Vintage kitchen renovation

[travis]

I would never paint nice wood cabinets, but these are being made to be painted. Since the cabinet company isn't thrilled about making a lipped door, I am trying to get them to use these hinges.

The other picture is of a nearby kitchen in a house that's for sale. I love my house, but I love their vitrolite kitchen!

The link is to the sale listing. I hope someone buys it that realizes their dream kitchen is already there!

7611 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130 - MLS 14024377 - Coldwell Banker

Sold - 7611 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO - $207,000. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 3 bedrooms and 2 total baths. MLS# 14024377.

www.cbgundaker.com

 

[rp2813]

Travis, I think the chrome handles you want to use will look best with the cabinet door style in picture #1, particularly once the wood has been painted white.

 

[bluejay]

Travis, that house listing is beautiful! It looks like there is a vitrolite bathroom too!

 

[travis]

That house listing is a mile from me. The only reasons I can see that it hasn't sold, are that it's on a busy street and likely needs new plumbing. Two original bathrooms and a kitchen would have never survived a plumbing update.

 

[davey7]

Those bathrooms have been partially renovated - new vanities and toilets and that powder room looks new. I love the kitchen!

 

[goatfarmer]

Hate to see that green tile go, Travis, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

 

[travis]

Ken,

 

I hate to see it go, but the thought of patching it with mis-matched tile seems worse.  I hate to spend the money and get a poor looking result.

 

It looks like I can have my custom door front for a $4000 upcharge.  I am thinking I will go with a stock door front, with a full inset.  They're going to use a chrome hinge with the exposed knuckle.  I still get to use my stash of chrome handles.  I guess I'll put the extra cash toward the tile.  I wouldn't mind renovating my upstairs bathroom in the spring.

 

[circlew]

The inset doors should give you a look much like the cabinets in the green & white kitchen.

The only thing I don't like about the first door is the incised grooves. I think they would catch dirt.

 

[travis]

Tom,

 

I am trying to learn how to compromise.  I doubt I cook much to create the dirt.  I am just looking for a pretty kitchen to walk through.  I doubt I pay for the increased cost for the first style.

 

[circlew]

Travis, I'm sorry if you thought I was being critical.

I think your new kitchen is going to be very nice.

 

[travis]

Tom,

I know you're only commenting. That's why I created the thread. I don't have anyone else to ask. Doing basic internet searches yields a bunch of questionable results.

This has been a challenge to get close to what I want and be affordable.

 

[mattl]

If I had a vote i'd opt for the door in picture 4.  That with the chrome hardware would look great, timeless,  classic -but still up to date.

 

[travis]

I have forgotten to update my own thread. 

 

I finally have found all the various tile pieces.  The hex floor tile and the box cap came from subwaytile.com.  The wall tile is from B&W tile.  As with every renovation project I have ever done, there have been surprises.  I got the first tile installation bid and almost fainted.  I got the second, which was only slightly less and just have resigned myself to it.  I had the demo done.  There was 2 tons of tile and mortar in the kitchen and small bathroom.  I then realized that the advice to get the flat backed box cap tile was wrong.  It meant that a doorway framed in tile would have the wrong edge on it.  I contacted B&W,  they sell the field tile with the correct edge, but not the base tile.  I then went to google and found a 4" base tile that Lowes carries.  I guess the unused base tile will get used in the upstairs bathroom someday.

 

During the demo of the bathroom, it was discovered that the tile had been salmon and trimmed in black.  I had mistaken a light blue paint as the glaze color.  Fortunately, I don't like the salmon color and B&W doesn't make it.  I did discover the base tile was black.  I just got my latest tile order, but some has been broken.

 

The real discovery was my deteriorating sewer pipes under my basement floor!  I now have trenches dug in the basement.  I am about to die, as my 3 bedroom house on three floors only has the second floor useable.

 

I did find a cute vintage linoleum pattern under the kitchen flooring.  I will post some pictures shortly.  The sewer work will be done in a few days.  The tile will then start going up.  I still haven't decided on the cabinets, but since I haven't figured out how to pay for them, why rush?  I have a hunch they'll be custom made, since I am being very picky and difficult.

[this post was last edited: 11/22/2014-02:13]

 

[goatfarmer]

Looks good, Travis!

 

[travis]

More progress

They're finally getting ready to install the new tile in the kitchen. The durock went down over the worn out linoleum today. Here is a picture of the new wall tile laid out.

The last picture is of the restroom floor that got rebuilt. It's going back next. I am both excited and grateful it's almost done. I am tired of having cases of tile in the living and dining rooms.

The cabinets will be next. I still have to figure out what I want and how to pay for them.

 

[travis]

Finally some tile!

 

[rp2813]

A Truly Rebellious Renovation

Meticulously installing what the unenlightened are recklesly ripping out.

 

You go guy!

 

[travis]

More progress

Most of the wall tile is up. They installed the floor tile today. They also worked in the first floor restroom. There are still minor details to attend to in the kitchen and then grouting.

This has been a terribly detailed and frustrating project for me. I find myself obsessing over the smallest details. Last night, I was noticing minor differences in the walls. I almost lost it. I then looked back at all my old pictures of the original kitchen.

Guess what, it had minor differences also!

The next phase will take awhile. I am so overbudget with all the details, that my cabinet funds are short. It also doesn't help when I ship a Maytag combo. I need to stay out of that evil purple forum until the cabinets are up.

 

[travis]

Tiny restroom

Sky blue and black. The old tile has been painted so many times. There is a place in hell for tile painters.

 

[ovrphil]

Evil Purple forum

From where did you decide upon the yellow and black tiles for the kitchen? A photo of a 1930's-40's kitchen? I'm just curious - it looks good so far…very vintage looking already.

I wasn't responsible for finding that Maytag combo, but it's good you decided on it.

This is fun to watch unfold.