, offering creative solutions to any issues that arose. We cannot say enough about the professionalism of the entire crew”.
With plenty of lighting in the form of LED pot lights, the prep space is bright and plentiful, and features white quartz counters and a subway tile backsplash. The modern, fingerprint-free stainless-steel appliances finish off the look. But perhaps the centerpiece of the main floor is the oversized L-shaped island that is large enough to comfortably accommodate eight people. The Barratts often have a houseful of guests, and this area is ideal for buffet style meals, sit down family dinners, or simply gathering in the kitchen during parties.
The kitchen space flows beautifully into the family room, where Airik and his team installed a custom fireplace unit with multi-setting electric fireplace and tv insert with pivot capability. “We are huge hockey fans!” said Cindy and Jim. “We wanted to be able to watch the game and have sightlines right through to the deck/hot tub area so that we can watch the game from anywhere”. The dark grey ship lap style floor to ceiling surround is clean and contemporary and finishes off the main floor aesthetic nicely. “We are still working on the finishing touches”, noted Cindy. “We love our new space and want to choose each piece of furniture and décor with time and care to make it perfect”.
The Barratts have other projects in the works for the near future, and plan to work with Airik and his team at Premier to continue their renovation into their backyard, including expanding their deck and building a covered dining structure among other things. “We really appreciated the team at Premier. They are true professionals in the industry in every way and we can’t wait to see what they can come up with for our outdoor living space”.
Premier Home Upgrades Inc. is based in Halton Hills, Ontario and serves clients throughout Southern Ontario. They pride themselves on exceptional design and craftsmanship, competitive pricing and defined timelines and they offer a quality guarantee on all of their work. Please visit their website at www.premierhomeupgrades.ca or call Airik Lenz for more information at 647-965-1690
WRITTEN BY: TANYA BOTTOMLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL SPEARS
RESOURCES: PREMIER HOME UPGRADES
