Some design projects stick with you, and Ruby was one of those for me. It was a long labor of love over nearly two years of renovation, filled with setbacks, finding treasure in the walls (that’s another story), and doing my best to fight to keep her character while bringing her functionality into this century.

The kitchen will always be a favorite of mine. When we first started, it was a dark, cramped afterthought hidden at the back of the house. Most houses built before the 1980s or later have small, tucked away kitchens that were meant to be workhorses kept out of sight. It’s only within the last 50 years (if we’re being generous, that is–really the last 20) that homes have become less formal and guests have been welcomed into kitchens.

Today, kitchens are a second living space, and homeowners want lots of counter space for food prep and entertaining, as well as plenty of seating for family and guests to convene. What was once a room for women to work alone has now become a hub of family and social activity.

With that in mind, I set out to maintain Ruby’s 1912 character while giving her future owners a kitchen they love. We removed the old kitchen, which was an addition in the 1990s, and added on a much bigger, brighter kitchen with eleven foot ceilings to match the rest of the main floor. The hardest part was finding heart pine that matched the original 110 year old floors closely enough, but we did it, and it was so satisfying to see that smooth transition from hallway to kitchen.

It was important to me to let lots of light into this room. It faces East and South, so gets good light around the stove but only soft morning light from the back door.

All of the cabinets and library ladder were custom made by Ridgeline Custom Cabinets, and flow into the laundry room and butler’s pantry. The color is SW 7008 Alabaster on the surrounding cabinets and the island and library ladder are white oak with a custom stain.

The butler’s pantry originally had a window into a bathroom, right by the toilet. I’m not sure who put that in or when, or WHY, but we were quick to remove it. Instead, I bought a leaded glass decorative window from an antique salvage store here in Nashville and added glass front cabinets to the ceiling on either side to frame it. This butler’s pantry is tucked between the dining room and kitchen and is the perfect segue between a formal and a more casual space.

The counters are all quartz and all of the other finishes you can find online are below.

Lighting:

• Island Pendants
• Sconces (similar)

Hardware list:

• Ball knobs
• Cabinet Latches
• Drawer Pulls

Plumbing:

• Sink
• Faucet
• Pot Filler

In the end, Ruby’s kitchen became exactly what I’d hoped for: a space where her 1912 soul could stay intact while her day-to-day life stepped confidently into this century. The original heart pine, the salvaged leaded glass, the custom cabinets and clean quartz counters all work together so the room can carry both memory and momentum. That balance is why this project will stay with me for a very long time.

♥

Grace