Monday, May 12, 2008

The Kitchen

Before.....



Horribly overexposed before photo.



Where the dishwasher on wheels use to be.



Looking from living room with view of old overhead cabinets.



Looking towards old dining nook.

Although we knew we would be remodeling the kitchen at some point, we were thinking that we could live in it 'as is' for awhile. So how does one go from the 'as is' status to a full blown gutting? Well, it all began with the stove. The original owners accidentally removed the stove that was there so I began to look for a cheap temporary stove. Well, we started thinking that if we're going to spend $200 on a cheap stove, we might as well spend a bit more for a permanent one. We took that rationale with about everything that followed and so it goes, we ended up gutting the kitchen on one lazy summer afternoon.



Holes from electrician and plumber.


Taking up flooring.

As a note for safety, I would like to add that we sent out samples of all of our flooring. We were lucky in that the layers of linoleum were all asbestos-free BUT some linoleum squares used to line the cabinets, did test positive and were removed using extra precautions.

After peeling away several layers of flooring, hubby discovered the original fir floors - never used, although did sustain thousands of staples from flooring above it. Once the cabinets were out (donated to our local Re-Build It Center), the electrician came, creating huge holes in the original plaster so we used dry wall to patch holes and then re-plastered the walls.


We hired a cabinetmaker just up the road to build our cabinets. It was important to us for the cabinets to be free from the chemicals used in most modern cabinetry. We also wanted to recreate a nice old country kitchen that would allow for some more modern conveniences (dishwasher, stove, etc. )

The cabinets are inset (like the original cabinets were) and mimic the Shaker paneling of the built-in pie safe we chose to save and use as a pantry. It took forever to paint all of the cabinets.


This is the interior of the old pie safe, which I've since learned is an old California Cooler. See bottom link for more on that. We didn't touch the old interior shelving. All they needed was to be wiped down with a damp sponge. 

Go here to read about the old pie safe (California Cooler). 

We ended up finding some great butcher block from IKEA which was only $80 for one long slab. We needed three, so we ended up spending about $240 on our counter materials - great deal. We bought food safe stain from the Environmental Supply Store to bring out a nice rich hue in the wood. The product we used was by Safecoat, the color we chose was cedar. 

After...







Photo updates: 2010






Note: This was all completed the first year we owned the house (minus the Marvin window). It was several months later, after we hired the contractor for Phase II of our remodel, that an engineer arrived on site to establish our structural support needs for the the new dormer upstairs. A real sweet old-school engineer from the Midwest showed up (adorable man) and during our first round of talks, suggested that we carry the dormer load on a support post that would run from the upstairs, through my brand new 'old-fashioned' kitchen, and down into the basement.

This was a blow as you can imagine. So when I turned to him and said, "there must be another way, I don't want to run a "large beam through my kitchen," he responded with an innocent query as to whether we'd be "updating" it soon anyway. At first I was offended as obviously (or not), we just did that! They found another way to support the dormer, and in the end we decided that it was a complement as we apparently had pulled off our goal of making the kitchen look original!


89 comments :

  1. this is one of my favorite shots of your house.

    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  2. that is definitely a compliment! how do you like the Ikea counter? that's what we want to put in ours.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the countertops. I have the same one. Could you give more info on the stain??? You can email me if you wouldn't mind sharing. I would love to get mine darker. Stop by and visit me if ya get a chance. I would love to hear what you think of my brand new blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Heeheehee!! Love that you "started thinking that if we're going to spend $200 on a cheap stove, we might as well spend a bit more for a permanent one" and that that rationale prevailed for the rest of the kitchen remodel!! Good thing, too, because your kitchen turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! Great, great job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AWESOME!!!!
    Breathtakingly beautiful....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your kitchen is fabulous and I love the old look! I also love that you didn't make it huge and modern-looking so it fits right in with the rest of your house. Love love LOVE!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your kitchen is beautiful! We're installing the IKEA countertops, too, and I'm wondering if you could possibly share the name of the food safe sealer you applied?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Trina, I love you countertops, would love to know the details, color of stain and ect. You may have posted these before but I have not come across. Love you blog and happy to hear about your additions to your family!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I echo the call for more info on countertop care! They are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your Kitchen is lovely-what type of stain did you use on you countertops and how is it holding up?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful! what thickness was your countertop?Was it one&a quarter or one& half? geri

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Anon,

    They're one and 1/4 thick!

