Okay one last picture of the kitchen. This is the only picture I happened to take of the old kitchen showing the upper cabinets. They went all the way to the ceiling, so it wasn't easy to capture them standing in the kitchen itself.
This photo was probably taken within hours of owning the house because we started tearing things apart that same day. Notice the plaster falling off the ceiling from an old leak, the pea green industrial carpeting (which ended up preserving the old oak floors beautifully), the 60's style linoleum (which preserved the old fir floors beautifully), the plastic partition that was hung in the threshold (those were in every threshold)...wow, it takes me back. We had so much work ahead of us at this point and were pretty much naive on how hard that work was going to be!
Here's the after, taken a few days ago. What we did...replaced entire living room plaster ceiling with new drywall (this wasn't a choice), added new crown moulding to both kitchen and living room, exposed original oak floors in living room and fir floors in kitchen, decided to forgo the plastic partition, new kitchen cabinets, spackled lots and lots of cracks in the original plaster, used lots and lots of paint...and needed patience, patience and more patience.
Lovely. Did you have any problems putting up crown moulding in an old house because of un-eveness? Some of our original trim work, though beautiful, is a bit unlevel. Just wondered if you had that problem, or if your home is really level.
ReplyDeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. You have done a fantastic job in that lovely kitchen.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, Our house has shown some sagging here and there but it's been pretty minor. In areas where the crown wasn't a tight fit, Hubby used a lot of caulk to fill in the gaps! Trina
ReplyDeleteYour hard work has paid off. Your home is beautiful. And I always look forward to you next post!
ReplyDeleteYou guys have an amazing home!! You've done a wonderful job-it seems like it's a labour of love!
ReplyDeleteHow happy are you that your view into the kitchen is those beautiful shelves! From this view, where is the dining room in relation to the living room?
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand the plastic door thing - did people really think those were attractive at one time! And could you ever imagine putting commercial carpet in a kitchen. I guess that was a blessing though since they protected those beautiful wood floors. Interesting that they are different types of wood. It all has such a timeless look. Of course you know I think it's gorgeous. :)
Sarah
beautiful home!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing undertaking Trina. It has all paid off - your home is beautiful. xo Terri
ReplyDeleteYou should be so proud of your accomplishments! I doubt I could have seen the potential in your beautiful home, much less had the patience and endurance to bring it from where it was to where it is today!
ReplyDeleteI do love those gorgeous wood floors, and how fortunate that they were in pristine condition just waiting for you to uncover them!
Thank you for stopping by my blog today and for being able to relate to the millions of dents, dings, and puppy dog scratches that make our floors even more beautiful in the long run!
Kat :)
It looks incredible! You are making me want to rip my upper cabinets down, and trust me, that wouldn't be a good idea!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Wow what an amazing transformation! You guys did a beautiful job!!! You must be thrilled.
ReplyDeleteShellagh
Gorgeous. Unbelievable!
ReplyDeletewow what an amazing transformatiion, I am going to enjoy reading your blog I just know it!
ReplyDeletealicia
www.time-worn-style.com
Love watching your transformation....very exciting. Looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYou've done an incredible job - I love the simple, classic and elegant look you've achieved. I'm just starting renovations on my house in Italy and your blog is an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Trina,
ReplyDeleteI have caught up on the last couple of posts. Loved seeing more of the kitchen. Love the stove, range hood and your fridge looks very similar to ours (ours also a Fisher and Paykel). Really liked that you included some unexpected design elements like the mirror at the end of the kitchen bench and the pictures on the wall. Really enjoyed seeing todays pictures and comparing them. You and your husband have done so much work. You should be really proud, congratulations on a job well done. When we first moved here our kitchen was the original 1960's kitchen and it was horrible. The benches were so terrible it was hard to put a dinner plate on them 'cause they were so narrow! We pulled out all the overhead cupboards. They were a pain, I had to bend my head down just to see what I was doing, and the carpet, the carpet was so horrible it was 4 shades of mission brown (I detest mission brown)and I shudder to think how very dirty it would have had to have been. There's rooms in a house that should NOT have carpet EVER. They are kitchen, dining room, bathroom and toilet!! Anyway, love what you have done, had better go and do something. Will call in again soon.
