Unfitting For a Kitchen

The bathroom is almost done.  Almost.  I still have to hang the towel rods,

the mirror, find a few accessories and artwork and it will be ready for a reveal.

In the meantime, I'm looking ahead to the renovation of

the kitchen that will expand into the old bathroom and pantry, replacement

of several windows and a French door. Oh, and appliances and new cabinets.  

I was anticipating having cabinets custom made.

Something like these.

 

...or these.  Have you looked at the Plain English website?

 But when I saw the line item estimate for those, I was stunned.

It's like buying a new car....and I can't afford a new car.

I thought I would check out a local cabinet business for a reality check.

There were some beautiful options.  I was immediately attracted to this

cabinet door with a rope detail.  Beautiful.  Apparently it's also THE most

expensive door available too.  Funny how I can do that.

 

So maybe I could do something a little simpler...

...but use hardware with a rope detail to get the same feel.

We went through the showroom and discussed a million details.

Raised panel/flat panel, overlay/inset--did you know inset doors and drawers

add about 30 percent to the cost of cabinets?-- lazy susan/blind corner, 

square edge/eased edge, apron sink/undermount, range hoods,

on and on for about an hour chosing every last detail.

I handed over a copy of my blueprints with the kitchen layout

and they'll work up a plan and an estimate.   

And I left feeling disappointed.

Shouldn't redoing a kitchen be exciting?

When I got home, I checked my reading list a there was this post by Camille.

She also links to a post by Joni Webb from Cote de Texas if you're so inclined.

Go ahead and check it out.

Take your time.  I'll wait here.

 

 

Okay.  Ready to go?

 

 

I find this unfitted kitchen much more interesting:  "Unfitted" meaning not not

necessary corner to corner....made from parts.

 

Another image I've had on my Pinterest kitchen boards.

 

And this kitchen from the movie "Message in a Bottle" has been in file for years.

 

 

Even Steven Gambrel uses large furniture pieces for an unfitted look.

So why can't I find a few pieces of furniture and cobble something together

with some larger lengths of countertop, a nice new sink and new appliances?

Just "make it work."

So I hopped in the car to hit a few antique furniture stores.

My karma must me good this week.  Check this out:

An 1880s, probably Danish, pine store counter with amazing details.

It's over 11 feet long.  I can't even fit the whole thing in one photo.

Has eight of these columns.

They almost feel like something from a Viking ship where the oars would go.

 

Eleven feet of thick walnut on the top that could be repurposed.

The back side has two eight-drawer sets of cabinets.

The drawers move like butter!

 

I don't love the color and it definitely needs a little love but there are a lot

of really great details.  Broken down and reworked, it's piece that could

be given a new life and used for another 100 years.

 

Suddenly I'm excited about a new kitchen!