Boerum Hill Kitchen Reno
A reader writes in…The original kitchen consisted of a lime green theme complete with torn formica and beaten up cabinets dating from the early 60’s. It is located on the parlor floor of a 4-story Boerum Hill brownstone in a 6×20 extension at the rear. It was very narrow and both the floor and ceiling…
A reader writes in…The original kitchen consisted of a lime green theme complete with torn formica and beaten up cabinets dating from the early 60’s. It is located on the parlor floor of a 4-story Boerum Hill brownstone in a 6×20 extension at the rear. It was very narrow and both the floor and ceiling suffered from rotten beams and leaned on a 6″ incline. When we started into the renovation, we were quite naïve. We had no architect or designer and decided we’d learn as we went along. We felt any money we had was better spent on the house.
We started by totally gutting the old kitchen, new beams for the floor and ceiling. We added a large picture window to bring in light and copied the surrounding wood molding from elsewhere in the house. In the new kitchen we put down a slate floor, with suntouch radiant heat underneath. So far that’s worked well in all the kitchens and bathrooms in the house at a reasonable price.
The cabinets are from Lowes, nothing special but solid cherry fronts which we wanted. The appliances are all GE Monogram which have turned out to be very reliable so far. Not the cheapest but not Viking or Wolfe either. Like Brownstoner, we felt significant investment in cabinets was a waste as we someday hope to expand the kitchen.
Our favorite part of the kitchen is the stainless steel tile backsplash. The tiles proved to be very expensive from Lowes or Home Depot but we found a place on the web that gave us a much better price. It still wasn’t too cheap but we really like the finished effect when the under counter lights are turned on.
I absolutely agree with the last comment. This site is meant to be helpful not critical of everyone’s suggestions or comments. It is shame grown adult have resorted to such juvenile behavior. They all should be ashamed of themselves. This individual has taken the time, energy and hard earned financial resources to work on their kitchen. In additiona he/she has been kind enough to share with us the results BUT some of us have resorted to insulting their work. Well if you can do better please post pictures and detailed decriptions of the process. Did you ever think you may be the idiot here for spending so much $$$ (architects, custom cabinets, expensive appliances, etc.) only to have your project look like any run in the mill renovation. Quite frankly, I am not impressed with how much $$ one spends, if it looks good it looks good. PERIOD.
Both my husband and I are investment bankers, we own a brownstone in BK, our children go to Packer and we shop at WALMART, TARGET and KMART. The differnce is we know when and where to spend money, and cutsom cabinets is not one.
To the original poster, I LOVE your kitchen. You did an amazing job. If you like it who the hell cares what these miscreants think.
The Renovation process is daunting to say the least and I applaude anyone that is willing to share. For one, it’s a way to get a bit reassured of some of the decisions you’ve made along with the massive investment. I doubt anyone is trying to please anyone OTHER than themselves, however it is helpful to get input from ‘somewhat’ like minded folks that share their enthusiasm in Brownstones.
Being that the main challenge is coming up with creative ways to maximize space, it’s a huge benifit to get input and see different options.
BoerumKitchen, I’m sure when you venture into you kitchen Barefoot, you feel the joy and the warmth you desire from your finished space, and probably give the likes of Al not a single thought.
Well Done!
What is with the negativity on this site? These people were nice enough to share their project with the world and all they here get is a bunch of jealous criticism. The tone is very typical of this blog and it is a real shame. I would never post anything here that I am proud of. I think what this place needs is a little politeness, common sense and intervention by the moderator.
I’ll agree “wood worker artisan” was a pretentious phrase, but we shouldn’t discount the hiring of local cabinetmakers. It doesn’t take an enormous corporation to build boxes with doors properly. And shopping local keeps the $$$ in Brooklyn. Strange to think that hiring one would constitute elitism.
Oh but I’d add, one thing I disagree with is spending more on the appliances than on the cabinets. I know everybody does it these days, but it’s not logical to me when anything electronic is simply not built to last anymore. And the expensive ones aren’t any better than the basic kitchen appliance lines.
LOL, 6:52! The elitism in gentrified Brooklyn is mind boggling.
It’s a lovely kitchen. The cabinets aren’t “oakey” in the slightest. As for everything needing to be plastic, metal and glass, that look is SO tired to me, I can’t even express it. Modern is totally out of fashion now. It’s so late 90’s, tech boom era. Boring.
i like the kitchen but — boy — that seems like a lot of money
“My cabinets were custom made by a wood worker artisan”
wow, good for you! you are clearly superior to everyone else who had the unfortunate lack of class to buy semi-custom cabinets!
was this artisan perhaps from the local guild of artisans and minstrels? did you pay him in lute strings and flagons of mead?
he’s not just a carpenter, he’s an ARTISAN!
So some of you don’t like the kitchen. BFD! The homeowners are quite happy with it, and put a lot of time and money in it. If it works for them, who really cares that it doesn’t work for you? Some people just live to criticize other people’s efforts. Put your kitchen up here, and see if you can take it.