A treasure island in your kitchen

Our love of making things goes beyond doors and into the kitchen with our custom islands. The islands we create are completely different from the cabinetry of the kitchen and therefore stand as a piece of furniture on their own.

We naturally progressed into making islands as we branched from doors into other furniture. Clients would ask us if we can make a unique island while we were making their door, and we continued from there. A good example of a unique island is one we made for Sarah Hartill from House & Home magazine. It was a really fun project, as the island needed to be very small and functional… but beautiful. We used white oak and metal to make this and it contrasts wonderfully against the green mist cabinetry Sarah chose.

Our custom work allows us to fit in as many built-in features as possible to maximize space. Functionality is important and that’s why these pieces require a lot of consideration to design.

Making space in small ones

Practicality is important to everything we make: our kitchen islands are carefully designed to meet client’s needs and conserve space. With electrical elements, lifestyle and aesthetics in mind, we craft a space-efficient unit that does more than just look good. Since an island is a great opportunity to create more storage space, we prioritize this in our designs. Anyone with a small kitchen will agree!

Kitchen island in white oak

Featuring a wine rack, shelving and wheels

Built-in features

Given the custom nature of our work, we have the ability to create pieces that fulfill all of our clients’ needs.

We worked with interior designer Stephanie Lees to create an island with the electrical outlet built into one side of the unit. Stephanie wanted to incorporate the electrical need into the design, which resulted in a beautiful asymmetrical island base.  Made of reclaimed wood and metal, the island now resides in the home it was made for. (which was featured in several media outlets, including Home in Canada magazine).

See left, third image in slideshow: This island for our clients’ small condo kitchen has a wine rack, shelving units and space for chairs to fit underneath. The client requested wheels to allow easy transport, which means it can used as a mobile bar (and that’s an idea we can all appreciate!)

If you would like us to make something for you, please email us at info@1925workbench.com with pictures of your space and dimensions.

Special project: DUKE condo

This project is near and dear to us because we had the opportunity to do whatever we wanted with the space.

We were excited about so many things as we began transforming this one bedroom plus den condo into a chic yet comfortable home. That started with the large windows and open concept layout. We envisioned a kitchen island in white oak, a glass metal divider and our signature sliding doors in bringing the space to life.

We made sure to treat aesthetics and functionality with equal importance. Because every space should have both.

The glass metal divider

The pillar in the middle of the space was awkward and disrupted the open concept layout, so we created a den using our glass metal divider. Also known as the glass metal factory door, we hand make these in our Toronto studio.

Acting as an extension of the large windows, the glass metal divider breaks up the space without losing sunlight and the beautiful Toronto view.

To learn more, read our glass metal factory doors blog here.

before

after

after

The kitchen

The design lacked counter space, so we enlisted one of our lesser known specialties: custom islands made in wood.

Instead of a standard marble countertop, we made one in solid white oak. With seating on one side and open shelving on the other, the piece is functional as well as aesthetic. We also wanted to incorporate more natural materials in the design. It’s authentic and juxtaposes the industrial style of the condo.

before

The kitchen island provides counter space while incorporating our favourite material: wood. It is a natural and authentic element that transforms this standard kitchen.

after

after

notice the storage built into the unit

Doors

The closet by the kitchen had a standard sliding door that was neither high quality or nice to look at! At 48 inches, the entry closet opening was too small for two sliding doors, so we made one large door on brassy beau top mount hardware. It is painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Nightingale” and is now an aesthetic highlight of the room (see below right).

Moving into the bedroom, whose walk-in closet had no doors, we wanted to create more privacy. This sliding door was made to match the glass metal divider in the den, using frosted glass to hide the closet’s contents (see below left).

raw steel hardware

our sliding door on raw steel hardware, frosted glass

brassy beau hardware

our sliding door on brassy beau top mount hardware, painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Nightingale”

Finishing touches

We called in the amazing property stylist Becky Freeman, who styled the entire condo into an elegant and inviting home, ready for the market. Another big thank you goes to real estate agent Brian Reece, who goes above and beyond for his clients.

We had a vision and are proud that we made it happen.

Contact us

If you would like us to make something for you, please contact us at info@1925workbench.com with pictures of your space and dimensions.

Fins us on Instagram: @1925workbench.

A new space from an old one

Our custom doors can turn your den into any kind of room you like: Play room? Yoga studio? Secret sanctuary? It’s up to you and the possibilities are endless. See how some past clients have used our doors to create a new space.

Here, our sliding doors helped transform a den into a bedroom for two girls, complete with bunk beds made by us! We took video of the bedroom to show you how our patented single track bypass hardware works.

