In this St Paul home renovation the kitchen, family room, and powder room were re-created providing beautiful, comfortable, and innovative spaces. 101 years later, the traditional 1914 character of the home is restored with a farm sink, hardwood floors, original style trim work, flush inset cabinets with brackets, painted wood-paneled appliances, and custom in-swinging casement windows.
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The side entry to home felt cramped and awkward. A tiny half bathroom, which had been added in the 1980s, sat right next to the door. Moving it opened up the room and created more natural transition into the kitchen. Then we widened the doorway, replaced the windows and door, and installed trim to match the original home.
This flexible spot around the corner from the side door can be used as a buffet, workspace, or dropzone. A Lazy Susan in the corner cabinet turns a blind corner into functional storage.
The existing table was saved and modified to fit the new space. There’s a pullout breadboard at the end of the table. Fun fact: there are four pullout breadboards in this kitchen!
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Custom in-swing windows were made to replace the windows above the sink. The new windows are narrower than the originals so there’s more room for cabinets. The rest of the windows were restored to make them function better. We removed the radiator from under the sink and installed cast iron baseboard radiators in the eating nook. A microwave/vent was added that pulls odors, smoke, and steam outside.
A pullout keeps a step stool handy for reaching upper cabinets. Pullouts also make deep cabinets more functional. Refrigerators were uncommon until the 1940s and automatic dishwashers were a novelty in 1960. The painted cabinet fronts on the appliances make this kitchen feel a little more like it did a hundred years ago. The cup pulls are another detail from the early 20th-century.
Move the slider to see the transformation.
The old spaces were cramped, poorly heated, and inefficient. The 1980s family room had been under-used and did not blend well with the rest of the house. We installed a lower, wider radiator and replace the tiered radiator cover with a custom radiator cover that blends with the rest of the house. The trim was also replaced. If you look carefully, you can see how the textured ceiling was replaced with oak trim.
The half-bath was relocated, away from the side door.
Creative use of recessed cabinets and a curved front vanity make the most of a small footprint. Building code required a wall mounted toilet with the tank in the wall.
Design: Ben and the homeowner
Project Manager: Sam Quie
Photos: Troy Thies
TESTIMONIALS
Responsive Craftsmen
Ben Quie, his crew, and the people he contracted out were reliable, honest, hardworking, and excellent craftsmen. Ben was extremely responsive to all of my questions and concerns and even installed a temporary kitchen in my dining room complete with a full-size sink and portable stove so I could cook and clean up without a big hassle or inconvenience.
~ Helen Knox
