Posts tagged ‘vintage kitchen’

Oct 6

Period Perfect Kitchen: Pre-1910

Was your home built before 1910? Do you ever wonder what the original kitchen would have looked like? Here are some of the style characteristics of a pre-1910 kitchen.

Kitchens were largely “utilitarian” rooms, or workspaces.

Furniture-style cabinets. Before the turn of the century, cabinets were rarely fitted to the walls. The largest counter space was often a long table in the middle of the room and storage was often a hutch or sideboard.

This 1883 kitchen has a long working table which also functions as an eat-in kitchen. Design by Anne De Wolf.

Tall narrow proportions. Victorian homes tended towards high, narrow proportions. In the kitchen, you might see this in the windows, door openings and ceiling height.

Tall narrow proportions seen in the windows and ceiling height in this 1899 kitchen. Design by Anne De Wolf.

Free standing appliances. There was often just a sink and a wood burning or gas oven.

This 1908 kitchen stays true to its era with freestanding appliances and cabinets. The millwork detail can also be seen throughout. Design by Anne De Wolf.

Ornate millwork details. Victorian interiors often feature decorative borders with wide crown molding and elaborate ceiling medallions.

Are you hoping to recapture some of these Victorian era details in your kitchen? Our designers can help you integrate modern conveniences while including style elements that fit the era of your home. Schedule a design consultation to begin planning your own perfect kitchen here.

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Sep 16

Design Secrets: Which Kitchen Sink is Right for You?

A vintage farmhouse sink is a very cool way to add personality to your kitchen- but is it right for the style of your home and your family’s lifestyle? We interviewed Arciform Senior Designer Chelly Wentworth for some pro tips to help you choose the sink that’s right for you.

What are the most common styles of kitchen sinks that your clients request for their projects? What are the pros and cons for these common styles?

Undermount single bowl is the most common style requested by my clients.

This undermount single bowl sink avoids the lip of a top mount sink,
making the counters easier to keep clean.

It’s better for soaking larger pans and cookie sheets and has a cleaner installation.

Another common request is the farmhouse sink. It’s technically most appropriate for older home styles but people love them!

This apron front farmhouse sink adds to the classic feel of this kitchen in a 1909 home.

They are charming and recall a bygone era.

One advantage of the farmhouse sink is that sink cabinets can take a beating and farmhouse sinks provide protection. They are generally deep which makes them great for washing and filling taller pots. The roomy interiors help when cookie sheets and pans need soaking.

Do you have a favorite farmhouse sink?

When a project calls for a sleeker look I like stainless steel farmhouse sinks.

There are a variety of sink materials (stainless steel, porcelain, etc)- what are some pros and cons of these different materials?

Stainless Steel

Easy to clean, sleek style, variety of shapes, goes well with stainless steel appliances

This stainless steel sink includes a continuous steel counter and backsplash,
making it a very practical choice for this busy family.

Be aware that not all stainless steel sinks are created equal.

The sink needs to be a high grade of steel (18/10 or better) and be insulated for sound.

Also, keep in mind that stainless steel scratches easily and can dent.

This under-mount stainless steel sink was used for a contemporary Pearl District loft kitchen.

Cast Iron

This is a great traditional choice that includes a life time warranty by some manufacturers.

This basement guest suite uses am IronTones cast iron topmount sink from Kohler.

Cast iron sinks with enamel or porcelain coatings are available in many colors but a limited number of shapes.

Be aware that the coatings can chip and get stained but can usually be cleaned.

This very cool farmhouse pedestal leg sink features porcelain finish over cast iron with built in drainboards. It is from Strom Plumbing and its called Clarion.

Fireclay

This is a durable and non-porous material, making it resistant to stains and able to withstand high heat.

This historic property incorporated a fireclay apron front sink from Kohler to fit with the turn of the century style of the home.

Available in a wide range of colors and styles, fireclay can mimic a traditional cast iron look with added durability.

Just keep in mind that they can be uneven and water can pool in them because of their uneven surfaces.

Composites

Made from a mixture of granite stone dust and acrylic resins, composites come in dark colors that can help them blend in with darker counter materials.

This Silgranit under-mount sink is a grey granite composite material.
It was installed into our Portland Monthly Kitchen Makeover kitchen.

Harsh chemicals and high heat can damage some composite sinks, so be sure to select a sink that’s designed for high heat resistance.

