The kitchen at Ronald McDonald House is used by multiple families. The challenge was its limited footprint.

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What made this renovation really appealing was the cause and how our partners rallied. Our part was pro bono. Other suppliers and trades donated either pro bono or at cost.

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Imagine a home with 16 families without a kitchen. With the help of all our trade partners who went above and beyond, the new kitchen was operational in three weeks.

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By locating a coffee station and snack prep area, including a small fridge outside the main kitchen in a non-functional “bar area”, we alleviated the pressure from the main kitchen, and this reduced congestion.

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The cabinetry is designed to optimize usable prep space, barrier-free access, and (locked) storage. Two large floor-to-ceiling fridges and a floor-to-ceiling freezer create extra storage for perishables and allow each family to have their own area in a fridge.

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The finishes are durable, germ resistant, bright and playful. All new large and small appliances help with energy consumption.

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The project was not without its challenges. The existing HVAC system did not allow for the cooling of the kitchen area, so we sourced a ceiling-mount ductless A/C unit and installed it with the line set through the upper bedroom walls and out the roof area. There were no shut-off valves at the fixtures, so the entire house was without water while the plumbing was completed. The biggest challenge was to have a functional “temporary” kitchen to keep the existing residents accommodated. We had the assistance of one of our past clients: Chef Jeff, who volunteered to prepare meals.

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Overall this was a fun and rewarding project!