We’ve made a commitment to fully restart renovations.
The two-year pause did us some good. “Charming and vintage” has always been important, but we’ve now added “and incredibly, absurdly comfortable.”
A big change will be hiring out a good amount of the work. Previously, I was doing everything myself. For friends that are not familiar, our house is a two-story downtown cottage built in the 1840s, with additions/bump-outs from the 1880s and the 1940s.
Jonathan had our contractor (who is also a friend and neighbor) in for a few small things while I was in London — a faucet here, a socket there. I’m inordinately excited about the plugs, because we’re replacing the old ones with sockets that have high-speed USB charging and smart-home-whatever.
The kitchen work begins this week. I’m eliminating this useless window so the refrigerator can be moved there. Then the pantry will be built where the refrigerator was.
The kitchen will be a big job — everything is being yanked out. We’re even tearing down the plaster ceiling to reveal the 1840s beams, and we’ll gain over a foot in height.
A few years ago I noticed an obvious trend toward countertop appliances — air fryers, stand-alone induction cooktops, convection ovens that can handle a large pizza or an average-sized turkey. Especially in apartments, I started to see entire kitchens outfitted with these types of things rather than full-sized appliances.
No gigantic range and nothing permanently fixed in place? Sign me up. I have a countertop induction unit and a French door convection oven in my shopping cart right now. The amount of times we’ve needed more than three burners or had to roast a 20-something pound turkey? Exactly never.
I don’t like cabinets, and we wanted the whole kitchen to be easy to clean. I landed on stainless steel restaurant fixtures. Easily cleaned and they can be moved! Perfect!
Off we go! Below are two views from my design.
Have a great sleep!
Sit Still Phill 
O EM GEE!!! LOVE the exposed beams and the foot higher ceiling! but loveLoveLOVE the stainless steel restaurant fixtures! i absolutely cannot wait to watch the progress and to see the final results (however far off they might be)!! 🤩🤩🤩 (i copied and pasted the star faces off of FB neat, huh?! ) Love, KarenAdair
I’m excited to get started! I really like the fact that it will be so unfussy but still comfortable looking. I think my favorite thing is that you could just roll the counters out of the way to get behind them.
O i had not realized you could just roll them around. even the sink? when do you think you’ll get started?
❤ Karen
I started yesterday! The useless window I’m taking out should be closed and sealed up by tomorrow, then I can move the refrigerator and build the pantry where the refrigerator was. Already have my pantry shelves and everything!
Yes, you could unscrew the sink connections and roll it somewhere else. If you wanted to paint the wall behind it, etc. The big deep sink is attached to the counter unit and comes with it!
WOOOOOW!! that’s ALOT of work ALREADY! i LOVE it!! this is going to be a super fun topic to keep with and watch. AMAZZING!! 🤩🤩🤩 karenadair
❤❤❤
ALSO, i wanted to add that i think we all need that upgrade to those USB smart-home outlets!!! niceNiceNICE!!
love, KarenAdair ❤
Wow! I love the design and I’m loving the idea of nothing really fixed in place. Can’t wait to follow along o this journey!
I LOVE the idea of being able to see and get behind things! As I was planning, I remembered that really, this is what kitchens used to be. Just an empty room that you stuck work tables and maybe a hutch in, with a stove sitting there.