You could also choose to have a sink carved out of a whole block of soapstone or other stone material, or to have one manufactured out of slabs of stone for a natural look.

This soapstone sink was assembled from stone slabs for a textured, very distinctive look.

You will have the same maintenance concerns with these materials in your sink as you would in your counter tops- granite can be porous and show stains, while soapstone looks best when oiled as part of a regular maintenance routine.

Is there a style of sink or sink material you tend to steer people away from? If so, why?

If they can’t live with scratches, I’ll steer them away from stainless steel.

If they are installing a dishwasher, I will often advise that a double bowl or asymmetrical sink is not necessary.

This double bowl asymmetrical stainless steel sink works well for an empty-nest couple who do not typically have a full load of dishes to do at one time. But a larger family (or a couple who loves to cook large pots of pasta) may prefer a deeper single bowl sink.

Do you have favorite or “go to” sink that you have used on multiple projects? What do you like about it?

Here are a few of my favorites:

Rohl Shaws Original for FarmHouse

Its ‘the original’ and I love the little logo

Kohler Cast Iron

I like these for undermount sinks.

Blanco Silgranit

Finally, for fireclay undermount sinks I like

Allia

What advice do you have for homeowners about selecting a sink style that will be right for their family’s needs?

I always ask homeowners to consider the following questions when deciding on a sink:

What style of sink would have been common during the era your home was built?
What style of sink are you most used to?
Who will be using the sink?
Do you do a lot of hand washing or do you primarily use the dishwasher?
What’s your cooking style? If you cook a lot of pasta you may need a deeper sink. Asian foods cooked with a hot wok may lead you towards a heat resistant material while a preference for lots of sauces might suggest a sink that is stain and acid resistant.
What’s your budget?

Sinks can range widely in price based on style and material. Your designer can help steer you towards choices that fit both your style and your budget.

Want to explore more ideas for designing your dream kitchen?

Join us October 8th for our Kitchen Confidential workshop for an evening of inspiration and insider tricks that will help you make your kitchen a pleasure to live and work in.

Get the details and RSVP here.

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

Feb 4

Kitchen Makeover: Finishing Things Up

We’re getting close to the finish line on our Kitchen Makeover project, making rapid progress on installing the fixtures and finishes that make the transformation complete.

The wine fridge (a major client priority) has been installed into the kitchen’s new peninsula, along with the new stove and range hood from Standard TV and Appliance. The gorgeous new Carrara marble counters from Oregon Tile and Marble have been installed by Wall to Wall Stone Corp.

The new grey undermount sink and faucet from George Morlan Plumbing has been installed along a new compact dishwasher that has been integrated into the existing lower cabinets (always a tricky process in an older home).

Below the sink you can see where the charming original doors have been saved and refreshed with a new coat of paint to match the new upper cabinets.

You can also see the beautiful new floors contributed by Emerson Hardwood Floors and installed by CZ Becker, creating an exact match for the existing flooring in the adjacent dining room.

The final touches will include installing the subway tile backsplash, a wall mounted pot rack for their pots and pans and two sets of floating shelves to display their glassware and dishes within easy reach.

We’re so excited to see the project come together and we look forward to sharing the results with all of you!

Explore More with these Previous Kitchen Makeover Posts:

Making Progress

Ready, Set, Launch!

Contract Revisions: The Devil in the Details

Design Phase

Meet the Makeover Winners

Announcing the Winner

Makeover Contest Finalists

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

Thanks again to our Small Kitchen Makeover Contest Partners:

Jul 9

Small Kitchen Makeover: Design Phase

How does a designer take a bundle of hopes, wishes, obstacles and opportunities and turn it into a coherent plan that will accomplish both the desires of the client and the practical needs of the project?

For our small kitchen makeover winners, Arciform designer Chelly Wentworth developed her initial design proposal with 3 key goals in mind:

1. Open the kitchen up to the dining room to make the space feel larger.

2. Add storage wherever possible.

3. Integrate the clients’ preference for clean, modern lines with the vintage character of the home to create a timeless look.

To accomplish that goal, she began by creating a detailed plan of the existing kitchen (see above) to help visualize the challenges and options available in the space.

She also created a Pinterest board of style ideas to help illustrate and guide the design process.

(Carrara marble and white subway tile are combined with open shelving in this sample kitchen pinned by Chelly. The result is a crisp neutral palette that still has vintage character and adds storage space without the bulk and expense of upper cabinets.)

