Kitchen bonus

The house we're buying was built in 1950. When I met the inspector there, he said, "I don't know how you're going to feel about these appliances. They look like they came off the ark."

I had to laugh. He clearly knew nothing about the appeal of a mid-century house with its original kitchen appliances intact. I explained to him that there are people who would gladly pay more for these appliances than they would for the latest models in stores today. By the time he finished the inspection, he was starting to understand. "These things are amazing. They work like they're brand new...and they're so clean. I mean, really, really clean."

The original Chambers wall oven, with warming tray and its matching stove top with a huge griddle that lifts to reveal a broiler, all in their copper and stainless steel glory. Yeah, baby!

(The attached note told the inspector how to turn it on.)

I promise better photos when I show you the finished kitchen. These were taken on the fly so we would remember details...like cabinet placement and shapes of knobs and levers. I didn't plan to use them here, but I couldn't wait to show you. The fuzzy spots that look like damage are just my poor photography.

Nesting: Kitchen ideas

Just when you thought you were through reading my obsessive posts about planning and building the Modernist Nest (as my previous home was lovingly dubbed by Anita at Fun and VJs), I have embarked on the planning of Nest II.  As I did the first time around, I'm using Pinterest to organize my ideas and keep track of sources and prices, since that proved so effective before. 

This time, I plan to use a combination of nickel and black fixtures and pulls with white cabinets and concrete-colored countertops. I'm still waffling between wood/laminate floors throughout the entire house or dark gray-brown tile floors in the wet areas. The current incarnation of the house plan has no upper cabinets in the kitchen, favoring instead a whole wall of shelving with doors on each end to hide unsightly items like small appliances and canned goods, while leaving a floor-to-ceiling section in the middle open to store/display vintage dishes and glassware.

I'm having even more fun planning Nest II than I did the original apartment, because I'm getting to correct the mistakes I made. For two years, I said, "If I had it to do again, the next time I'd...," and now I'm getting a chance at that do-over.

All images from houzz.com