contact pr friendly giveaways cafe hops blog roll

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Not So Wordless Wednesday This Old House

Another of my "This Old House" series, this time a trip around our remodeled kitchen. For those of you who missed last week's post, each Wednesday I will share photos of our historic home which was built in 1891. We bought it in December 2006 and spent 8 months renovating.

Today is a trip around the kitchen.

Although it's small, this kitchen is functional with every square inch being used as efficiently as possible.  I love the layout and how easily I can get my hands on anything I need when cooking.

Now the photos:



Here is the view from the dining room.  This kitchen is not original to the home but was added on around 1935 or 1940. There used to be a small opening over the peninsula which was only about 1/3 as long as it is now with the rest of the opening walled off with two separate doorways on the left. (Note the fancy hot water radiator on the left that was photographed for last week's post)

This open arch is what you get when you can convince your husband to back off and let you do what you want. He wanted to open it up with a straight beam across the top, I wouldn't back down on the arch and got my way.

The peninsula was originally only about 1/3 as long as it is now and used to have a cooktop stove on it. Hardly any countertop space at all before but now it houses pot drawers, dishwasher, and 4 separate recycling bins with a ton of counter space on top with an overhang on the dining room side suitable for stools.



This antique tin ceiling and Art Deco light fixture is what you get when you shut your mouth and let you husband buy what he wants at antique shops. When we bought the house, there was a dropped ceiling in the kitchen which made it feel like a cave. We had that torn out and restored the curve and had this old tin ceiling installed.




This random hardwood floor is what you get when you move away two weeks before the renovation is completed because your rental lease is up and this house isn't ready to move in to. I pleaded with my husband on the phone to just buy more hardwood floor and replace it all but he and the contractor cooked up this mess instead. I still hate it and used every design trick I knew to pull the eye up away from this damn kitchen floor.

When we bought the house, what is now the kitchen was two rooms, a porch and tiny kitchen. We tore down the wall in between where the floors meet to extend the kitchen and there was green tile where the new wood floor is now. I guess that green tile is the only thing I can think of that would have looked worse than this random mess of old and new hardwoods.






This granite is what you get when you send your husband on his own to pick out anything as long as its black. It's called Emerald Pearl although in our kitchen it looks black. Once it was paid for I renamed it Black Opal, I like that much better! The backsplash was replaced, used to be beige with flowers but I had that replaced with nice and glossy white subway tiles. (note my coffee in the microwave nicely warmed up)





The kitchen cabinets are what you get when you reuse the dark oak bases that were already there, shuffle them around, add new cabinets to extend your kitchen into where the porch was and paint everything white. The custom cupboard doors, drawer fronts and fabulous cutlery organizer are what you get when you have a dad with his own workshop who can build anything!

Hope you've enjoyed this little trip around my kitchen!  Coffee anyone?
post signature

52 comments:

Together We Save said...

Oh my your kitchen is beautiful!!

Tamara said...

Hi Deb,
ooooooo i'm so jealous!!! I love older houses and your house is just gorgeous! The archway in the kitchen is to die for and those ceilings!! You are doing a wonderful job remodeling...wow!!

I remember your blog on the orange juice and I commented on it...it's pathetic what they are doing to our food!

I will eat some meat if I know for sure where it came from and it's safe. My friend gave me some venison that he got last month and I know that's safe.

Thanks for the O.J. reminder. :)

Unknown said...

I've picked up on another Canadian-ism. What you call the "peninsula" in your kitchen we call the "island."
LOVE THAT!

I think we have the same granite as you, too funny---your kitchen is gorgeous & I enjoyed seeing the pics.

Unknown said...

That is just beautiful. I love it I lovethe black although like you I would be ticked about the floor deal lol.. only a man would pull that off..

brainella said...

I love it, and I'm completely jealous. My kitchen is hideous contractor crap. We're going to be replacing a lot of stuff this year but I've been dealing with the unattractive cabinets, counters and appliances for six years. Ack.

The Mommyologist said...

The renovation is absolutely beautiful! I love old houses!

Tamara said...

I just read her comment on the orange juice...boy if that doesn't sound like a canned response I don't know. By the time it gets to us, it's so full of preservatives and crap. Yes O.J. is nutritious but only if we stand there and squeeze the whole bag of oranges ourselves. Thanks for showing me this. :)

Matty said...

Sure looks like a nice functional kitchen. I have to laugh about the husband and his choice of things. Women are all the same. Left to my own devices, my wife would have some intereting comments about my interior decorating skills too.

Buckeroomama said...

I love your kitchen!!

It looks very much like my in-law's, except yours is nice and white and very uncluttered. :)

Lee said...

I adore the ceiling. That tin is fantastic!

Mama-Face said...

Love the ceiling. Love the white cabinetry. Love the archway. How difficult was it to paint the cabinets?

:)

Working Mommy said...

What a gorgeous kitchen!!! I especially love the hardwood floors!

~WM

Stephanie said...

So much character! I love these peeks into your house:)

Cinda said...

Thank you for sharing! The kitchen looks beautiful and I really, really liked your post! The compromising that we all do in our marriages are particularly noticable when remodeling. I had to laugh as we sometimes do the same "back and forth" when I move furniture around. Having a very progressive and artistic mom that absolutely rules the house decisions I was shocked the first time my husband offered an opinion about the house! I have learned the skills over the years! Thanks!

Shannon K. said...

Adorable. Oh, and it seems the only way I get coffee these days is if I reheat it in the microwave.

