The problem is that this is our current kitchen…and this is what we want.
Calling All Kitchen Designers!
Desperately seeking a kitchen planKitchen Archaeology
My Mom sent me “Shop Drawings for Craftsman Interiors, Cabinets, Moldings, & Built-ins For Every Room In The Home” for an early birthday present. A section titled “Kitchen Nook” caught my eye. I have often wondered why our house didn’t have a kitchen nook or as I have more commonly heard it referred to, a breakfast nook?
Many bungalows in our neighborhood have breakfast nooks and I’ve always been a little jealous that we don’t have one.
“If space allows, every house should have a nook-a delightful little space off the kitchen for breakfast or lunch, a place for kids to do homework while dinner is being prepared, the ideal spot for coffee and conversation.”
The accompanying illustration originally printed in Gustav Stickley’s The Craftsman magazine really got my attention. The placement of the nook was in the exact spot where one our of our built-in cupboards resides. The illustration shows a very humble opening in a wall with simple molding around the opening, nothing eleborate – almost like box with a window added onto the side of a kitchen.
Why is this in any way significant? On the other side of the wall is a small half-bath that is exactly the same width as the cupboard. We know this room is original to the house but couldn’t figure out it’s original purpose? It never made sense to me why there was a small room off the back of the house that could only be accessed from the outside, off of an open back porch.
It makes more sense that this room (currently our downstairs half-bath) wasn’t open to the outside but was really a nook off the kitchen. There is room enough for 2 built-in benches with a table between them. The existing window would have been perfectly centered on the wall over table.
Customized Commercial Refrigerator
Inspiration, Kitchens, Refrigerators
Custom designed refrigerator from Klondike Case
If I had $4000 burning a hole in my pocket I know what I’d be tempted to spend it on!
These are beautifully handcrafted oak, maple, cherry or hickory wood refrigerator cases from Klondike Case. The craftsmanship is amazing and would look right at home in an old fashioned kitchen.
Unpainted Historical Kitchens
Some kitchens were natural wood
Not all 1900-1920’s kitchens were painted. Although less common, some kitchen cupboards were natural wood.
Very simple kitchen layout.
Built-in cupboards.
You might also enjoy:
Historical Kitchens (lots of photos!)
Bungalow Kitchen Cupboards
Historical Bathroom Photos
Historical Kitchens
Ever wonder what your bungalow kitchen used to look like?
If you live in an old home, and are like me, you are probably curious what your kitchen looked like almost 100 years ago. I have been researching historical publications, magazines, books and online sources for ideas to help us when we restore our kitchen. These images span the early 1900′s to the late 1920′s, but primarily focus on the earlier years.
On thing that I found very interesting is that refrigerators or ice boxes are often shown integrated into a wall or cabinetry. This “trend” is considered modern in kitchen design today. Ha!
Kitchen Before
Our 1912 bungalow kitchen prior to restoration
I have begun planning, or trying to plan, the best way to restore our kitchen. It’s a little tricky for several reasons. We have 3 doors leading into the kitchen on 3 different walls, 2 large built-in cupboards, and really no easy or inexpensive way to expand the space due to bathrooms, a stairway, plumbing and heat runs to the second story behind every wall.
On the south facing sink wall, a tile backsplash, counter and under the counter cupboards were added some time in our home’s past. They block part of the original built-in cupboards on the east and west walls.
I want to rip out the tile and MDF cupboards and plan on restoring the original built-in cupboards and having new doors made for them. The current doors are cheap MDF replacements of the originals.
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Stripping Paint and Refinishing WoodworkFoolproof way to remove paint and stain wood
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