Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Old Dutch look kitchen...

The kitchen is practically finished and I was excited to share some photos with you. The practically finished part will be revealed in a moment.

Click on the photos to enlarge them...


First, I searched for some photos of my kitchen as it was. I hated it. I lived with it for almost 13 years and tried to do things to make it feel cheerful and cozy while also creating light but I just could not make it work. Our living room is a U shape and the kitchen falls in the middle of the house with no window and no natural light. I called it "The Black Hole".


I realize I must have really hated it as I cannot find a photo of the kitchen. Only this photo taken in the kitchen of a gift I made for my niece's baby. You get a pretty good idea from this photo how dark it was in there. I have not changed the lights and the cupboards are the same but it now is a different world to me at least. Gone are the teal plain doors that shined but still looked dark... Gone is the drab and heavy drainboard of beech that always looked dirty... Gone is the floral tile border we had put in as an attempt to cheer up the space...

I now have a kitchen that reflects my love of old Dutch. The "bones" of the kitchen have not changed but we have a "new" kitchen for a very budget price. We had fun searching for the elements which I knew I wanted to include in the kitchen. It really feels like my own creation since we did the remodel this way and not just go into a kitchen shop to order a new kitchen. Both Jos and I have enjoyed watching it come together.

I knew a couple of elements I wanted to use including this tap which I matches the smaller version of our tap in the downstairs half bath or WC as we call it. I love the nostalgic look of the porcelain knobs with hot and cold.

Our new tiles are called "Hollandse witjes". These tiles are still being produced from as early as the 17th century. In order to be "witjes" they must measure 13 cm by 13 cm. They are all uneven and not necessarily perfectly square. They have a highly glazed finish which is why they were well loved. The tiles reflect light very well and created a light look to a dark kitchen back in the 1600s. What worked then, certainly works now. Our handyman stayed later than he intended the first day he did the finishing last week, even though it was his birthday. He wanted to see how the tiles were going to look so we did one wall before he left. I handed him the tiles in the order I wanted them put up. There are three shades which needed randomly placed. By enlarging this photo, you can really see how the tiles are uneven. This is what gives them their charm.

These wooden knobs are also still being made and can be found in very old Dutch farmhouses. One of the first things we searched for was a wood turner who still makes these.

I started out wanting a white sink but Jos talked me into going with the stainless steel again for ease of cleaning. I really like the shape of this sink now that it is in.

The drainboard is also the same look as found in original old Dutch kitchens.

We choose a cream color when we had our doors sprayed. I am very happy with how they turned out. Jos just painted my shelves which were also antriciet. We still have to touch up the walls after putting the shelves back and we are finished.

Here is my great gaping hole where the oven will be. I choose an antriciet nostalgic look oven and hob which they don't keep stock as they are not ordered often according to the company. I will wait patiently as I am sure it will be worth it. But having to eat takeaways for more than a month is not an option for me. Jos drilled an opening for my gas to connect to a loose hob which we were able to buy cheaply secondhand until the appliances arrive. We just made sure the hole falls within the area that our new hob will be placed. After all, necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes...


My wall of speculaas moulds remains as it was. I really have a weakness for these beautiful cookie forms and the cookies themselves. *grins*

This cupboard used to go right up to the ceiling and extended out with hallogen spots to the other side. I was so glad to see the spots gone but also liked having the cupboard above the built in fridge gone also to create a more open feeling. The side was antriciet and we had it drywalled and skimmed so I could use the same paint as the rest of the room. This does not jump out at you now when you come into the dining area of our living room.

Edit: My mother just asked me if the tile are yellow but they look more so than they are in real life. They are the creamy color of real butter.

23 comments:

LissyLou said...

I think when you get a kitchen just right and how you want it makes such a difference to your house. Unfortunetly i don't like mine - it's better than it used to be after a bit of a revamp though!

Susan in SC said...

Very nice Heidi! Your kitchen is shaped just like mine. It's nice to get ideas from others.

Rhonda said...

What a nice remodel! When I come to see you, I will bake some cookies in your pretty kitchen, OK?

Jos is right about stainless instead of white sinks. I have a white porcelin sink and it seems to need scrubbing after every use.

And I loved what you said you and your mom talking on Skype about my son Bobby. That is so funny.
Bobby looks kind of rough right now but he has always had a heart of gold and it sounds like your brother does too.
God bless our rock-ers.

