THE CHINABERRY KITCHEN
Old House Journal|October - November 2020
Strong color unifies a revival kitchen in a 1910 Seattle house. A NOT-TOO-BIG HOUSE WITH CURB APPEAL WAS WHAT MARISA MUNOZ WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN SHE CAME UPON THIS ONE ON QUEEN ANNE HILL IN SEATTLE. THE 1910 HOUSE, A TRANSITIONAL FUSION OF LATE-VICTORIAN AND CRAFTSMAN ELEMENTS, HAD JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE WANTED: STEEP GABLES AND PRETTY WINDOWS; ORIGINAL MOULDINGS, HARDWOOD FLOORS, AND A ROMANTIC WINDING STAIRCASE. WELL MAINTAINED, THE HOUSE GENERALLY WAS IN MOVE-IN CONDITION . . . EXCEPT FOR THE KITCHEN.
BRIAN D. COLEMAN
THE CHINABERRY KITCHEN

Remodeled by the previous owners, the claustrophobic room was fitted with cheap brown cabinets, very shiny black granite counters, slate flooring, and—incongruously—baby-blue walls. Marisa knew she would want to redo it.

When she contacted Seattle interior designer Sheila Mayden, the two decided to begin with a small, manageable project: creating a brand-new, three-quarters guest bath for the family room on the basement level. All went smoothly, so, the following year, Marisa felt ready to tackle the kitchen. By now homeowner and designer had a great working relationship; Sheila knew that Marisa liked the strong color and lots of detail.

Wisely, Marisa did not want to enlarge the kitchen, as that would have affected the adjacent dining room. Staying within the original footprint would also help preserve the essence of the early-20th-century house.

The space was small, just 12' by 8'9, so planning was a challenge. The main cooking and cleanup area was nearly square, with just three walls: one each for the sink, the range, and the fridge. The pair decided to leave appliances in the same locations but chose state-of-the-art replacements: a 36” ‘Bussy’ range from LaCanche (matte black with brass detailing); a built-in Liebherr refrigerator hidden behind cabinet doors; an apron-front fireclay sink; and a disguised dishwasher. The microwave oven would be tucked into the rear pantry.

Custom cherry-wood cabinets were chosen for their weight and solidity, and run to the ceiling in the traditional manner of a butler’s pantry. Cabinetwork continues into the pantry area. Windows were added above the sink and at the back of the pantry, adding light and depth.

This story is from the October - November 2020 edition of Old House Journal.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October - November 2020 edition of Old House Journal.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OLD HOUSE JOURNALView All
THE Villa RENEWED
Old House Journal

THE Villa RENEWED

This house in Greene County, New York, has been faithfully restored, from its foundation and structure to exterior elements and trim inside.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
walls & ceilings
Old House Journal

walls & ceilings

BY THE 1870s, the tripartite treatment was fashionable: walls divided into dado (or wainscot) below the chair rail, fill or field section, and frieze at the top of the wall.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
lighting + hardware
Old House Journal

lighting + hardware

ANTIQUE, REPRODUCTION, or contemporary, lighting fixtures and lamps are among the most cost-effective ways to add drama or period style to a room.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
CRAFTSMAN PATINA
Old House Journal

CRAFTSMAN PATINA

A smitten owner brings the Arts & Crafts aesthetic to a 1921 bungalow in Seattle.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
furniture & decorative accessories
Old House Journal

furniture & decorative accessories

PERIOD ROOMS are the goal of a very small niche of old-house owners.

time-read
1 min  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
wall & floor tiles
Old House Journal

wall & floor tiles

TODAY WE FIND TILE from small studios . . . carved relief tiles, subway tile and mosaics, glazes matte and iridescent . . . plus encaustics and California revivals.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
A TRANSCENDENT BATHROOM IN OJAI
Old House Journal

A TRANSCENDENT BATHROOM IN OJAI

A seamless addition allowed for this timeless primary bath, which has been re-imagined as an upgrade dating to ca. 1930.

time-read
1 min  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
CRAFTSMAN DETAILS IN A KITCHEN
Old House Journal

CRAFTSMAN DETAILS IN A KITCHEN

An excellent layout and period motifs distinguish this midsize kitchen in a bungalow-era house.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
home design - HOUSES HAVE A PAST - AND A FUTURE, TOO
Old House Journal

home design - HOUSES HAVE A PAST - AND A FUTURE, TOO

THE BEST RENOVATIONS TOE THE LINE BETWEEN NECESSARY UPDATES AND ENOUGH SENSITIVITY TO ASSURE DESIGN INTEGRITY.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023
a farmhouse RESCUE
Old House Journal

a farmhouse RESCUE

Using a cache of salvaged finds, the homeowner, architect, and contractor together rescued a tumbledown farmhouse in Vermont.

time-read
2 mins  |
Renovation Lookbook 2023