Caroline Laurysen-Castrucci, our Vice President of Administration, took to the air waves to talk with Dean Roberts on 580 CFRA’s “Experts on Calls” about Laurysen Kitchens and its long history. You can listen below!
Caroline’s father John started Laurysen Kitchens in 1970.
“I bleed sawdust,” Caroline joked.
Since then, we’ve completed thousands of kitchen designs and renovations – including the CHEO Dream Home kitchen.
Caroline has been there every step of the way, and she shared some of her tips, tricks, and knowledge with Dean.
Popular Kitchen Design Trends from Caroline
Designs are definitely different between 1970 and now. “There’s been a lot of changes,” Caroline told Dean.
Here are some of the trends she’s noticed.
1. When Laurysen Kitchens first started, everyone was using dark-stained oak wood and cathedral doors. Now? “We use a lot of painted MDF and matte or gloss melamine. Doors are often slabs, or they have a recessed or raised panel. This is much more simple – it’s also easier to clean.”
2. Push latch doors are becoming more and more popular. “Now you can have a variety of openings, including bi-fold and sliding.” Push latch doors eliminate the need for handles, and help achieve that simple, clean design that so many people are trying to achieve.
3. Large, resilient tile is the durable flooring that stands the test of time. While they are still seeing a lot of engineered hardwood and porcelain tiles, vinyl tiles wear incredibly well and are becoming a popular choice.
4. Drawers in your base cabinets are a must. These are extremely functional, as the storage comes to you. “This is good as we are an aging population.”
Caroline’s Reno-Planning Tips
Caroline took calls from local homeowners, and spoke about some important things you should think about if you want to redesign your kitchen.
- Know what you don’t like – this way we don’t put them in your kitchen designs.
- Know how you work and how you store things – this will dictate decisions like layout.
- Take a catalogue of your stuff – this can influence what kind of storage we suggest.
The most important thing to remember? “There’s no right or wrong way for designing a kitchen,” Caroline says.
Talk to Our Designers
We loved hearing Caroline answer your questions on CFRA. If you have more questions, or are thinking about your own kitchen redesign, we encourage you to reach out and talk to our designers. You can book a free consultation and start the process of making your kitchen beautiful and functional
