kitchen re-do in old house
Betsy Kocsis
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
Related Discussions
Old period kitchen. What's not overdone re. counter/backsplash?!
Comments (26)Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! First of all I want to say that I'm not sure, but it seems a few of you may have the idea that my kitchen/house is from the 1930's but it's 1913. I may have misunderstood your comments but someone may have confused 1913 for 1931 - not sure! ;) Thank you for the link! Prill - yes I'm considering soapstone as I *think* my first choice as far as something dark grey/black goes. Thanks! rjr220, artemis78 and the others, YUP I totally hear you about starting w/ needing just a dishwasher. Ha! First it was dishwasher, then it was oops we need a new electrical service/box, then it was well since they're tearing up the drawers and half a cupboard to install the sink, we might as well FINALLY give ourselves the excuse to replace the god-awful countertop...and we can't put in something nice and then just leave in the god-awful backsplash (which needs new outlets put in anyway)...and so it goes! rjr220: I've always loved hexagonal tile. My parents' bathroom had it and our current upstairs bathroom has it too (with the occasional blue one thrown in). Are you sure that would be appropriate for a kitchen countertop of 1913? I thought those were seen more in the '20's? It's tempting, and I've seen how tight they are - at least the original ones - but still, I think I want to avoid so much white on the countertop. That said, you've got me intrigued so darn you - I might have to do some googling for nice examples. Feel free to share pics! Cute little kids are a bonus! :) Oh and btw, I live in the NW - not the NE. bmorepanic - thanks for the info on metal. From some googling I see that there was some metal used at that time but not usually stainless steel itself quite yet, as it was invented the same year. Still, in the metal family...not too bad a stretch it would seem. Caesarstone is indeed one of the materials I've considered because - while it looks less natural to me - their dark grey color is perfect. Not too close to black, and not as light as unoiled soapstone. What I'm wondering now is what the price is - or how much less it is than things like honed granite, soapstone and stainless steel. The reason I ask is that it would be great if it were significantly less, cause I've fallen in love with some VERY EXPENSIVE subway tile and could only pull off getting it if I downgraded in the countertop material. I would never have considered slate, but now from googling I see there are some very nice, not necessarily modern looking options there! Thank you. As for your comment that my kitchen is nice?! Really?? Are you sure? I think it's pretty horrid! I mean there is definitely some charm there, from the original things still being in place...but the wood floor is pretty badly damaged and probably can't take another sand, and the lower cabinets aren't original and are just plain...the drawers are awful (one won't even close) and the countertop/backsplash is painful. Oddly, very oddly, I'm feeling a sense of loss over getting rid of the warm tone of the backsplash. I'm fighting the white thing because of all the other whites around. The backsplash I can't really afford but love is actually a similar color but more muted and beige than pinkish. But there is a hint of peach or pink, and they are 2x6 tiles which is the way the kitchen's subway tile would have been. I just don't think it would have been anything but white, unfortunately. I don't mind going off the beaten path but if I ever want to get my home registered on the historic list, I wonder if they'd accept a colored backsplash (?). As for the lower cupboards, I'm assuming that originally the kitchen had wooden counters on lets with curtains or something like that. I think the reason they put only new lower ones in and not upper is cause the upper ones are original (at least I'm guessing they are - I should show you the West wall which is ALL cupboards including an ironing board cupboard and spice cupboard. On that wall they are very big and fat and deep - but they all have the same solid wood faces w/ same molding. I do like how the upper cupboards go all the way up to the ceiling. I love your sink cab idea, thank you! I like the look right now of lower cupboards being a darker color than the upper ones. So I could always just paint the lower ones something interesting...maybe a farmhouse kitchen green type color? Or someday if more money comes in, I'd of course love to replace them with something like real wood with the proper furniture-style legs for the period. Circuspeanut - when you suggested colorful tile for the backsplash, did you think the house was from the '30's? It seems people here were assuming that which is why I ask; I don't think they did that back in 1913. That said, I'd love to see pics if you have any examples. Thanks for the positive feedback about stainless steel, and no I wouldn't do a shiny surface for the countertop! ;) cheril27 - you love my kitchen too? What's going on here??! :) I appreciate your comment about soapstone turning a charcoal color after some neglect. I REALLY don't want black, and I REALLY don't like the lightness of the unoiled soapstone. And hey - I'm really, really good at neglect - haha. lazygardens - I just don't think I have it in me to do too much white/light, but that may also be cause i have a history of being unadventurous and I want to try something different. I'll be doing splashes of color regardless, as I've always loved that look in a kitchen (as long as not over the top silly). That's basically all my kitchen is now (a bunch of white), with the exception of the horrid pink backsplash. And already it feels too white. But I see your point about how kitchens were back then. Except that I've seen a LOT of 1913 homes w/ original wood countertops which are pretty dark. Also, our kitchen is small and dark and I'm in the camp of going with dark when in dark and wowing with light when in brightness (sunlight). To a point, that is. Thank you for your suggestions! honeychurch - your kitchen sounds beautiful! I have to see pics! As for having light colored wall paint, which I currently have, I think I'm going to get a little weird this time and do either bright or dark paint on the walls! That's because there is very little wall space, and also cause with all the light on the cupboards it needs more contrast. There is no molding to separate the walls from the ceiling, and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it looked to paint right onto the ceiling the same color as the walls. Sometimes that works in a house and sometimes it doesn't, but in ours, it offered a cozy cave feeling while also feeling less cluttered somehow, if that makes sense. Or just...I'm not great at describing things here but it gave a feeling of continuity (?). farmhousebound - I'm having a hard time doing searches on this website but i"ll