Greetings,

I have a 1915 Craftsman style house with a large kitchen area and I want to renovate the kitchen to make better use of it.

The kitchen was remodeled in the late 1980s to the then country motif and the styling is not true to the style of the kitchen. There were some good features included like a prep sink and pastry area, island with butcher block, etc. However, I want to make better use of the kitchen by making some changes and bring it back in style of the house.

That said, how far does one go to remain in style with the house?

Example: When I first moved into the house I bought a vintage Wedgewood stove (circa early 1930s) and have been using. Now I have the opportunity to upgrade to a commercial gas range with bigger ovens and a griddle. The built in stove nook will support the new range, but the question remains - Should I?


Thanks!

Tom

Tom,

I think you can absolutely do a commercial grade range. I guess I think of it like putting a new engine in a restored vintage car.

Where you really want to stay true to the house is in the cabinetry, hardware, surfaces (counters, floors, tile, walls, etc.) and the color choices. You might want to get cabinet panels for your dishwasher and refrigerator, and get a wooden range hood with a vent liner, to conceal as much of the stainless steel and modern stuff as possible.