    ; ) Trina

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am intested to know how you finished the edges after making cuts? My daughter wants to install similar countertops from IKEA, but they will need to be cut to fit for length. Thanks or your suggestions. Alan

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Alan,
    The cabinet maker that built and installed our kitchen cabinets, also installed our IKEA counters. So I'm afraid I don't know how he did it. I know they had to make several cuts - for length, for farmhouse sink, for stove.
    They're a great buy and we're very happy with ours!
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  15. Everything is so beautiful! Curious how big your kitchen is, and could you share how much your cabinents cost? thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am so happy to see someone who has used the IKEA butcher block countertops. I love the look and want to upgrade to them asap. So, have they held up for you? Any complaints?

    Thanks.
    Brittany
    http://www.prettyhandygirl.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Trina,

    Your home is so very lovely. I especially adore your kitchen. My husband and I were admiring your counters and would like to do the same thing in our kitchen. Would you share what food safe stain and sealer you used? I saw that this question was asked many times but I did not see the answer.

    Best wishes for you and your growing family,

    Shelly
    shellybean317@mchsi.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Shelly,
    We used a product by Safecoat (http://www.afmsafecoat.com/). We chose the color 'cedar' and used a satin finish by the same company to seal.

    We had a small cutting from the counters leftover from the installation so we used that as a test board to try out various colors. We were aiming to compliment the color of the original fir floors that had just been refinished.

    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  19. Amazing renovation! Love it!
    I would love to see a series of side-by-side "before and after" photos...I am still living in the land of "before" and am always inspired by those who've made it to the other side :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love your kitchen. Did you also get your sink at Ikea? If not, then where? We are looking for an undermount country sink like yours!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I stumbled across your blog as I was looking for Ikea butcher block photos. I am in the process of renovating our kitchen and I absolutely love yours. Congratulations on your twins and I wish you all the best. I look forward to reading more of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your kitchen! What a wonderful restoration and those before and after pictures scream the story. I laughed when I read about the dishwasher on wheels, I remember an old house I rented had one of those and I thought it was such a luxury, old and noisy and all.

    Currently in the design process of renovating the kitchen in our 1880s hunting lodge and I have to say, seeing your open shelving cements the choice to do that on our stove wall. I am a tabletop prop stylist with a very strong attachment to so many old, beautiful things...like ironstone, cutting boards, silver-plate and pewter...I really want them to be seen and appreciated. As your treasures are.

    Really nice to stop by your blog today via Notes from a Broad...thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi, Trina! I found your blog yesterday and have been absolutely enthralled by your beautiful home and your sweet life :)
    I have decided since then that I need to transform my kitchen into your kitchen! We live in a small, historic home built in 1928.. Would you mind telling me what color your cabinets and wall color are in the kitchen? Also if the cabinet maker built the shelf brackets or if you perhaps ordered them from somewhere?
    Thank you so much for your time and for posting such lovely moments from your life~
    Summer

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Summer,
    We used Simply White by Benjamin Moore on walls and cabinets. Flat on walls and semi-gloss on cabinets. And cabinet maker did make brackets but there are a lot of great pre-made brackets out there.
    All the best,
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's beautifull! Love it, congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  26. AMAZING post! Your blog is one of my favorites! You totally inspired me to start my own.... Love this kitchen! Ikea has those counter tops?!!? That made my day - I have been hunting for that color and grain pattern. ;)

    ~diana shae

    www.dianashaedecor.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Amazing! Love your new kitchen....so elegant but country.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am curious which wood you chose to use? Birch, beech or walnut? I would love to replicate yours.... the counters came out so beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your blog has become an instant favorite! Beautiful transformations! Would love to know the rug you used in your beautiful kitchen and any tips you could share with us about caring for porcelain sinks like yours?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Calliope, I believe ours are birch. They were very light until we stained them.

    Hi Mary, I bought the rug at Lowe's years ago. It's braided jute. I know you can get them on line - I found a bleached one for our nursery.

