Before & After: A 1920s Kitchen Gets a Clean & Classic Upgrade
My brother and I purchased a 1924 multi-family home just under a year ago. The house was in great shape but definitely needed some aesthetic updates and both kitchens needed a complete overhaul. It was important to me to keep the kitchen era-appropriate while incorporating a modern color palette and materials. We demoed the day after Thanksgiving and took the whole room down to the studs.
My dad did all of the electrical work and plumbing and we hired a team to install the drywall. Since there is only one window in the kitchen, I painted the walls white to make the space as bright as possible. I purchased raw oak cabinets from Lowes; the team there was super helpful finding the right layout to maximize space and storage. I sanded and painted the cabinets myself – a far bigger project than I expected! I purchased the cabinet and drawer pulls online to match the original glass hardware on the built-in cabinets in the house. Hardwoods run throughout the entire home so I decided to continue them into the kitchen. I went with quartzite for the countertops as I like the bit of shimmer it has while still being a very durable material. Because the quartzite has a pattern and a bit of sea foam green veining, I chose to go with classic white subway tile for the backsplash. I really like the herringbone pattern as it adds a bit of interest and gives a modern flair to a classic material. I think my favorite piece in the kitchen is the pendant light above the sink. I found it from this adorable little shop on Etsy. It’s 1930s sea foam glass from France and I love how it adds a bit of elegance and femininity to the space.
Since we did all of the work and labor ourselves, the project took a while to complete. There were definitely some tough days and living without a kitchen for three and a half months was a real challenge but it was absolutely worth the time and effort. I’m beyond thrilled with the final product and can’t wait to reno the other unit’s kitchen!
Thank you, Sarah!