Before & After: Updating 1950s Kitchen in a 1920s Bungalow

published Jun 23, 2015
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(Image credit: Jami Jones)

John and Jami’s 1925 Craftsman had a kitchen that hadn’t been updated in any significant way since the 1950s. The couple hired local tradespeople to renovate the room and acted as apprentices on the job to keep costs down and acquire some renovation skills…

(Image credit: Regina Yunghans)

First up: the cabinets. Upon moving into the house, there were mouse droppings in the uppermost cabinets and it was apparent to John and Jami that new cabinets were the way to go. Rather than install off-the-shelf cabinets, custom ones were built for the space. They were actually the less expensive option and allowed the best use of limited space.

Electrical updates were made throughout the house, including the addition of an over-sink fixture and under-cabinet lighting. Additional lighting accents the area over the cabinets.

New appliances replace the old, but a hunt is still on for the perfect refrigerator. Several models have been purchased and returned because there is no way to fit a new one in through the small entryway to the room! One approach the couple has tried in their refrigerator quest is to have a local appliance shop make a mock-up fridge out of cardboard, and then try and maneuver it through the complicated, angled archway. Best of luck!

See more of the kitchen and the house in its entirety:

House Tour → John and Jami’s Small Space with a Big Sense of Place