From here, Chelly created a set of elevations (drawings that illustrate the kitchen one wall at a time) of her proposed designs.

Here are a few of the design details Chelly incorporated into her initial design.

Illustration A. A mixed mosaic tile back splash in anthracite from Oregon Tile and Marble will cover the west wall, adding a subtle repeating pattern and cool grey tones to the kitchen. An existing obsolete chimney will be removed from the NW corner, opening up wall space for open shelving to display and store needed kitchen items.

Here’s what the mixed mosaic tile will look like:

To coordinate with the backsplash, George Morlan is providing a charcoal grey undermount sink with a very cool faucet. Take a look:

Illustration B. The existing wall separating the dining room and kitchen will be removed, to be replaced with a peninsula that will house a dual fuel slide-in range with a clear glass range hood provided by Standard TV and Appliance. The peninsula will include a small overhang for a breakfast bar on the dining room side. A pendant light from Schoolhouse Electric will create a visual connection between the kitchen and dining spaces and millwork for the opening surrounding the peninsula will be matched to the existing molding and built-ins in the dining room to create a cohesive look.

Here’s the sample range and hood options:

Illustration C. The removal of the north wall will open up room for a shallow spice cabinet to the left of the basement stairs, adding needed storage while keeping the new open feel of the space. A set of Julia Child-inspired wall mounted pot racks will allow them to keep their pots and pans close to hand.

Here’s a sample pegboard pot rack that will inspire the finished pot wall:

Illustration D. The south wall will be the primary place to add new cabinets. Chelly proposes Shaker-style full overlay cabinet doors and drawer fronts from Versatile Wood Products to add vintage character while keeping the lines clean and simple.

Here’s an example (on the right) of what Shaker-style full overlay cabinets look like:

For Darrick and Monica, the butcher block counter shown above would be replaced with honed grey Carrara marble counters that will be cut by Wall to Wall Stone Corp and installed by Classic Marmo.

In the pantry, an unusually narrow 33″ wide fridge has been found that will tuck into the small space and open freely.

BONUS! Darrick noticed that the back side of the pantry connects to an empty space below the stairs, allowing us to tuck the microwave into a built-in cavity that will add a lot of functionality without sacrificing any counter or shelf space.

So what do Darrick and Monica think of how the design is progressing so far?

Darrick writes,

“As far as the design so far- we were pretty much floored. You visualize some of the design concepts but seeing it in a 3-D rendering puts it in a completely different picture and makes it much more real.”

What changes are they considering to the initial design?

* changing the shelves colors to match the floors
* adding a wine fridge (because we oh so love wine)
* adding a trash compactor (to minimize on the mountain climbing for each trip to the trash can)
* taking out the door frame that leads into the fridge room (to make it much more open)

Darrick adds, “The experience so far has been great. It’s been a great learning experience as this is the first time we’ve gone through a remodel. We’re excited to keep forging forward and can’t wait for the great result.”

Check out the “before” pictures of our Small Kitchen project here.

Next week: Contract Revisions: The Devil in the Details

Follow the story with these additional Kitchen Makeover Posts:

Ready, Set, Launch!

Meet the Makeover Winners

Announcing the Winner

Makeover Contest Finalists

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

Thanks again to our Small Kitchen Makeover Contest Partners:

Jun 19

1 Comment

Peek Behind the Scenes at our Small Kitchen Makeover in Progress

We’re delighted to introduce you to Darrick, the Portland homeowner who worked so hard to win our recent Small Kitchen Makeover Contest in collaboration with Portland Monthly.

Darrick and his wife Monica gathered an impressive group of friends and fans to help drive their kitchen to the top of the voting. They built a list of people who received daily text messages reminding them to vote and even worked with Darrick’s sister-in-law, a volleyball coach, to engage the entire volleyball league in rooting for and voting for their kitchen.

Of course, now that they’ve won, there are thousands of delighted friends and family members hoping to follow the progress of their kitchen design and help them celebrate their success.

For that reason, Darrick and Monica have given Arciform permission to follow their project from start to finish on our blog, providing insights along the way into the kitchen remodeling process that might be useful for anyone considering a kitchen remodel.

About the Home

The back of Darrick and Monica’s home nestles up against the hill face, with the back kitchen door opening out to nearly scrape the rocks of the hillside behind them. It’s a beautiful space, full of 1920s charm, and a big change from the Beaverton condo Darrick lived in before they married.

