Heritage Style Restoration 3

KITCHEN RENOVATION IDEAS FOR PERIOD HOMES

Restorers Favourite Conversation

Restoration of old period homes is a favourite conversation of owners of period homes but rarely do you hear talk about a kitchen restored to its former glory.  These beautiful historical homes we have grown to love and appreciate did not have the kind of kitchens we expect today.  Historical kitchens where mod cons would not blend are antiquated, inefficient and poorly laid out.

Historical Details

In a typical 19^th century and early 20^th century pre-war model, kitchens were work areas simple and plain.  Everything in the kitchens was freestanding from the huge cast-iron stove, the sink on porcelain legs, the icebox and a table that doubled as a workspace. Those that were modernized in the 1950s, ’60s, or ’70s often held even less appeal than the ones before. The countertop, flooring, and ceiling materials in them were no match visually as the hardwoods, linoleum’s, and metals them replaced. Appliances with their dismal colours were disappointing at best. Today we want to capture the flavour of the kitchens we imagine our great-grandparents loved and enjoyed. Homey, warmth and filled with the aroma of good cooking.

Salvaged and Reproduction Material 

Fortunately, replicating the mood of a period-style kitchen in an existing space has never been easier. As demand for kitchen accessories with a patina of age has grown, so has the availability of period materials. Architectural salvage and well-designed reproduction hardware and appliances are relatively easy to locate. Resources for old-fashioned pieces can be found by perusing advertisements in many home design magazines and inquiring at local antiques’ shops and architectural salvage companies.

Custom Home Builder built cabinets, more than any other single element in the design; determine the look and feel of a kitchen. To give a kitchen a historic feeling, designers caution against filling the kitchen with modern built-ins.  Architectural salvage companies often stock vintage cabinets in wood or metal. These cabinets mix well with freestanding antique or reproduction pieces. An antique dresser or a dry sink adds charm as well as semi-customized items like plate racks and open shelving. Painted wood cabinets may warp when stripped so be advised to try one cabinet door first. Metal cabinets should be stripped, buffed, and lacquered to prevent them from rusting. Stone countertops are compatible with old-fashioned kitchens as long as the stone is honed to a soft finish not sleek and modern.

For flooring, designers usually recommend hardwood. Linoleum, maligned for years, is making a comeback. Unused rolls of vintage linoleum from the ’20s to the ’50s can often be found at salvage companies or at speciality stores. On the ceiling, pressed metal makes quite a statement, particularly when left in its natural state. As an alternative, try heavy paper, cream-coloured wallpaper embossed in a variety of period patterns. It is less expensive to install than pressed metal and once painted, achieves a much similar effect.

Finding authentic-looking stoves and also refrigerators became easier in the mid-1980s when the country look was blossoming.  Our grandparents’ stoves have all been refurbished and are easier than ever to find.  No matches are needed! Though most old stoves are white, some occasionally turn up in cream, green, or blue. Hoods are more difficult to find to match your stove since they were not around one hundred years ago. Try buying wood and blending it into the upper cabinetry.

Como Building P/L, Michael Como provides in SYDNEY, an NSW Building Regulations Consultancy service that comprises, Interpretation of NSW legislation relevant to the construction of Class 1 and 10; Issuing: Complying Development Certificates (CDC), Construction Certificates (CC) [after a local council has approved a development], Occupation certificates (OC), Compliance Certificates, NCC Building Code Australia Reports. Engagement for the certification work is on a contract basis.

Also, a pre-purchase property inspection or building inspection by Michael Como may empower you with knowledge about the condition of a property currently or before you buy it and help you avoid future problems and unexpected costs. However, this service can only be conducted if the insurer is on-side, and currently, they are not and as a result, we do not conduct it.

Michael Como is Your Custom Home Builder in Sydney with over 46 years of construction experience, a Master Craftsman sharing innovative Restoration/renovation Ideas. Licensed since 1988. At this stage, I will only carry out building work at a contracted agreed hourly rate.

Let your imagination soar as you enjoy Building Green Homes or Straw houses or Hemp Homes or Heritage Style Restoration or Bathroom renovations or UHR or Digital twin or Sealing…. Etc.

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