Our house tends to be the hang out place in summertime (which I love!). The kitchen has a constant flow of all aged kids running through it... lots of hungry kids. I photographed it yesterday morning before the throngs arrived, and the counters were covered with peach pits, empty glasses and plates filled with uneaten crusts. It was so nice to capture it in a tidy and serene moment... and from an angle my camera hasn't caught before. I received several e-mails after my last post from readers who were in the process of remodeling or building their own home. There were lots of similar questions about our kitchen layout, flooring and cabinets, so I thought I'd answer them all right here for the sake of ease.
The original part of our Federal farmhouse dates back to the the 1850's. The kitchen, dining room and living room are all part of the edition done in 1910. The floorboards are the original wide pine planks. They could use some refinishing in the heavy traffic areas, but I don't see that happening for a while. The open floor plan of the downstairs is very unusual for a house of this age and we believe it was remodeled in the 70's using reclaimed barn wood. The counter tops appear to be wide floor boards. They rest on top of cabinets that create a series of islands, including our five burner stove top. The posts are all load bearing, but the beams above the dining table are purely decorative. The hammered tin light fixtures were here when we moved in! I've spent a great deal of time in this part of the house over the last 10 years, and it's one of my favorite places in the world!
I really appreciate:
- the visibility and accessibility to all parts of the house
- all of the abundance of wood, even if it's difficult to clean and maintain
- counter space
- just the right amount of floorspace so that all of my cooking needs are at my fingertips
I love it, it looks so full of character.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Your kitchen is beautiful, I love the way the space is laid out as part of the home versus cut off from everyone. I also love the character that the wood brings.
ReplyDeleteI love that you have Donna Hay on your counter x
ReplyDeleteyour floors are phenomenal!
ReplyDeleteLove all the reclaim barn board. We have a great outfit up here in Boston that gets some spectacular stuff too and husband made us a dining table with barn beam legs, old hickory and some new walnut. I love that mix of materials. Both your house and the barn have such
ReplyDeleteopen touches while being old at the same time. Enjoyed the tour.
Oh wow, It's beautiful!!! We are hoping to remodel our kitchen this coming winter/spring. So I am constantly sneaking peeks at others kitchens...
ReplyDeletethank you!! i love it!!! i'll be heading over to look at the other photos now. really appreciate this post!
ReplyDeletecassie
Surprise!!! We have the same cook book!!! And I just love all your wood!!!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous! I love all the wood and how the lime green accents brighten it up. We recently went from a giant kitchen to a compact one, and I'm actually liking that everything is in reach, even if it means less counter space.
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is so inviting it's no wonder it gets a lot of traffic :) Love everything about it!
ReplyDeletei love your kitchen. dark wood looks so amazing in a kitchen space.
ReplyDeleteOh its just lovely. Its really a dream kitchen if you ask me. My fave place in the house right now is the office space. Its just a great place for me to be quiet & creative.
ReplyDeletebeautiful my dear. I just posted about Rustic Kitchens today...yours is perfect
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kitchen love! Rustic it is! Sometimes I wish for a dishwasher, etc. but most days I'm very happy with it, just as is. It's extremely modern compared to how the first kitchen in this house must have been. The original well was right outside the back door when we moved in... how easy it is to turn on my faucet!
ReplyDeleteI like your kitchen a lot!!
ReplyDeleteI think your kids are really lucky!
Have a nice day!!
What a beautiful place and I love the history of it. There is a certain feel that comes with a historical home! I love the wide plank floors too.. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMaya, I will drool on the wood if I'm ever in your kitchen. Swoon.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite room is also my kitchen. Totally different vibe than yours (think retro 50s diner) but can't help but love the heart of the home.
You have a Donna Hay cookbook!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise that she was internationally recognised and available overseas.
We just love her in Australia!!
What a great kitchen! Truly the heart of your home. It must be a joy to create in!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the tour of your kitchen. It looks very welcoming for all sorts of projects and people.
ReplyDeleteJody
love your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing another shot of your kitchen...I drooled over the first one, and moreso over this!
ReplyDelete