Our patented single track bypass hardware

While most passing sliding doors require two separate tracks (one for each door), our patented hardware places both doors on a single track. This makes our system more sleek and compact… Watch and see if you agree!

Den turned office

Who says your home is too small for a home office?

Our single track bypass doors are used below to convert a den into an office. We inserted glass panels to keep an open concept feel while creating a separate work space away from the distractions of a home. This way our client can get stuff done without feeling trapped in a tiny work environment, which we all know isn’t very inspiring!

Our single bypass sliding doors with glass inserts convert a den into a home office. Due to their large size, they also serve as a wall.

Get

Creative!

See how we’ve customized our sliding doors for our clients.

Condo bedroom: Our barn board sliding doors act as a wall to create a bedroom beyond (see on left).

Vertical tongue and groove panel door

Poplar wood, painted

Bi-part doors

Walnut panel doors with upper glass inserts

Bi-part doors

Walnut panel doors with upper glass inserts

Single track bypass doors

Painted doors, one with glass insert

Single track bypass doors

Pine wood with upper glass inserts

In many cases, our sliding doors act as walls that create privacy and divide a space. What you do with that new space is your choice. Here, our client made a guest bedroom.

Living in a small condo, our client needed to create privacy without the hassle of building an entirely new wall, which can be time consuming and expensive (and messy!) The solution: our barn board doors on our patented single track bypass hardware. As a two-in-one door and wall, it’s just a bonus that this practical door is also a beautiful feature of your home. :)

Above all, our clients love our sliding doors because of their versatility. Whether used to convert a den into a bedroom, home office or beyond, we can customize our designs to fit your needs and creative desire.

If you would like us to make something for you, email us with a picture of your space and height/width measurements to info@1925workbench.com.

Keep up with us on Instagram!

More than doors: glass metal factory doors by us

A lot of you have asked about some glass doors we made for a jeweler in Toronto, and we are pleased to inform you that we custom make these as well.

Inspired by old factory doors, our glass metal factory doors mix the new with the old and bring it into your space, whether it be Brooklyn or a Toronto condo. In addition to the steel frame, each door lite (the glass panel component) has two glass stoppers that are hand welded from steel. Made by hand using original techniques and careful craftsmanship, this labour intensive process makes an authentic finished product.

Glass metal factory doors

Take a look at these glass metal factory doors we recently made for Ringcometrue in Toronto (right). Hand welded from steel in our South Etobicoke studio, we customize these doors to match your vision as well as your space.

2-in-1 glass divider

Below, our glass metal factory door separates a home office from the play room.

our sliding glass doors separate the home office from a play room while maintaining an open concept layout.

We worked on a home office for Toronto jeweller, Ringcometrue! As always, these doors are made in our studio in South Etobicoke, hand welded from steel. Each of the multiple lites (glass panels) are welded into glass stoppers on both sides.

We also made these glass metal factory doors for Gelinas Dental Studio in Roncesvalles. Owner Andrea Gelinas went to great lengths to create a comfortable yet chic atmosphere for her patients. We think her dental studio is so beautiful and we are thrilled we could help her accomplish this.

If you wish to divide a space, look into our custom glass-metal divider. It can create a new layout without closing your space or losing your light source. And beautiful lighting is good for many things: great photographs, positive vibes and your vitamin D intake.

Before and after: glass-metal divider

before

after

after

We didn’t want to lose the sunshine from the beautiful view in this condo, so our glass divider creates a “den” while keeping an open concept feel. Complete with styling by the amazing The Property Stylist!

If you want us to make something for you, email us at info@1925workbench.com with a picture of your space and your location. We will be in touch. 

To see more, find us on Instagram: @1925workbench

A Touch of Farmhouse Makes this Dreamy Nursery Official

Up, up on the 29th floor of a modern condo in Mississauga, a nursery is complete with the addition of the barn door. This nursery was a den before, and now with a beautiful barn door, it has upgraded itself to the "second bedroom" status. That's good news for resale time.

Turn Your Den into a Second Bedroom with the Barn Door

This is the second time we encounter a situation where the den in the condo is turned into a second/guest bedroom.  The first time is here. Because the opening for these dens are usually large, and there isn't enough wall space for one large door to slide over, the solution comes from our telescopic bypassing barn door system.

My first time being back on the scene after the birth of our second baby is refreshing, I love photographing the spaces where the barn doors have made their mark.  It is truly a transformation.

If you would like to turn your den into a second bedroom with style: talk to us!