Darrick’s dad is an experienced DIY remodeler, and the couple gave the home an overall facelift with fresh coats of crisp white and grey paint as soon as they moved in.

The only space they left completely untouched was the kitchen, a tiny space with narrow counters and extremely tall upper cabinets that were built in place along one wall on site and a tiny pantry that houses an awkwardly placed refrigerator.

About the Designer

For this project, Arciform selected senior designer Chelly Wentworth, a highly experienced designer with numerous awards to her credit and a special affinity for older homes, to work with the couple on the kitchen re-design.

Here are Chelly’s impressions from the first client meeting:

What were the first things you noticed about the Cifelli/Chan kitchen upon arriving into the space?

The kitchen was very small of course, and mostly original. I am always amazed at how long these original kitchens remain in use. It felt very cramped and closed off the rest of the house. The colors and finishes didn’t reflect my impression of the homeowner’s style in any way.

What are the anticipated challenges of the project as you see them?

The refrigerator is currently located in a small pantry which is not ideal and there doesn’t seem to be another place for it to go.

Plus, there must be 50 steps up to the home’ s entrance.

The location provides great views but can make taking the garbage and recycling out a challenge. Usually when working in a kitchen this small I suggest more frequent trips to the garbage and recycling so we don’t lose valuable storage space to big pull-outs. With these clients it is not going to be an option.

After our first visit with Darrick, what were the key insights that you got from the conversation that were subsequently incorporated into the first draft of the design?

The #1 priority is to remove the wall between the kitchen and the dining room.

(Here’s the view towards the kitchen from the dining room)

(And here is the view of the same wall from the kitchen side.)

We are planning to add a peninsula of cabinets that will provide a place for the range, extra counter space and a small eating bar. Their design aesthetic leans towards the modern side so key elements in the concept are clean lines and lack of clutter.

When you first meet with a client, what ‘homework’ do you like them to do to help inform the conversation?

I usually ask people to think about all the activities that will be taking place in the kitchen.

For example, do they entertain a lot?

Do they all cook or is there one person who does the primary cooking?

What dietary considerations do they have?

Do the buy a lot of prepackaged meals or make everything from scratch?

How do they shop, do they own any special equipment like a 20” tall juicer, etc?

Does anyone in the household have any special hobbies like canning or beer making that will take place in there?

Do they want seating in the kitchen?

I also ask them to tell me what decisions or selections have already been made and if any of them are set in concrete or if they can be flexible. For example, many people want double ovens and a microwave (which can be very difficult to accommodate in a small space). I also ask them to think about what they like and dislike about their current space and if we will be reusing anything that is already there. Finally, I ask them to gather an idea file so I can get a feel for their style and what types of things they like.

The Wish List

Darrick and Monica are avid wine lovers, tea drinkers and ramen noodle makers with a penchant for the latest technology. When asked what was on their wish list for a dream kitchen, they listed Carrara marble counter tops, a wine fridge to showcase their favorite vintages, a hanging pot rack and a pot filler for the sink. Darrick would love anything that integrates some cool technological elements into the space, but they are careful to be respectful of the home’s vintage character and charm.

They would like the kitchen to feel more open and connected to the rest of the house and they desperately need more storage space and counter space. Finally, they are hoping to create easier access to their fridge.

Next Steps

After Chelly’s initial meeting with Darrick, the next step will be to create the ‘as built’ documentation– an accurate three dimensional rendering of the current layout of the kitchen that will allow her to begin exploring potential solutions to the design challenges presented.

Then, they will meet for a design presentation, where the first draft of the proposed design is reviewed by the clients and refined based on their feedback.

Once a concept has been determined, there will be a “budget check” where a rough estimate of the approved design will be sketched out in order to confirm that the design can be constructed within the client’s budget parameters.

We hope you will follow along with us as we track each step in the process of this makeover and we welcome your questions and feedback along the way!

Next week’s post: The design presentation.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

Thanks again to our Small Kitchen Makeover Contest Partners:

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Posts tagged ‘vintage kitchen’

Period Perfect Kitchen: Pre-1910

Design Secrets: Which Kitchen Sink is Right for You?

Kitchen Makeover: Finishing Things Up

Small Kitchen Makeover: Design Phase

Peek Behind the Scenes at our Small Kitchen Makeover in Progress

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