Real Home Feature: Northfield Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel — 125 Years of Charm
What an intriguing remodel project this was! This rural farmhouse, built in the late 1890s, had been added onto in the 1940s, but was still lacking many conveniences. The homeowners, who have been in the home for 15+ years, were excited about restoring and updating the home, and began tackling projects little by little. After updating the upstairs bathroom, windows, flooring, the roof, and more, they were still left with a kitchen (and main level bath) in dire need of improvement. The current kitchen was not at all practical, and brought many challenges:
- little storage
- sparse countertop (mostly from furniture brought into the room)
- range and fridge were across the room from the sink
- oven did not work
- kitchen sink leaked and was rotting the floor
- poor layout
The homeowners main goal? A view of the little red barn out back from the kitchen island. This we could do. But it took design expertise and lots of planning! Our design plan completely changed the layout of the kitchen — including moving or creating four (yes 4!) new door openings. We also had to accommodate an authentic farmhouse sink that was designed to be wall-hung, so we had to get creative in designing a cabinet that would hold the sink. During the demo process, we stumbled on some interesting things! Behind the kitchen cabinets was the original wallpaper. We also found some vintage shoes and a roller skate that had fallen down from the upper level! True farmhouse history. The final result is a complete transformation:
- custom enameled cabinetry
- honed granite countertops
- rustic floors with a vintage vibe
- a dining bench seat that includes storage
- a beautiful new stove and dramatic range hood
And best of all? The view of the little red barn. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their new kitchen (& nearby bath) that captures the essence of farm life, yet provides the contemporary storage and conveniences their family needs! Enjoy the gallery of photos below. (Click on an image to see it larger). Want to see more? (Including before photos, demo images, and a shot of the vintage shoes!) A video of this project can be found at our You Tube page here.
