Creating an Open Kitchen and Dining Room
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Older homes, especially the really old 100-year kind of homes, have such natural charm that our modern homes just don’t have. But the trade-off for that charm can be small cramped rooms. Our guests today did an amazing job transforming a small kitchen area and a separate dining area into a beautiful modern open kitchen and dining room that still matches all the other charm of the home:
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/updated-new-englander-dining-room-with-pendant-light-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg
Keep reading for all the details and before-and-afters of Laurel’s gorgeous space, and take a stroll down memory lane to check out these renovations we’ve shared where the homeowners had to get brave and take down a wall to create the open kitchen space of their dreams:
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/open-kitchen-and-dining-area-remodel-Thats-My-Letter-featured-on-Remodelaholic-450x600.jpg
That’s My Letter featured on Remodelaholic
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Cape 27 featured on Remodelaholic
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Stable Living featured on Remodelaholic
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lovetodecor8 featured on RemodelaholicHere’s Laurel with all the beautiful details of her New Englander open kitchen and dining room:
Creating an Open Kitchen and Dining Room in an 1892 New Englander
I’m Laurel and I have a passion for renovating old houses. My husband and I have done it many times in our own homes, but now we want to see if we can turn that passion into a business model. Are we crazy? Maybe, but we want to give it a try. Through our home renovation blog, I share our experiences as we renovate and decorate these houses for today’s modern lifestyle. And you’ll find out whether I need to go back to my old day job!
When we first looked at this antique, 1892 home, we knew the kitchen/dining room had lots of potential. But taking potential to reality is a big undertaking!
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/reclaimed-wood-chalkboard-frame-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-417x800.jpg
Special Touches – And while we made many changes, we kept all of the vintage features that we loved about these rooms. The big beam in the kitchen stayed – and we created a chalkboard with a reclaimed wood frame from some wood we found during demolition. The corner hutch, which we think is original to the house, is still there. And we kept all of the wood floors that were in the house ( click here to see how the flooring was restored).
That’s My Letter featured on RemodelaholicCape 27 featured on RemodelaholicStable Living featured on Remodelaholiclovetodecor8 featured on RemodelaholicHere’s Laurel with all the beautiful details of her New Englander open kitchen and dining room:
Creating an Open Kitchen and Dining Room in an 1892 New Englander
by Laurel of SoPo Cottage
I’m Laurel and I have a passion for renovating old houses. My husband and I have done it many times in our own homes, but now we want to see if we can turn that passion into a business model. Are we crazy? Maybe, but we want to give it a try. Through our home renovation blog, I share our experiences as we renovate and decorate these houses for today’s modern lifestyle. And you’ll find out whether I need to go back to my old day job! When we first looked at this antique, 1892 home, we knew the kitchen/dining room had lots of potential. But taking potential to reality is a big undertaking!
- The pluses – it had a big beam going across the center, antique pine floors (under decades old, mauve carpeting), and a large adjacent room that had been used for storage.
- The challenges – a busy traffic pattern, several doorways and windows, structural issues, insulation problems, and a furnace flue that stuck out into the space, making it difficult for cabinet placement.
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/New-Englander-Kitchen-Update-before-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg |
| Kitchen ‘Before’ |
Kitchen Plan – We looked at multiple layouts (click here for details), but decided opening up the wall between the two rooms would increase dining space and kitchen space. We had hoped to put an island in the kitchen, but after seeing how narrow it would be, opted instead to keep the incredibly efficient ‘U’ shape for the workspace. We widened the U, to provide more space for multiple cooks and created a big peninsula that incorporated seating. That way you can chat with the cook or eat a casual meal. We used black granite, so the counters are hard working as well as beautiful.
We also wanted to have lots of storage in the kitchen, so we added these cabinets, reminiscent of furniture hutches, and a window seat on the far wall. The glass cabinets let you display beautiful pieces, while the counter space provides more work space – or buffet space for a party! We used wood butcher block tops to provide more of a ‘furniture’ feel and linkage to the antique beam across the ceiling. Finally, we used corbels under the cabinets and window seat to provide a decorative touch and increased support.
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/new-englander-kitchen-update-before-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x497.jpg |
| Kitchen ‘Before’ |
work lights and installed recessed lighting and a new pendant chandelier.
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/updated-new-englander-dining-room-with-pendant-light-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/new-englander-dining-room-before-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/updated-new-englander-dining-room-with-pendant-light-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/new-englander-dining-room-before-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x398.jpg
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/demo-day-taking-out-the-dining-room-wall-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-450x337.jpg |
| Demo Day – check out the old dining room light fixtures! |
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/reclaimed-wood-chalkboard-frame-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-417x800.jpg
Special Touches – And while we made many changes, we kept all of the vintage features that we loved about these rooms. The big beam in the kitchen stayed – and we created a chalkboard with a reclaimed wood frame from some wood we found during demolition. The corner hutch, which we think is original to the house, is still there. And we kept all of the wood floors that were in the house ( click here to see how the flooring was restored).
image: http://www.remodelaholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/glass-accents-in-a-tile-backsplash-SoPo-Cottage-featured-on-Remodelaholic-600x800.jpg
We also added some new, contemporary touches to the space. The backsplash has a vertical glass accent, that adds sparkle to the space. And we splurged on some of the light fixtures. Don’t you love the unique blend of old and new that they lend to the space? And the stainless steel appliances are incredibly durable, but also have a sleek look to them.
The Result - We had an ‘It’s Finished’ party to celebrate the completion and test out the space. We we thrilled with how well the space flowed and accommodated a crowd (after all, when you have a party, everyone wants to be in the kitchen!). It’s a great design with great functionality. All in all, we are really excited with how this space came out!
Read more at http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/12/creating-open-kitchen-and-dining-room/#k2LxAMBbeLG6VTHO.99
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