Why we need a new kitchen

Here are your final views of our old kitchen.  I know, I know, you'll miss...

...the fact that we took the trim and wainscoting down over two years ago, thinking we'd strip it and put it back up, and then realized instantly that there was no way we'd be putting freshly-restored trim back up over walls like this. (Not the best way to showcase my precious vintage Pyrex collection)

You'll probably also miss the following ultra-sketchy electrical situations shown below (note: this is just a few of many of the ultra-sketchy electrical situations.)

Outlet supported entirely by the wire to which it is attached

220 outlet sticking out of the floor.  Funny story: it smoked and tripped the main breaker of the
whole house the first time we plugged the stove.  Fixed by my wonderful father.

One of two knob-and-tube light fixture hook-ups.  No box, just
 wires protruding from the ceiling.  For the last 86 years. 

You'll also likely miss our "island" consisting of an old buffet, a cabinet removed from the wall that was removed eight years ago, and bottom-of-the-line electric stove...  

...and our floor, off of which we spent an entire summer scraping up multiple layers of lord only knows what back in '08, exposing beautiful original flooring, which, with no finish left to speak of, then absorbed three years' worth of uncleanable filth...

Yellow paint and scum line probably indicate the floor of the original cabinet on this spot

I could go on.  But I will spare you, and prevent further embarrassment to myself.  The sad part is that Gabe and I really LOVE to cook, and are really good at it, and entertain regularly.  I made my brother's wedding cake in this kitchen, for crying out loud!  But the good part is that using it for three years helped us realize that it does have many potentially redeeming qualities.  For example...

Despite many having tried to convince us to eliminate a window to allow for more counter space, the two large windows let in amazing late-afternoon/early-evening light (i.e., the time you're most likely to be in the kitchen).  Also, replacing them with smaller windows would just look funny from the outside, because this house has some extreme symmetry, which I am a big fan of.  And after thinking about it, messing with the windows wouldn't really improve the layout much, because we love the huge island that allows everyone to stand around facing each other while they work.  The only think we'd change would be to center the stove so that Lefty (Gabe) and Righty (moi) can each have our own side of the stove.  

I also like everything about the layout of this photo.  

We love the sink in its original location under the window, looking out over the garden.  Sinks belong under windows.  Period, end of story.  I'm not afraid to say it - sinks in islands, at least ones meant for doing dishes, are just plain dumb.  Who wants a dish rack hanging out in the middle of your island all the time?  Unless you don't cook, and therefore don't do dishes.  We cook, and do lots of dishes. I also really like the pot rack, although I didn't think I would at first.  But it should never go above the stove where everything on it would just gathers grease -  next to the sink is good because you can just hang everything right up the second you're done washing it. And the cabinets for the dishes are right above the dishwasher - that almost makes too much sense!  The only thing I'd change about this is find spots off the counter for the microwave and toaster oven.  

Then again, stoves totally belong on islands.  In the efficient layout of the Foursquare, wall removed, you can stand behind your stove and talk to all your guests and family in the dining room....

  

...or look to the right and you can see into the living room and even watch TV if you're inclined.  That exposed chimney....that's another thing I'm looking forward to never seeing again.

The stove in the island makes it feel like you have your own cooking show.

For the fridge, we've found the perfect balance of convenient, yet not in the way - we built a large nook for it where a pantry used to be, closing off what used to be a second door to the bathroom with a useful cookbook and display shelf.

So as you can see, we've done a lot of work to it already. We're ready to pull the trigger on the next phase, the messy part. The trim and wainscoting is stripped and waiting for us in the basement.  In the meantime, believe it or not, we've even acquired a bonus stash of matching, unpainted, vintage Southern pine, which came out of my great-grandmother's house and was hoarded by my mother in her garage attic until she sold her house earlier this year.  But that's another story.  With fresh electricity, insulation, drywall, and re-installed trim, we'll be looking good in no time. After that, new cabinets will just be a bonus!  

We hope you'll join us for what promises to be a wild ride.  You're welcome to come over anytime as long as you bring some tools and/or anything that can be heated up in a microwave.