kitchen
Jed Weissbluth
Beyond Builder Grade Part 1

Beyond Builder Grade Part 2

It’s been a minute since Beyond Builder Grade Part 1, and we’re returning to the same 2004 construction that called for updates on the first floor. This home lacked a proper mudroom, something we highly recommend in our area.

The updated mudroom now has closed storage with individual cubbies and a boot bench, all finished with Farrow & Ball Smoke Green.

Below is the original closet with two hollow bifold doors that strained to contain the coats, shoes, and other items. Builder basic hanging rods and wire shelves were standard in 2004.

The original closet with builder grade bifold doors and a couple of flimsy wire shelves.

Mudrooms are one of the most overlooked areas of a home, in our experience. Dedicated space for snow gear, backpacks, etc. near an exterior door is a smart investment for many families in our area.

New construction is the perfect place to specify a mudroom, but retrofits can also work with thoughtful planning. Organized closed storage is preferable to a builder-basic closet (as in this case), and wire shelves are inexpensive but not built for the long term. While a spacious mudroom can include laundry machines and pet bathing stations, even a small footprint can make a big impact!

Stop by for Part 3 in which we updated and switched the function of two rooms near the front entry, and check out @afinishedspace for our latest projects.

Beyond Builder Grade Part 1

The owners of a relatively young home asked us to update their first floor, and we could see that the style of the home was essentially unchanged since it was built in 2004. We touched every part of the first floor and got the ball rolling with a new kitchen.

A new kitchen in the same footprint. Custom cabinetry, new appliances, and mixed materials refreshed the original kitchen.

The original cream-colored cabinets had yellowed with age. The universal use of dark speckled granite, cabinet knobs in lieu of any cabinet pulls, basic lighting, and brown travertine backsplash were typical builder-grade selections commonly found in homes from this era.

Notice the detail of the original kitchen cabinetry which created a heavy, overly formal kitchen atmosphere. Some describe this as “fancy Shaker” because the classic style has been dressed up with a beaded inset door, brown glaze over the paint finish, and a raised panel. In this picture we can see the raised panel is separating from the stile, an area that is difficult to repair.

We opted for the classic Shaker style which we admire for its versatility and clean lines, all without calling attention to itself. Plays well with other materials, too!

Short cabinetry in the original kitchen created some strange elevations and left a void in the middle that collected odds and ends. We’re not saying that a bar function was calling to us in the updates. But we might have heard a bar function whispering to us in the design process.

A good example of mixed materials at work in the new bar area, and an inviting spot to pour a drink.

The original kitchen suffered from “fancy cabinet syndrome” that was incompatible with the rest of the home and the unfussy style of the owners. Ornamental cabinetry played a large role in dating the kitchen, and the appliances were starting to misbehave as they approached the end of their service life.

We were thrilled to improve the kitchen for our lovely clients, and we hope they enjoy it with family and friends as often as they can.

Stay tuned for more about this project in the next edition!

Dutch Colonial Update

A classic Dutch Colonial is on tap today, and a quick note before we dive in. We’re on Instagram. IG. Insta. Whatever the cool cats call it. We’re there with pics of our work and brief comments, cool catting it up @afinishedspace. We'll try to keep it snappy and regular.

Back to this sweet Dutch Colonial, built in 1929. This small home had some seen limited cosmetic remodeling a few years ago, but the basement was mostly original and the substantive improvements had been ignored. Our first steps included removing radiators in favor of modern HVAC, new electrical service, insulating the attic, installing a new water heater, new windows in the basement, and removing a narrow set of stairs to the basement accessed via . . . the powder room.

No kidding, the powder room. So, we built a new stairwell and finished the basement before refreshing the first and second floor.

A lovely 1929 brick Dutch Colonial. These homes can easily live another 100 years or more with some improvements, and we hope they do.

It was time to retire the stairs-in-the-bathroom concept, so we applied some engineering magic to create new stairs near the back of the home.

Tip of the Day: you should not need to maneuver around the toilet to use basement stairs. Our clients agreed. These new stairs in the back of the house were the perfect solution.

The original basement was not an inviting place, and many basements from this era were the same. It’s a great opportunity to add valuable living space as an alternative to finding a new home or undertaking an addition.

Another perspective of the old basement.

New windows, cabinetry, improved lighting, and new porcelain flooring make the basement laundry room less gloomy.