    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  31. I really like your kitchen faucet. I have spent hours going through web sites looking for a similar one. Do you remember the make?
    Saw your kitchen in Food and Wine the January issue. I was in the Doctor's office waiting and imagining the rest of your house from that one picture till I could get home and "log on"!
    Thank you,
    Holly

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Holly,

    We bought it at Rejuvenation in Portland, Oregon. They're online at www.rejuvenation.com I don't remember the brand but if you call them, I know they'll be able to tell you.

    Thanks, Trina

    ReplyDelete
  33. Trina - thanks so much for sharing all of this! Such beautiful photos...your farmhouse looks like such a refreshing place to be. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  34. HI Linda, I came over from Allison at the Polohouse. YOur kitchen (and home) are beautiful! I can't wait to floow you! XO, Pinky

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have enjoyed browsing though your blog and reading all about your renovation. I am looking forward to reading every word and looking at every picture. I love your style!
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  36. Those wood countertops are great. Love that style.

    ReplyDelete
  37. LOVE this kitchen and it will serve as a model for my remodel starting next month! can't wait!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Love this post... your new kitchen looks dreamy and the porch on the farm house is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Trina,

    I just posted about my kitchen and changes I'd like to make. A commenter mentioned that it has almost the exact same layout as your kitchen. I'm curious, without the upper cabinets, how do you organize your lowers? I would love to see a post about what is behind those cabinet doors and drawers. Are your everyday dishes on the shelves above? Of course, I know you are very busy with your twins -- I couldn't even find the time to send an email for the first several months after I had my twins, but maybe an idea for the future?

    Thanks for your time!
    Camille

    ReplyDelete
  40. Just came over via Posie Gets Cozy and I had to comment about your amazing kitchen! Wow!

    I second the question about your kitchen sink- did you buy it at Ikea? Are they hard to clean?

    Great job and I'm excited to read more of your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm now reading this again. That is such a funny story about the guy thinking your kitchen was old. :) Your blog is becoming more inspirational than ever to me, as we are about to purchase an old farmhouse that needs a total rehall. I've already decided to steal your "Simply White" paint choice for all my trim and wainscoting. It's such a soft, soothing white. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I just found your blog from Homestead Revival. We are weeks away from remodeling our kitchen. We are doing as much as we can ourselves and keeping to a semi modest budget. I really wanted the butcher block counter-tops, but hesitated because of the wear on them. Now that you have had your counters for a few years, how are they? How scratch resistant are they or do they just become part of the "patina"?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hi Sheri,

    They are pretty scratch resistant but yes, they do get scratched from time to time. But so far, nothing too bad. The IKEA counters are a great deal!

    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  44. Your kitchen is so very beautiful and lovely! Your taste is fantastic! Congratulations! Nice day!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Just found your blog and love it! Your kitchen is fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Trina, I love your kitchen. This is exactly what I want to do with mine. I even have the old fir floors. I peeled up one obnoxious layer of linolium and should've checked to see what it was made of... Once I got into the "rip er' out" mode, I couldn't stop until all of the fir was exposed.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi Trina,

    Love your kitchen! We are just putting the finishing touches...counters and open shelving on ours, can't wait! But one question, if I may, it appears from your kitchen pics that you chose not to install a backsplash. As I have no upper cabinets along my window wall, I'm considering the same (much to the horror of those I've told). Wondering if you have any input on the matter or if there has been any issues with an absence of a backsplash? Enjoy your blog very much! With thanks, Karelyn

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi Karelyn,

    Our contractor was horrified when we didn't want to do a back splash. We like the cleaner, more simple lines without...and as long as there's a tight seal, it doesn't matter.

