Kitchen before

In case you are just happened upon my blog, my family and I are moving into a home that needs a little TLC in Denver that we have rented out since 1998.  The home was built in 1911 and was owned by one family before we purchased it in 1997.  Sometime in the 1950’s the previous owner thought that the home needed a face lift and added some interesting design touches that were popular back then such as metal cabinets, boxing in the upper cabinets which blocked nearly a 1/3 of the windows and used a very fashionable (at the time) pink color scheme.

Our remodel budget is pretty small and encompasses updating electrical, plumbing, bath and kitchen without breaking the bank.  As far as the kitchen and our budget is concerned, we have elected to keep the white metal cabinets – they are pretty cool.  Even our contractor said that they were high end for the time and well made.  They are Geneva Steel Cabinets similar to the ones in this NY Times article.  At one time the cabinets were pink, but at the height of my pink exasperation, I painted them white.  In some ways I regret painting the cabinets, and other times I think to myself, “Yeah, they’re cool and retro, but not really my style.”  C’est la vie, if you know what I mean.

Kitchen after ripping out boxed in soffit - the unsightly metal vent above the cabinets will be removed as well

One of the things on my list for our contractor to do was to rip out the boxy soffit above the cabinets.  Even though it’s not much to look at right now, I’m incredibly pleased with the decision!  Pretend that the teal and gold paint isn’t there and it really opens the room up visually.  And, having the extra light from the newly revealed full sized windows is incredible!

In addition to removing the soffit above the cabinets we are replacing the sink, faucet, applicances and counter tops with new laminate ones.  We have begun shopping for appliances – and are going to go with stainless steel ones.  Fitting a fridge into the the current space just isnt’ working for us, so we’re going to move a 30″ slide in range to this area which will make venting the stove easier and will place the fridge where the range and hood used to be.   It will just mean removing the upper cabinets at both places – not a big deal.  The remainder of the foot print will remain the same.  Bonus, there is also a transom window situated above the door to the mud room that I hope to uncover.

Meanwhile, we think we have found renters for our current house – we will know by this evening or tomorrow at latest.  The only caveat is that they need to move in by August 15th which is earlier than our contractor thought that he might be finished.  Eeeeek – that means that we now have less than 3 weeks to pack everything up (studio included) and move.  Needless to say, I don’t anticipate that I will be making any new clay work between now and then.  What’s more is that my first day of school is August 19th – where did summer go?

Cynthia