Firehouse Conversion

Tori Olijar

KSI Kitchen & Bath, Birmingham, MI

For those who think outside the box, virtually any building can be converted into stunning living space. For Tori Olijar’s client, an old Detroit firehouse delivered the great bones he was looking for. 

The client wanted a contemporary space that matched his style, but great care was also taken to respect the original character of the building. Original details, including wainscoting and flooring, were restored and incorporated into the overall design. 

While the client’s first choice for cabinetry was a combination of matte black and matte white foil doors, supply issues hampered that selection. In addition, the kitchen was on the second floor, making material delivery very challenging. Cabinets had to be carried up a narrow stairwell, and some materials had to be lifted by forklift and brought in through a second-story window. Other challenges included very unlevel floors and structural limitations inherent in a decades-old firehouse being repurposed for residential living. 

In keeping with the desire for matte black and white cabinets, Olijar chose a combination of graphite and pearl finishes for the Bria and Reese door style cabinets from Dura Supreme. The graphite plays on the industrial elements of the space, including the matte black light fixtures, black-toned waterfall edge countertops and stainless ceiling vents. The pearl white finishes keep the space from feeling heavy, and gold touches in the hardware and lighting maintain a modern flair. 

Along the back wall, vertical dark green subway tile with uneven coloring and texture add richness and a little bling.