    Good luck!
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thank heavens for this blog! I'm simultaneously involving myself in 2 projects: kitchen remodeling in Northern Virginia in my parents' home, and house-hunting for the perfect little cottage with LOTS of work to be done. I can't wait - it's always been a dream of mine to buy a fixer-upper and gut it to make it my own...and the kitchen is my favorite place to be! The plan is to gatehr ideas while designing the kitchen at my parents' place, and put those ideas to good use when I find my perfect first home. Your projects have given me lots of ideas already! :D

    ReplyDelete
  50. please tell me a magazine has published your home...it certainly is more than worthy! the counters and sink you have are exactly what I plan on for my kitchen :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. hi. we are owned by an 1870 house and will start on the kitchen next year..thanks for the great ideas.
    linda brownville, ne

    ReplyDelete
  52. Simply love your kitchen--so light, so bright! But one question...WHERE do you keep everything? I could never get all that I need in my kitchen in the small amount of cabinets you have. Where do you keep all these things?

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have been reading your blog for quite some time now, and have tucked your ideas away for a later date. We recently bought a cottage in New Hampshire, in need of major renovations, so we are tearing it down to the studs.
    We are also doing the ikea wood counters, would you mind sharing the type/shade of food safe stain you used on the counters? Also, who makes your sink? Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hi Amy,
    We used a product called Safecoat - cedar was the color of the stain. The farmhouse sink came from Rejuvenation, although from their Portland store. I'm not sure if they sell them online. But they could tell you where to buy it I'm sure, they are very friendly.
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hello! Your home is so lovely! I'm considering the IKEA butcher block and would like to know how you feel about it now that you have had it for awhile? Would you do it again? I understand it has to be sealed regularly? What kind of cleanser do you use on it? Any other helpful info that might be useful to me? Thanks so much.
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hi Linda,
    We stained our counters so we have not had to do anything else with them. They've held up well, even around sink. We just wipe them down with hot soapy water. We never put anything like raw meat or eggs on them just for safety precautions.
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  57. I found your blog through Pinterest. I am redoing my kitchen and about to conquer the countertops. I just posted about it last week. I noted that I want oak and I was considering the ikea ones. Have you been happy with them? I am concerned about chemicals so was happy to hear about the stain you used. It gives it such a beautiful finish.

    MC

    ReplyDelete
  58. Hi MC,

    We used a product by Safecoat (http://www.afmsafecoat.com/). We chose the color 'cedar' and used a satin finish by the same company to seal.

    We had a small cutting from the counters leftover from the installation so we used that as a test board to try out various colors. We were aiming to compliment the color of the original fir floors that had just been refinished.

    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  59. Just wondering if you find it hard to keep white clean? We are in the process of deciding to go with a light maple or white for wood work and cabinets in our old farmhouse.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I do wipe down our cabinets now and then but I think I'd do that even if they were a darker color. And I think, for me, white makes them look clean. But I'm a fan of white!
    Good luck,
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  61. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us!! I was wondering if you could give me the specifics on your IKEA counter tops? I have been looking on their site but I'm not sure if I am finding an exact match. Is it the Varde for $80? I know you put yours I'm a few years ago, so they might have changed things since then. One section of yours appears to be almost 6 continuous feet of slab, but on their website it doesn't look like like they have a slab that long. Also, you had said yours was 1 1/4 inches thick, and they are saying its 1 1/8 inches. We are building our home this fall and I've taken such inspiration from your blog!! Thanks so much! - Krista

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi Krista,
    They are different but I think this is it: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30086417/
    It's double the price unfortunately.
    Good luck,
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  63. wow this looks great guys! i love the wooden counter top. can you cut on top of it? almost like a cutting board counter top?

    ReplyDelete
  64. Trina,

    Your home is absolutely gorgeous and such an inspiration! I greatly enjoy following your blog.

    I was hoping that you might share the fabric and color of your Rowe armchairs?

    Many thanks!

    Milena

    ReplyDelete
  65. Hi Milena,
    Fabric for the chairs: Q10447-19
    Best,
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  66. I just wanted to mention that I have the exact same white tureen that is featured in one of your up-close kitchen shots (under the mirror, on the butcher block). It was my great-grandmother's. You don't happen to know any more about the maker of it, do you? Enjoyed visiting your blog!
    - Cindy


