Well, the old cabinets (What there were of them) have been demolished and the old appliances and plumbing removed. The floor, which was apparently the first version of peel-n-stick vinyl tiles available on the market in 1942, was already on it’s way out thanks to water damage, and required very little effort to finish the job. However, once the ‘decorative’ floor was up, we discovered more water damage that had caused the plywood sub-floor under the Washer and Refrigerator to delaminate, decompose, and become host to a number of shiny black bugs that crunch when you step on them.

Pulling the cabinets down proved to be more effort than expected. Instead of finding bare plaster, we found bare studs and tar paper. Apparently, the original builder hung the cabinets from the studs, then plastered around them (all in an effort to save a little money). We were also granted a view into the attic, as he gave the ceiling plane the same treatment as the wall. In the photo, you can see that we have begun to install green board where necessary, as well as putting up drywall and mudding the ceiling.

If taking the cabinets down was problematic, removing the soffit was a nightmare. Plaster gave way to chicken wire that was nailed to studs which were set 8” apart (the standard is 16”), and those studs were there to stay. The original builder obviously believed that if 10 nails were good, 100 nails were better. My GC’s workmen were literally hanging from the soffit structures trying to rip them down. After sledges, crowbars and hammers failed them; they found success by sawing through the nails and pulling the soffits down.

With work underway, and the Kitchen cleaned of minor debris (how many wisk brooms does one person need, anyway?), we really started to see what we had to work with (see it came from inside the wall to see what we did not have to work with). You will notice a change in wall texture. We went from old dirty gloss paint to mat plaster. This is because homes built within the first half of the 20th Century would often have their utility rooms and wet rooms skinned in a canvas oil cloth and then they would paint them with 7 layers of gloss oil based enamel so that 50 years later, when you peel off the cloth, all the layers of paint shatter and blow off like Confetti and get stuck in your hair.

The cloth also served as a protective barrier so that the plaster would not be damaged while in use in high traffic areas. It blocked water and oil, prevented stains and dings and also hid any minor cosmetic issues that could come to light over time (cracks). There is the double edge sword in this brilliant concept. The canvas not only hid small cracks, it hid big ones too. So, after peeling the canvas, we had to chip out the major cracks caused by settling and re-plaster.

You can also see a color change in the drywall, going from white plasterboard to green board, as well as a strong patched line in the ceiling. To me, this would indicate that there was once a wall separating the once even smaller kitchen from what used to be a Laundry Room or Service Porch.

You will also notice that the 8 foot shop light is gone, the hole patched, and 3 new j-boxes installed. These will be the new home to some great period lights I found at www.rejuvenation.com. They have with porcelain bases with milk glass shades and are a perfect match for the period of the home.

Labels: kitchens

So guess what I found behind the dryer? Yeah. A big hole. There was once a time when things shocked me, but that time has passed. It really makes dealing with things much easier. This huge void goes so far beyond the standard size required for venting and completely explains the evidence of vermin we were seeing. But, horror and chagrin aside, it did give a full view of the plumbing situation. And as you can see, we have a variety of electrical and pipe, one of which looks like it was picked up at a rummage sale at the Hoover Dam. You can also see one of the many random pilot holes (lower left) that perforated the wall. I am not sure if the goal that inspired the holes was ever achieved, but they were humorously plugged with paper towels and old newspaper. It is situations like these that you thank your GC heartily when you discover he always buys extra dry wall and mud.

One of the projects that I am most excited to be working on is the restoration of a 1942 Bungalow in the West Los Angeles neighborhood of Westside Village. It is a sweet little house done in a mix of American Colonial and, interestingly, Stream Line Art Deco. It is small at around 1200 square feet, with one and one half baths, a fireplace and two bedrooms. Instead of razing it and erecting one of those overzealous monsters so popular in other areas, the owners opted to preserve and restore the homes inherent charm (a word we all seem to forget about), and focus on quality over quantity.

One of the most exciting challenges of this project is the Kitchen. Measuring 9 feet across and almost 21 feet long, it was sparsely populated with cabinetry and only 9 linear feet of counter space, filled with a Motley Crew of obsolete appliances (RCA Range, anyone???) and plagued by a water damaged sub floor. There was no functioning dishwasher, no garbage disposal and the base cabinets were only 18 inches deep (standard cabinets are 24 inches, if you did not know).

While the Kitchen is small by current standards, we needed to stick with the original footprint while updating the look and functionality. We needed loads more counter space and storage, a new floor, room for built in appliances, pantry space, new lighting, a washer and dryer, an exhaust fan that did not catch on fire, and somewhere, an eating area. We also wanted to preserve the charm of the Kitchen, and bridge the gap between Period and Contemporary. Oh, and the appliances had to be all Electric, which, if you did not know, severely slashes your options.

So, take a look at the Before photos, and check back to see the progress and find out how our Kitchen issues were resolved.


Note the Dinette next to the Range. This is bad space planning! You can also see the lack of counter space on either side of the sink.


I love the police line up effect of all the offending appliances in the back. A free standing Dishwasher that hasn't worked in a decade (still full of dishes), a Dryer that won't dry, a Washer that sounds like a Cement Mixer, and a strange food processing center on wheels.


I was so sad to see this little Radius cabinet go. But it had next to no storage and the door stuck. You can also see the 8 foot shop light that bathed the kitchen in oh so flattering cool white light. The kind that makes you, and your food, look undercooked.

Labels: kitchens