baseline out of sequence

[15_the_circle]

this is more than a bit out of sequence, but karenleigh was asking in another thread about the current kitchen configuration, specifically the cabinets, I hope nobody minds skipping forward a bit. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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here's a typical cabinet and doors as found when I moved into the place.  very modern and all that, I guess, but clearly a product of the 1980s when the work was done.  more of a clash than a fit for the place. 

it's horizontally oriented because it's located over the refrigerator. 

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these cabinets had had the same style of doors as seen above.  several years ago I got past the point where I could stand looking at them them any longer and replaced them with these contemporary ones.  they had to be ordered from a kitchen cabinet place which of course took bloody forever, but I was pleased with the result. 

the passthrough between the cabinets is over the sink and opens to the dining room.  note how even with morning sun shining into the kitchen the dining room is dark.  and depressing.  in the kitchen-to-be this entire wall will be removed. 

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the other change made some time ago was the removal of a pair of cabinets that had overhung the laundry appliances, blocking off light and a view of the East Woods.  this window was built into the wall where they had been, shown below from the exterior. 

the window frame was built around a wooden insert salvaged from an old outer door, the kind with removable panels for screens and storm windows.  it was, of course, rotated 90° for this purpose.  a second panel provides some measure of insulation. 

the renovations have yet to make it to this end of the cottage: I had faux painted the T-111 siding and trim this yellow and green years ago by way of a prelude to the real changes which years later are still to come. 

p.s.

the window box was scavenged from another Grove cottage's contribution the quarterly large item pickup (it's always interesting how the curbside piles get thinned out by the time the truck and crew come to do the hauling away).  the window box and its begonias wintered over in the South side of the room, visible in the background as the window-seen-through-a-window (one might need to click through to a larger image to make it out clearly).

Comments

[collpepper.livejournal.com]

I love cabinets with glass in them. They are so pretty. Unfortunately, I could never have them, due to an adorable 15 year old, with dish storage issues....in other words...he stuffs the plates and glasses in the cupboards with no rhyme or reason...I try...but ohhh well......

Maybe someday...

....I'll just look at yours and dream....

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should necessarily give up on the notion so quickly.  replacing cabinet doors is one of those quick and easy steps that goes a long way in the direction of a makeover.  it also changes how one uses the space: when the cabinet interior is visible all the time one becomes less haphazard in stowage. 

try it, it just might work.  even on a teenager. 

[niyabinghi.livejournal.com]

Oh I love that shot of the little room/shed with the window box :)

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

many years ago the kitchen had been expanded into what had been a back porch.  one of the design objectives of the remodeling is to give that part of the place the look and feel of the porch-that-was. 

the big slabby wall to the R of the image, with its cheap modern aluminium framed sliding window and brown T-111 siding, is part of an ill-considered late 1970s addition that will be removed.  the red door that's partially visible is one element that I want to reuse in the redone space: it's a Dutch door.  I don't know why but I've always been partial to them. 

[karenleigh.livejournal.com]

I love your glass front cabinets. I have just one in my kitchen. May replace a few more with glass.

Back porches are my favorite part of houses. They're where all the stories live.

[karenleigh.livejournal.com]

p.s. I know that kitchens are the main story rooms, but back porches hold the real secrets.

[15-the-circle.livejournal.com]

>
> I love your glass front cabinets. I have just one in my kitchen.
> May replace a few more with glass.
>

that's an excellent way to go.  if you do that, you might do well to avoid repeating the mistakes I made. 

first was that I ended up being in a hurry, never a good idea to be crowding time on such a project (wanted to have it completed in time for a state visit from my mother, and oddly enough I can't remember whether it ended up missing the deadline or just barely making it).  the second was a consequence of the first: I went with new doors thinking it would have saved some of that time.  older ones, altered as needed to fit, might have worked out better.  but since these cabinets cabinets will be coming out anyway there was no real harm done. 

>
> 
> Back porches are my favorite part of houses. They're where
> all the stories live.
> 
> I know that kitchens are the main story rooms, but back porches
> hold the real secrets.
>

that's interesting; since what I'm hoping to end up with will be a transitional space with aspects of both, perhaps there are some good possibilities there.