    ReplyDelete
  67. Hi Cindy,
    That tureen is from Martha Stewart's white line at Macy's department store! I loved that it looked so old fashioned.
    Best,
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  68. Trina - Thanks so much for the quick reply! Well, that tureen certainly does look old-fashioned, because it looks very much like my 100+ year old tureen. I think you chose well. :) - Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  69. Trina ~ When I first saw photos of your kitchen, I fell in love with it ~ it was so close to the kitchen of my dreams. I've recently purchased my own old home and have had the kitchen redone similarly. I'm also putting up shelves similar to yours and would love to know what measurements you used when placing yours on the wall (i.e. distance from counter to top of bottom shelf, spacing between shelves and distance from top shelf to ceiling) Thank you so much in advance!
    ~ Lisa B

    ReplyDelete
  70. Hi Lisa,
    We have eight foot ceilings and I know that we used our dinner plates to determine spacing (both to fit standing and also, sitting depth wise on shelf). But I'll have to get back to you on exact dimensions. I know we used our particular ceiling height to determine spacing, are your ceilings eight feet high?
    More soon when I can get the tape measure in hand!
    Trina

    ReplyDelete
  71. Thanks so much for the response! Yes, my ceilings are 8 feet high. My BIL is making some lovely shelf brackets for me. I can't wait to receive them so I can get the shelves up! The floors were just refinished this week. So exciting to see it all come together!

    BTW, I love your simple Christmas decorating! Just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Your kitchen is beautiful! What an inspiration. We are preparing to install our Ikea countertops this week. How have your wood countertops held up with the SafeCoat Polyurseal? If you did them again today would you use the same thing? Any info. would be a help. Thanks for the time you take with your blog.
    Cris

    ReplyDelete
  73. Cris,
    YES! Great product, has held up beautifully! Highly recommend them! Good luck! Trina

    ReplyDelete
  74. I can't believe how everything on your blog is so beautiful and well designed. I'm envious of your talent.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Wow I love that interaction with the engineer! How could he possibly think your kitchen hadn't been updated when it's so beautiful, clean, and in like-new condition! Wow. I've had the same kind of interactions about the floors my husband and I uncovered and refinished. They are VERY rustic looking (old patches, dark stains around the nails, etc) and we put on a very matte (VOC free) varnish so they hardly look varnished at all (which we wanted, also hides some of the imperfections). We love them, but I do worry what other people will think when we eventually go to sell the house because people are so used to brand new (and character-free) flooring. We're also making our kitchen look a lot like yours, actually, and know that people will wonder where all the cabinets are (although we have a very large built in butler pantry, plenty of storage). And, of course, they'll wonder where the granite countertops are (ugh). Anyway, beautiful kitchen :)

    ReplyDelete
  76. May I ask, if your farmhouse sink is new, which one you chose?

    ReplyDelete
  77. Vanessa,
    It's new and it's a Shaw's sink. We also used them for our guest house.
    Best,
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  78. Trina,

    Do you know which prodcut from Safecoat you used? And how are the countertops holding up?

    Thanks,
    Bradford

    ReplyDelete
  79. Hi Trina,

    I am about to do a similar butcher block counter top and more than likely will end up using Safecoat vs Waterlox (sounds way more toxic). Can you tell me how your countertops have held up over the last few years and anything you might have done differently? How many coats did you do of the Safecoat sealer?

    ReplyDelete
  80. Hi Trina,
    Your kitchen is beautiful! I purchased a Rohl farm sink for my kitchen renovation & am contemplating installing it myself. What kind of support did you use for the sink? Any info on installing the sink would be really helpful. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  81. Hi Trina,
    Can you share more information on what sink you used? It's great!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Trina, what brand of Ikea butcher block did you use for your kitchen countertops? I know Ikea has many different styles & names to choose from. I'm planning on using Ikea butcher block counters when I get to that part of the renovation project. Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They don't make them anymore. They have different choices. So my husband just picked the one that had the least amount of grain and color. I don't think we'll stain them this time, perhaps just protect them with a natural oil. Best, Catherine

      Delete
  83. I realize this is an old post, but this is the first time I've seen shelves done EXACTLY the way I want ours to be done! I read through the comments, and I see that your cabinet maker did the brackets. Did he also do the shelves? I am having a hard time finding simple white shelving like this that is also sturdy enough to hold our everyday dishes. Many thanks. Lovely home!

    ReplyDelete
  84. beautiful kitchen.You guys did an awesome job!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving your thoughts. Kind regards, Catherine

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...