Frosted glass doors allow some light to pass through while keeping the laundry room out of sight when not in use.

A media nook and new mechanicals complete the basement.

As we head upstairs, the home was looking a bit tired. We refinished the floors, updated the fireplace, painted, installed new light fixtures and tile, and helped the owners pick out some new furniture—all while minding the classic details that made this home so attractive.

The original entry.

The new entry.

We installed new light fixtures, tile around the fireplace, painted the walls and ceiling, and refinished the floors before helping our clients pick new pieces for their family room. Same for the music area and dining room below.

We maintained the original stained glass windows and stained oak millwork, all of which was in fairly good condition, to meet our client’s objectives.

The original kitchen.

New lighting, backsplash, and hardware upgraded the refinished cabinetry in this kitchen.

It was rewarding to give this Dutch Colonial a second act in life. We hope this family and the next generations of owners enjoy it well into the next century and beyond.

A Modern Kitchen in a Traditional Home

Where did the time go? It seems like just last week were were basking in the glory of grout fame followed by a hike in the mountains of Montana that left us breathless. As in, we realized our aerobic condition was no match for hiking terrain at altitude. Later, one of our projects was mentioned in The Spruce July edition.

Note to self: if you drag your junk up a mountain range, it pays to be in shape. Your glutes will thank you later.

Note to self: if you drag your junk up a mountain range, it pays to be in shape. Your glutes will thank you later.

Back at sea level, we completed a small modern kitchen in a traditional home built in 1925. This three bedroom home had been renovated in 2004, but the current owner and avid cook wanted to improve the kitchen for his daily use and frequent entertaining. We’ll start with the “before” pics to set the scene.

We love a good challenge! The previous kitchen was tightly packed, featured stock cabinetry with dark wood tones, upper cabinetry placed at different heights, terra cotta tile on the floor, malfunctioning cooking appliances at the end of their service life, and little organized storage.

We love a good challenge! The previous kitchen was tightly packed, featured stock cabinetry with dark wood tones, upper cabinetry placed at different heights, terra cotta tile on the floor, malfunctioning cooking appliances at the end of their service life, and little organized storage.

A handful of new kitchens can successfully incorporate an authentic heirloom or an antique on occasion. This kitchen included a new freestanding cabinet that was distressed to appear old. We call this “fake old” because it’s a modern counterfeit. Unfortunately, in this instance, it was intended to hide problems with stock cabinetry and unresolved layout problems.

A handful of new kitchens can successfully incorporate an authentic heirloom or an antique on occasion. This kitchen included a new freestanding cabinet that was distressed to appear old. We call this “fake old” because it’s a modern counterfeit. Unfortunately, in this instance, it was intended to hide problems with stock cabinetry and unresolved layout problems.

The new kitchen features sleek new cabinetry, improved lighting and appliances, and a simplified design in the same compact footprint. There is no rule that says traditional kitchens must be placed in old homes. In fact, we appreciated the opportunity to break from conventional expectations in this kitchen.

The new kitchen features sleek new cabinetry, improved lighting and appliances, and a simplified design in the same compact footprint. There is no rule that says traditional kitchens must be placed in old homes. In fact, we appreciated the opportunity to break from conventional expectations in this kitchen.

A large single-bowl SmartStation from Julien replaced the old double bowl sink, and the new quartz countertops will handle heavy use in this kitchen.

A large single-bowl SmartStation from Julien replaced the old double bowl sink, and the new quartz countertops will handle heavy use in this kitchen.

A powerful range offers high BTU burners, convection and steam cooking functions, and a warming drawer. We are fans of the matte black mosaic backsplash, and the star pattern was subtly restrained by the charcoal grout.

A powerful range offers high BTU burners, convection and steam cooking functions, and a warming drawer. We are fans of the matte black mosaic backsplash, and the star pattern was subtly restrained by the charcoal grout.

Even 170 square feet can be highly functional and streamlined for a hard-working kitchen. A couple tips for improving a small kitchen: be ruthless when you cut the excess, pay extra attention to the cabinetry internals for enhanced organization, and don’t overlook multiple sources. of lighting. We were happy to update this traditional home without the constraints of a certain historical period, and we hope the owner enjoys many meals and gatherings in the new kitchen!

Remodeling and Home Design