Anonymous said...

I love it!! I especially love the ceilings!!! Your home is beautiful!

yonca said...

I would love to have a cup of coffee, sitting in your beautiful kitchen and talking to you:)
Love black&white combinition in kitchen.

Formerly known as Frau said...

love the white and black! Really pretty...I'll have a cup of jo do you have any flavored coffeemate!!

MOMSWEB said...

You have just inspired me to get up and clean my own kitchen and stop oowweeeing and ahhhing over yours. It's beautiful!

Anonymous said...

That ceiling is fantastic. I love it! What a great kitchen.

Lissaloo said...

What a beautiful kitchen! The arch is wonderful :)

Anonymous said...

So envious! I love your kitchen! Kitchens are my favourite room of the house.

Carol said...

great kitchn

Samantha said...

Beautiful kitchen! Kinda jealous :)

Unknown said...

your kitchen is beautiful...and just the right size imho. i don't like kitchens that are huge and spacious...too much milling around getting this, getting that, etc.

kyooty said...

oh I love it, especially the ceiling.

JennyMac said...

Love it..and the ceiling is divine.

June said...

Great remodel! LOVE the granite.
Beautiful kitchen.

Liz Mays said...

I would so love to come over and sit and chat in there with a warm drink! I notice the antique tin ceiling immediately! :)

Kate said...

Wow - you have so many comments that I don't think you'll ever read mine! I love your kitchen - ours is my next project now that our loft conversion is finished...

The Four Week Vegan said...

Your kitchen is amazing. I'll just pretend I didn't see the floor. That very first pic got me wondering if that was a tin ceiling and you didn't disappoint. Love the granite too!

Margaret aka: Fact Woman said...

The ceiling is amazing. Love the way you put it all together. The subway tile is the perfect pairing with the opal granite. It really looks great! Wonderful job. OK floor excepted. I think I'd paint a rug onto the floor to cover it up for now.

Ina in Alaska said...

Very enjoyable. I love house tours! Thanks for sharing your kitchen. The 2 floors are hilarious!! xoxo PS I keep meaning to tell you your new header is really nice and looks just like you!!

Corrie Howe said...

Okay, I don't know if this makes any sense, but I love your kitchen! I especially love the ceiling. However, I don't think I could actually have your kitchen. I love other people's styles, but mine is really minimalist.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Great kitchen! I love white cabinets, and those two glass corner cabinets are so cute. The black opal granite looks terrific, the ceiling tiles and light fixture are the finishing touches, but...those two floors have GOT to go.

Martha said...

Actually yes, my coffee mug is about empty! Your kitchen is lovely. I like small yet functional kitchens, unless they big because they have an eating area. I actually enjoy cooking in our smallish apartment kitchen much more than I did in my wide open kitchen in FL!

Anita said...

You're right Deb, we do have similar looks in our kitchens! Our cabinet knobs are nickel though.
Erin said the peninsula was a Canadian-ism, but I had a peninsula once. Isn't it when the counter is attached to the wall, but open on the other three sides? Anyway, I have an island now instead.
The ceiling and your light fixture, and the red walls give it the historic house look.
You and your husband have done a great job, even though he was disobedient here and there. :)

harmonysong said...

Loved it! I'd take coffee any day!

HeartsMakeFamilies said...

I love your kitchen. We actually almost bought that granite for our kitchen. We settle on one with little gray chunks in it..mostly black though.

Thanks for stopping over at Midday Escapades on Monday.

2Wired2Tired said...

You've done a great job with your kitchen. I absolutely love the ceiling and the countertops. I look forward to your This Old House Posts, you and your husband are such do-it-yourselfers, I'm jealous!

Dreamfarm Girl said...

Love the black and white...that is what my kitchen is, too -- and also an old house. yours looks fabulous. I especially love the sectioned drawers...how wonderful and neat!! Great job.

MaryRC said...

love that ceiling, it looks great, really great!

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

Great kitchen! Love the ceiling and the arch.

Heather said...

Your kitchen is beatiful!

although, my brain can't get past the dollar signs. Just last year I was researching and pricing all things for remodeling. Those ceiling tiles alone. Yikes!

Money well spent, though!

Sandra Wilkes said...

So cool. Really a nice look. Glad you held out for the arch! I know you love your kitchen. One day he will probably change the floor for you! My husband wants us to have light hardwoods in one room and really dark ones in another....

Unknown said...

That is one kitchen with a lot of personality! I love the tin ceiling. It's very artistic. The arch adds complete style and dimension. (I know..I sound like a designer, huh?) The countertops are very rich looking. I love the colorful Fiesta Ware in your cupboards.

All in all, I say that it's a beautiful kitchen. So, what time is coffee???

honeypiehorse said...

That looks weirdly like our kitchen

Life As I Know It said...

wow - I love the arched doorway. We want to take out the wall between our kitchen and dining room - love the arch you did!

We bought a 1970's house, which needs desperate updating - and without the charm of your 1890's home!

Jeanne Estridge said...

LOVE the arch, love the countertop, love the ceiling, love the utensil drawer.

Gotta agree with you on the floors, though....

Jen said...

I LOVE your kitchen! and your 'this is what you get' comments :) There's a lot to love there, but I have to say I'm surprised Hubby and the contractor agreed about leaving the floor like that...and now I want more coffee.

gayle said...

Love the arch and the ceiling....well love it all!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I am in love with tin ceiling and your white cabinets. I so want white cabinets!