My Kitchen: Arts and Crafts meets Mid-century Modern
This combination isn't for everyone, but it suits me just fine.
Mid-century modern: A style of furniture design, product design, and architecture that began after World War II and continued into the 1960s. Often called "mod" and most definitely retro, this style is marked by simplicity, clean lines, organic forms, and materials such as wood, metal, and plastic. Though color is used quite a bit in post-war design, mid-century modern is typically less cutesy than the more pop-art offerings of the later 1960s.
Arts and Crafts: A movement in architecture and decorative arts flourishing in England and the United States from about 1870 to 1920 and characterized by simplicity of design, hand-crafted objects, and local materials.
Also, a social and artistic movement of the second half of the 19th century emphasizing a return to handwork, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to design in the decorative arts.
When I bought my house in May, 2000, it needed alot of changes. The whole house was enrobed in pink and baby blue wallpaper. The ceiling fans were old and rattily, the appliances were {OMG} Harvest Gold, the plumbing fixtures were "general contractor standard issue," the kitchen floor contained asbestos, but the carpeting was brand new! Now I have to add here, that I bought this house with full discloure. I knew exactly what I was getting into and it was perfect for me-- because I could do whatever I wanted to it!
Being a single girl, I can only do one room at a time. Changes cost money. Plus, being the artsy type, I don't just paint and change fixtures. I change the entire look and feel of a room. So here we are 11 years later, and I'm just getting to the kitchen, well, sort of. I've done some things already to make it livable.
Before.
I remember a time, waayyyyy back in the 80s, that I thought faux butcher block was so cool! I'm happy to report, I can't stand it now.
I could tolerate it when I moved in. But lately, it's really been bugging me.
If you haven't noticed yet, I collect kitchen-ware from the fifties (the mid-century modern afficianado in me LOVES it).
At least it was clean, despite being ugly.
This area of the room ended up being "phase one."
Below is "phase two." I had to do this in two steps. Being without the sink for almost a week was H-E-Double-Hockeysticks.
I couldn't imagine doing the whole thing at once and not being able to access
the range and the fridge too.
As you can see on the left, phase one is done, but you have to be patient. The pictures below will show the entire room!
The backsplashes were "artfully crafted" of butcher block laminate. Yes, you are seeing that correctly. The builder pieced it together to the left of my stove. Grossssss! They came off well however, with minimal damage to my walls.
Throughout the years I've changed my appliances to stainless steel and black.
The "super-wonderful" backsplashes made of butcher-block laminate are gone in this photo.
The old countertops were removed and the area was built up with 3/4 ply.
The trim and the "tile" are in place. I say "tile" because that isn't tile. They are Corian showroom samples. {big grin}
If you look real close, you can see that each sample still has "Corian" stamped on it.
I didn't bother taking the logo off until after grouting because most of it wears off during the process anyway.
So now you are wondering.... Hmmmm. Explanations for my product selections are below after the "after" photos.
Now it's grouted and the backsplash is painted, though the caulk (made to match the grout) is not in place yet.
I used sanded caulk around the tops and edges of all of the "tiles" since there is no bullnose pieces to finish the edges.
My friend Cindy from Canada visited between phase 1 and phase 2. We made these little Sculpey bears.
This has nothing to do with the kitchen. Just thought he was cute! LOL
After.
Come on in! The kitchen is done (for now). I'm sure I'll be re-doing something else, like the floors (again), in the future.
This is phase one.
This is phase two.
This is a Delta Touch2O. When my hands are dirty, I've even turned it on by touching it with my forehead! Brilliant!
The sprayer is on the tap. One just pulls it down, presses the black button, rinse, and then it retracts right back into place!
So now it's time I explain myself. For two wonderful years, I worked for a design*build firm. I had a ball! I was hired as an executive assistant, but soon I was able to interact with clients in color selection, countertop and tile decisions, and product & fixture selections, by utilizing my art background. I had the time of life! It was like the best of both of my worlds.
Not long after I got there, the Corian representive dropped by to meet me and to throw out the samples of material that had been discontinued. As he tossed them unceremoniously into the trash can, my heart skipped a beat. I asked if I could have them, and I also wondered out loud if he did that at every design studio he visited. He said that I could have them and over the next two years, he'd stop by frequently to give me all of the samples that he'd collected for me. Needless to say, after two years, I had quite a collection.
And one day, it just popped in my head, "Wow Beth, you could tile with these!" When it was time to give my kitchen its well-deserved facelift, I decided to tile the tops with them. You see, I love to reuse, recycle, and re-love materials that come my way so it was only natural for me to do this.
I added an über-cool Delta Touch2O faucet. I LOVE this thing! When your hands are all icky, just touch it with your wrist or your elbow and ta-da! It comes on all by itself. Brilliant technology. I highly recommend.
I also installed a soap dispenser. That took that super-ugly dish detergent bottle off of my sink (I re-used my old sink). I recommend this nifty little device as well.
Over the years, my Harvest Gold appliances made way for the black and stainless steel appliances. My old asbestos floor was encased and left in place. I had durable vinyl installed over it. At the time, my kids were still teenagers and I didn't have the moola for tile or wood. Someday I'll re-do it. The pink and blue wallpaper is long gone. It was removed about a week after I got here. Now I've got my new countertops, faucet, and soap dispenser. The kitchen is all mine now, in the truest sense of the word. Thanks for visiting!
