Dressed in Blue: A Historic Kitchen Remodel in Holly Hills, MO
- Location: Holly Hills, MO
Dressed in Blue: A Historic Kitchen Remodel
Holly Hills is a beautiful St. Louis neighborhood filled with broad tree-lined boulevards, the third largest park in the city, and an abundance of historic homes dating to the 1920s. From Tudor and Colonial Revival to brick mansions and comfortable bungalows, the district is rich in architectural styles.
As is often the case with older homes, the young family that purchased this Holly Hills home knew they would need to remodel the kitchen before moving in. While the owners wanted the new space to reflect their personal taste, it was important to them that the design stay true to the original architectural style.
The Vision
The new owners wanted a kitchen that would be family ready on moving-in day. The tasked us with making the room more spacious and while giving it an updated look. Gaining space for an island the family could gather around by removing the bulky center support column that split the room in two was the main request.
The Challenge
Most of the challenges were due to the age of the house. The electrical and plumbing were both 100 years old!
The original knob and tube were in place but over the years six open boxes that had never been capped (and had hot wires) were hidden in plastered walls. It took the team 3 extra days to complete the electrical, which included fishing wires through an old concrete porch that half of the existing kitchen had been built over. The plumbing, too, had been added on to over the years. We also discovered there was no sewer vent for the kitchen plumbing which called for some rerouting.
The final challenge: containing the large amount of dust that comes with chiseling masonry and removing brick. The family had a new baby – and a very friendly but curious dog – so we used a lot of dust protection and plastic walls to keep the rest of the house as dust-free as possible. The products used to refinish the flooring and strip the built-in hutch required constant ventilation, even though the job was done in the dead of winter.
The Transformation
To give the homeowners the open room they envisioned, we removed a masonry column and installed new steel beams to support the load of the floor above. This increased the usable space by about 30% and made way for a large island with seating in the center of the room.
The masonry walls on the back half of the kitchen made it impossible to install electrical switches or outlets, so they were installed in another column and an existing outlet location. And what we thought were furred out walls ended up being plaster over masonry, so we had to take out the electrical and plumbing there as was required by code. We ended up furring out a 2×4 foot wall in front of that, which design-wise, changed the cabinet layout slightly.
The original hardwood floors throughout were still intact but with large spots that showed signs of heavy wear. The kitchen floors were sanded and stained to match the other floors and refinished. Since the refinishing was limited to the kitchen, we installed wood flush transition strips to create an enclosed perimeter.
All the wood trims and casings, including the built-in ironing board door, were cleaned up and repaired where necessary to keep them as close to original as possible.
The Details
There were a few design elements that were special to both the clients and our team.
- The homeowners wanted to be a little different with their materials selection, so brushed brass with the finish of choice.
- The dishwasher was relocated, and more useful storage was installed near the refrigerator. A cabinet mounted microwave was removed and replaced with floating shelves.
- The clients wanted to keep the built-in hutch, so we stripped several layers of paint off, filled the hardware holes and refinished the piece in a gorgeous navy blue to make it look cohesive with the new space.
- A small radiator that had been moved to the kitchen during a previous remodel was enclosed and turned into a drop station for the family. It now serves a dual purpose: heating the space and collecting pocket change and keys. The radiator cover was hand-built by our production manager, Dean Huston.
- “Ella” quartz countertops by Cambria were chosen. Their honed finish gives the rich look of a soft natural stone, but they’re more durable and easier to maintain than marble ones.
- A classic white subway tile with a soft gray grout taken up to the ceiling was a great way to get texture into the small room.
Finally, all new lighting had to be installed; the original room had just a ceiling fan and a sconce above the sink. We installed can lights on dimmers, a new sconce above the sink, and two simple pendants above the center island. Large amounts of natural light flood the room during the day thanks to existing windows and doors.
Additional Touches
High on the client’s wish list was a bar foot-rail on the center island, so we installed a brushed brass finish one that matched the hardware on the cabinets and drop station. The island’s panels give it a furniture look and the same navy blue color as the center island breaks up the solid look of the dark painted cabinets. The piece houses a pull-out trash can, pull-out shelves, and a microwave alcove, which the children can easily access.
The New Space
All the materials used in this kitchen are rectilinear in style but have such soft textures that the space is incredibly welcoming. Wellborn maple cabinets were used, and we utilized panels and extended rails to give the room a built-in look that matches the quality level of the rest of the home. Custom-sized panels were used to create the shape of the islands and make it feel more like a permanent piece of furniture rather than the standard floating island we usually see.
