Renovating the kitchen within a historic home presents countless challenges—especially when it's been unoccupied for over three decades. Lindsey Snodgrass, an interior designer from Golden Key Designs and the winner of our Design Contest’s Traditional Kitchen category, took on the task of transforming a 1905 Greek Revival home located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her vision was to create a new kitchen that harmoniously blended with the home’s existing architecture. This project stands as a masterclass in tasteful restoration, preserving the original charm while modernizing the space for contemporary living. Waterstone Design Contest judge Cara Fox of The Fox Group praised the design, describing it as "[a blend of] timeless and classic style with a touch of modern luxury and practicality. It’s elegant, and the choice of materials is impeccably balanced." I had the opportunity to speak with the designer about her approach to marrying old and new through meticulous material and fixture selections.
Before the renovation, the kitchen was in dire need of attention. It suffered significant termite damage, with the ceiling showing signs of water intrusion and the cabinets falling apart. During our initial visit, there were even a couple of squirrels nestled in the ceiling!
The original exterior of the kitchen was quite small and isolated from the rest of the house. The upstairs sun porch was also collapsing due to termite damage. Our solution was to demolish both structures and expand the kitchen across the full width of the house. This transformation not only made the kitchen more spacious and functional for today’s lifestyle but also allowed us to design a beautiful upstairs layout that included a primary suite.
After the renovation, the kitchen is a testament to timeless elegance and modern convenience. Here’s a breakdown of how we achieved this:
1. **Maintaining Historical Integrity**: One of our main objectives was to ensure the new additions felt like they had always been part of the home. The challenge lay in achieving a seamless transition, particularly with the flooring. Ensuring the old floor matched the new one without any noticeable thresholds or rises was crucial. The transition between rooms, especially in an addition, can significantly impact the overall flow and ambiance of the space.
2. **Addressing Structural Challenges**: Being a raised home, typical solutions like laying a traditional foundation weren't feasible. Matching the height of the original wood floors to the new flooring was a complex task. The original structure consisted of century-old brick piers, rough-cut wood sills, and true 1-inch-thick wood floors without a subfloor. Calculating the correct height for new grade beams, considering the variations in lumber sizes, adding a subfloor, and accounting for the thickness of modern longleaf pine floorboards proved more challenging than anticipated. Additionally, historical homes often vary by an inch or more across their foundations, requiring precise adjustments. These intricate details played a pivotal role in the final outcome.
3. **Defining the New Kitchen’s Style**: I would describe the new kitchen as a modern take on French country style. It blends classic elements with contemporary touches, creating a space that feels both familiar and fresh.
4. **Balancing Old and New**: Since this kitchen was nearly rebuilt from scratch, we had to design the coffered ceiling, trim work, and kitchen windows from the ground up, ensuring they aligned with the rest of the home. Reusing as many old elements as possible was essential. For instance, six doorways with transoms were removed and repurposed throughout the house. The original wooden door in the kitchen, which once led outside, now opens into the laundry room. We maintained the same angle of the doorway to preserve its original orientation, even though it now leads into a room ten feet further away after the expansion. The living room doorway mirrors this angle, reinforcing the importance of retaining such architectural features.
Once we finalized the historical aspects, we integrated modern elements. The stunning Paonazzo marble and the recessed panel on the island waterfall are among my favorite additions. They beautifully combine modern and traditional styles. We also paired new light fixtures with vintage ones. I’m a big fan of Ralph Lauren’s line through Visual Comfort. The McCarren sconces modernized the lighting while complementing the vintage pendants. The custom stove tied everything together seamlessly.
5. **Choosing the Right Faucet**: The Waterstone Extended Reach Faucet fits effortlessly into the space. Its classic design complements the kitchen beautifully, and its extended reach was perfect for the functionality of the 45-inch workstation sink.
6. **Polished Nickel Finish**: Polished nickel is one of my go-to finishes for historic homes. It exudes timeless elegance and warmth, reminiscent of the preferred finish in homes from 1880 to 1930.
7. **Relating to Other Projects**: Living in New Orleans provides me with countless opportunities to work with historic homes. Each designer has a unique style, and for me, it’s about blending old-world charm with modern innovation. This project perfectly embodies that philosophy.
This renovation showcases how thoughtful design decisions can transform a neglected space into a harmonious blend of past and present. The result is a kitchen that respects its history while embracing the needs of modern living.
The timeless appeal of this kitchen sets it apart, making it a standout example of successful restoration and modernization.
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