Artist Kathy McBride’s Favourite Room

Artist Kathy McBride’s paintings brim with whimsy, delighting viewers at numerous galleries, venues and wineries throughout the Niagara region. Her work has also adorned wine and beer labels and she is in high demand to create custom commissions for homeowners. McBride channelled the sense of fun, nostalgia and quirkiness evident in her paintings when she set about gutting and reimagining the kitchen of her century home that she shares with her husband and two sons.

By Laura Bickle | 2 minute read

Jun 27

“As a visual artist, tapping into my own tastes and preferences was easy. The goal was simple: make it light, open and fun.”

– Kathy McBride

What and where is your favourite room?

The kitchen of our circa 1900 home in downtown St. Catharines, Ont.

What was the inspiration behind creating the room?

When we purchased our home seven years ago, the kitchen desperately needed attention. It was a dark, galley kitchen with no windows. I wanted to create a space that felt authentic and inspiring, but I had never designed a room before. As a visual artist, tapping into my own tastes and preferences was easy. The goal was simple: make it light, open and fun.–

Kathy turned her dark, galley kitchen into a bright, airy and whimsical space.

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What were the challenges in creating the room?

I could not decide on a backsplash. I had to acknowledge that what makes me visually satisfied changes regularly. I mused over using wallpaper because of its impermanence, then realized that was my answer! Funnily enough, I’ve had no desire to change it!

To bring in more natural light, we tore down the wall between the kitchen and dining room and opened up the space above the sink to look out onto the sun-filled family room.

The use of wallpaper as a backsplash adds a pop of colour and vibrancy to the kitchen.

What are your favourite features of the room?

The brick wall façade — it was inspired by the original chimney, which was not salvageable. It’s the perfect backdrop to showcase art and my collection of quirky trinkets.

One of Kathy’s artworks hangs on the brick wall facade, a design that was inspired by the century home’s original chimney.

How does this room make you feel?

The kitchen upgrade changed everything about how we live daily. Before, it was a room that we literally ignored. Now it’s the lovely hub of our home.

Describe a favourite moment in this room.

There are so many — from sipping morning coffee and hosting holiday dinners to more recently gathering around the island with friends for a mini high-school reunion.