House Tour: Kitchen

The first time I walked into this kitchen, I swooned. Not because of top-of-the-line updates or gleaming newness (the price tag for those features in Capitol Hill takes us well out of our budget). Rather, it's the space that feels right. There's room to breathe, to move around, to gather, to hang out, to eat. I can't tell you how rare these qualities are in 100+ year old rowhouses. 

The second time we visited the house, we'd already decided we couldn't live with the basement - we actually just sat at the dining table to write an offer on another house. I couldn't even look into the kitchen, I loved it so much. Walking into that kitchen I was saying goodbye to? Not an option for me. And so I wouldn't leave the dining room. Out of sight, out of mind... or so I thought. But now here we are, basement be damned, and this is my kitchen. I'm beyond excited to make this space mine.

(Photos courtesy of the sellers' agent.)

One thing I know with certainty after touring dozens and dozens of kitchens over the last several months: I prefer kitchens that aren't updated. Here's why: I don't want to pay for someone else's design choices. Any kitchen updates dramatically increase the price of the home, and I probably only saw one updated kitchen that I actually liked in all the houses we toured. Having to pay up for someone else's awful cabinets or weird granite, just to rip it out as soon as financially possible? No thanks. I'd rather find a great space and know that over time, I can update it precisely to my tastes.

That said, white cabinets with butcher block countertops are my absolute favorite! So some obvious updates: let's start with the floors. These are actually the same floors that are in my parents' kitchen, which makes me smile. But the faux brick laminate won't be around forever. The appliances need updating, too ... although in the meantime, I'm just happy to get back into the world of gas cooking and leave my wretched ceramic-top stove behind. The above photo is taken from the perspective of the refrigerator, which is the oldest appliance, but which also has great cabinet storage above it.

Eat-in goodness! I love all this space.

We may do something different with the built-ins down the road (I'm dreaming of a banquette on one side), but for now, a fresh coat of white paint and I'm filling these babies up (how great will my flame Le Creuset collection look here?!). I love that I can easily work down here if I get sick of my office, too.

Are you noticing all the light, by the way? The light is just unstoppable in this house. Pretend there are great pendant lights hanging above the counter in the picture below. Are you picking up what I'm throwing down?

A little half-bath is in the nook across from the pantry.

Now for the big question: what color am I going to paint the kitchen? I've always had cheery reds and yellows in my kitchen, but the strong light is such a game-changer in this house. This baby blue definitely isn't me, but I'm not sure which direction to take it. I've been playing around with the idea of doing something really different in the kitchen - a decorative ceiling or a graphic back wall, for instance, to add punches of color and interest while also honoring how great white looks in this house. Time will tell!

Ideas? Kitchen renovation stories of your own? I'm all ears!

House Tour
Living Room & Dining Room
Upstairs 
Basement 
Outdoors