Nancy said...

GREAT JOB YOU TWO. That kind of says it all. I LOVE IT.
Love Mom

Sonja said...

Heidi, what al great job the two of you have done!(and yor handyman). It looks just the way you told me. Als je fornuis er ook is, dan kom ik graag proeven wat je in deze nieuwe keuken allemaal kunt maken. LOL

Anonymous said...

Beautifully done, Heidi! I love the glass doors on your cupboards.
xo,
Lynda

Linda said...

Heidi, your re-do is just beautiful....it looks just like a picture out of a magazine. All the thought you put into your remodel makes it very special... you are really going to enjoy cooking and baking in your new spot...hugs, Linda

Tammy said...

I just love everything about your "new" kitchen, Heidi, especially the tiles.

Nan said...

I love it, Heidi!! And I'm so very happy for you. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, and you must feel wonderful now.

BittersweetPunkin said...

Heidi your kitchen is lovely! I am so happy you made it the way you wanted it....all that hard work paid off!

Blessings,
Robin

DonnaTN said...

Your kitchen is looking great. I can't imagine how dark it must have seemed on gray drab winter days before. It certainly is cheery now!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I hope you dont mind, but I've added your blog onto my blogroll on my site.

Take Care
Melanie

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Wonderful! Wonderful! What a wonderful job you have done! And I really appreciate your need for more "light"!

I love mirrors myself, and "they say" that mirrors can almost be like windows. Because though they don't actually let in outdoor light - they reflect the indoor light, which they 'see.' So...

Have you considered taking your plan farther, and thought of placing mirrors on the back of the shelves? Reflecting the pretty things, on each shelf and... reflecting other parts of the room. And thus, reflecting more light.

Just an idea.

'Cause me, I just love mirrors. :-)


Aunt Amelia

Anonymous said...

Hi Heidie,
What a really beautiful kitchen you have now !!!! I like the colours, the tap and especially the handles, wow so nice. Your collection of speculaas-planken fits there perfectly ! You must be so happy : )
Though i am sorry to hear about the computer...so annoying to loose many things, we had the same problems a few months ago !
Groetjes ook voor Jos.
Janneke.

Tvert-om-tanten said...

Congratulations with your new kitchen!
The lady at the photo in my heading is not anyone in my family - I baught some old photographs once, and it's written "Grandmother" on the backside. It's taken in Trondheim. The written words beside the picture is done by me, it's a nice text I found at a cafe in Sweden. Do you understand Swedish? Did you live there for a long time?

Wish you a nice weekend!

Tone said...

Fantastic! Congratulation! - isnt it wonderful to have a brand new kitchen!!! -
But I must say I adored the cockieforms!! Do you make spekulasies with them?

Have a nice spring-evening! I use almost all my time in the garden these days, enough to do I must say...
hugs from Tone

Melanie said...

I really like your kitchen - it looks great! I love the collection of moulds. I would love to have those hanging in my kitchen. Maybe I can find some on eBay. :-)

Roberta said...

Heidi, the kitchen is looking great, it is so fresh and inviting. You and Jos have done a great job of planning.

Tracy said...

LOVE your "new" kitchen, Heidi...it is beautiful, like something from a magazine! :o) A lot of time is spent in the kitchen, so it is great to have it as a room one loves and enjoys. Our kitchen has good "bones" too...But I would love to paint the oak cabinetry and crisp, fresh white or cream...If only I could talk my hubby into it--LOL! ;o) Happy weekend, my friend ((HUGS))

le ciel flamand said...

Je keuken is een plaatje! Knap werk!
Groetjes,
Annelies

the homely year said...

Hello Heidi, I like your kitchen very much. The tiles and soft cream colour make it look spacious and light. It must have been a lot of work, but worth all the upheaval!
Margaret and Noreen

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I was just wondering, do you know of anyone who is looking for a swap partner? I am longing to join in on this swapping lark, so any help you could give me would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks So Much
Melanie xx

Joni said...

I can't believe this is the same space! I liked your teal kitchen and couldn't believe you wanted to change it but this is just wonderful. I love the creamy, buttery tiles and their irregular shape. I can't wait to see the new oven and hob (cooktop to us Yanks!). Great job you and Jos did but I would have expected no less. LOL