Take care.
Janine
XXOO
Tasmania, Australia
The difference between your before & after photos is just stunning! I really enjoy following your renovations; very inspiring and you have quite lovely taste:).
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to look at old photographs to remind yourself how far you've come. I do have to say though, I love those old cabinets too. They're perfect for taking the doors off of and painting the inside a fun color. But what you've done is picture perfect and I love the neutral palette! I'm a little confused about your floorplan. I saw in the lower right of your earlier photo of "hubby" stripping the kitchen floor that you had stairs going up to the left which surprised me. I don't know if you can shed any light on that?
ReplyDeleteHi Trina,
ReplyDeleteYou guys remind me of us so much! We were ripping up the carpet about 2 hours before the close of escrow. Not a good idea. The realtor came by and had a heart attack. Because our place is so small we completed the remodel in just 7 weeks. That was working 7 days a week at least 10 hours a day, sometimes more.
The view from the living room into the kitchen is so pretty. It really beckons you in. One day I'm just gonna show up on your lovely porch, ring the bell and get a better look!
~janet
I gasped when I saw those plastic partitions in your house! Years ago, when my husband and I bought our first house, it had them too! They were gray and ugly. We replaced them all with solid wood doors.
ReplyDeleteYou and your husband have done a fabulous job on your house. I have to say--everything is just right.
Hi Steve! The original cabinets were tempting to keep but were too narrow to hold even a standard sized dinner plate. They also made an already small kitchen, feel much smaller. When we took the cabinets down, which we recycled at our local Rebuild-It Center, the space opened up significantly and we realized that going without upper cabinets would really help make the space feel much more open (tearing down walls wasn't an option). And the stairs to the left are the old attic stairs...which are now the stairs that go up to the new rooms we created with the shed dormer (the master bedroom and bath, walk-in closet and home office). They're similar to what you would find in 1/2 story Cape Cod homes, which often would come off from a kitchen or dining area. I did a post a couple weeks ago on them...those are the same stairs you see in that photo of Hubby stripping the kitchen floors. ; ) Trina
ReplyDeleteOh please don't make this your last picture of your kitchen! I love looking at it. It's beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteTrina-
ReplyDeleteYour house is amazing! And so are you! I daydream about having your life. Living in a beautiful restored farmhouse on amazing property close enough to town but not too close. And you pick berries and have wildlife and its just the perfect little dream in my mind. How long did you own the house before you moved in? Did the house pass inspection when you bought it? Its such a beautiful house and I can feel its sweet personality through your blog!
Beautiful home. Beautiful renovation. :)
ReplyDeleteI am dreaming of a kitchen just like yours! I even showed my husband your pics and said "thats what I want'! Someday...
ReplyDeleteTrina!
ReplyDeleteWe have ceilings just like that. Lucky us. And, why would you get rid of the lovely partition? :)
Your kitchen (and house) is completely gorgeous and it inspires me to get to work on my own place. Thank you for sharing these pictures!!!
Have a great weekend!
xx
Kelly
I've so enjoyed all these fabulous photos of your kitchen renovation - you've done the most wonderful job. It's beautiful! Leigh
ReplyDeleteWow, that really image is a great way to take it all in. Just fabulous, you've worked magic Trina.
ReplyDeletejulesx
Stunning as usual! ~lulu
ReplyDeleteI really love how your house looks, every time you post a picture it is so enjoyable to see! Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDelete~jamilyn
Stunning! I love the look and feel of your house.
ReplyDeleteWell done!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I am in HEAVEN ! How did it take me so long to find you?
ReplyDeleteGot here via Blair at B-Mused...she is a doll.... btw
and this is so WONDERFUL....
everything I LOVE..
just a beautiful blog to visit and I'll be back for more....
thank you
Best,
kary
What a beautiful space you have created. I want to see more!
ReplyDeleteI'll be back-
Laura
Have a good week.
The transformation is pretty impressive...it looks incredibly romantic now...I'm completely envious of your home!
ReplyDeleteThe transformation is perfection. You are creating a lovely abode.
ReplyDeleteThe result of your patience, patience, patience is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the transformation.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!!! What an inspiration for hubby and I as we are about to embark on our own farmhouse renovation. :)
ReplyDelete