try again in a bit here. I want to see your pics! I agree that one should just do what one wants. I struggle with wanting to impress others since I've always had awful, outdated kitchens (!) but also, if the home becomes historic (registered), I'm sure there will be a few rules. In the end I'm sure I'll go with my gut and happiness over the historic home thing, if they put too many rules on me! sweeby - charming kitchen! Again, 1913 though - not the '30's. I would love to do wood, but between the upkeep and the fact that when looking from the dining room you see the room-length dining room real-wood buffet which leads straight into the kitchen's countertop... It's almost like one really long countertop that starts in the dining room and ends at the far end of the kitchen! So too much wood is maybe not a bad thing but...I don't know if the color would need to match or would need to be in great contrast in order to be gotten away with! Allison 0704 - That link was great, thanks! I like the cottage look best, much to my surprise. Either that or it just reminds me of my grandmother's house (also 1913). Her house was/is a 9-bedroom farmhouse and was big. The kitchen was huge and yet was totally cottage style, it seemed. I thought I liked the Shaws sink - and I do - but the sink in the cottage pic from your link is very nice. Also, I have two windows just above my sink that look just like those windows. Holligator - thank you for the encouraging words about soapstone! Artemis78 - I very much relate to everything you wrote. I want a period kitchen with a hint of eclecticism and my own style. Thanks again everyone! More questions to come but for now I need to go to SLEEP as it's 2:24 a.m. here! p.s. is there no way to respond to each individual more easily having to go back and forth so much? Not "quote" option to respond to?...See MoreHelp - Starting the process
Comments (2)One consideration is how they are willing to communicate with you, one place I worked with had certain business hours (however appointments could be scheduled outside that time), they would bring paper drawings to you, the designer I worked with depended on someone else to do the computer layout, etc.....the other would email me my drawings/layouts, gave me her cell number, and could make changes on the fly (I would say what about x, y, or z and within a short time she would email me all the options). It was wonderful to work with someone who communicated in the manner I prefered and was so flexible. The other area I would ask detailed questions about is the installers, are they employees/contractors? Contractors can be fine but you need to find out what level of commitment the contractor has to the company. If you want to stay within a certain time frame you don't want to be "fill work". Good luck!!!!!!!...See Morewill brass come back? do you re-do the whole house?
Comments (24)I've just spent the last 2 years changing out ALL the ugly builder's brass light fixtures in our 10 year old house & couldn't be happier to be getting rid of them. Now, mind you...I agree that brass is classic & will always be around, but my fixtures are the "typical" builders fixtures, not expensive or particularly stylish. I'm updating to bronze & iron for the most part. I will not change out the brass doorknobs though. Those don't bother me at all. We also have chrome/brass faucet fixtures through the whole house & I doubt those will be changed out anytime soon (if ever). I did change out all the bath & kitchen knobs to black & bronze. So, I'm of the mindset that it's OK to mix it all up too. I love the new fixtures I've put up, they are so much more interesting than the old standard cheapie ones and add a lot to our home for not that much $$ either. I also say go with what you love. I happen to love bronze & iron more and it mixes in with my style of decorating. I also use a lot of antique gold accessories, so it all works together....See MoreMini kitchen re-do pre full re-model.. help? (pics)
Comments (45)I just want to thank everyone for the help and advice. Dh and I have decided to go ahead with the full re-model. We won't be changing the layout but we are going to replace flooring, cabs and counters. I've decided NOT to use the maple slab from my barn. I'm going with granite all around. I REALLY want to remove the soffits but I took a peek today and there is duct work through out! I'm really having a hard time with this.. just looking at them makes me want to cry. I just don't know what to do to make them blend in. They aren't just typical soffits that are near flush with the cabs.. they come out almost 2 feet from the wall, and 10 inches from the cabinets. They also have some funny angles that might make crown molding around the cabinets look odd? I'm going to post over on the kitchen forums to try to get more feedback on the soffits. Thanks again.. you all helped me with the motivation to for the 'real' makeover!...See MoreBetsy Kocsis
6 years agocpartist
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoBuehl
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years agoBetsy Kocsis
6 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: New Kitchen Fits an Old Home
A designer does some clever room rearranging rather than adding on to this historic Detroit home
Full StoryMOST POPULARHow to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
Find out what’s involved in updating your cabinets by refinishing or replacing doors and drawers
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESThe Hidden Problems in Old Houses
Before snatching up an old home, get to know what you’re in for by understanding the potential horrors that lurk below the surface
Full StoryTRANSITIONAL HOMESHouzz Tour: Builder Customizes Old House for Modern Family Life
Special touches like indoor-outdoor bar stools, an outdoor kitchen and a rope loft mark this San Francisco home
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Update Befitting an 1880s Federal-Style House
An interior designer opens up the floor plan and balances old and new in a Pennsylvania home
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDKitchen Addition for a Historic Coach House and Cottage
Contemporary features complement period architectural details in this inviting room in Oxfordshire, England
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Layouts: A Vote for the Good Old Galley
Less popular now, the galley kitchen is still a great layout for cooking
Full StoryKITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: What’s Old Is New Again in Texas
A fresh update brings back a 1920s kitchen’s original cottage style
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Old Meets New in the Northwest
NB Design Group uses a family's old Tudor kitchen as inspiration for their brand new home
Full StoryKITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: Pitch Perfect in an Old Banjo Factory
This Chicago kitchen remodel hits all the right notes with its mix of vintage charm and modern finishes
Full Story
mama goose_gw zn6OH