American Northwest Vintage Homes - Feature Article on Kitchens

A Resourceful Remodel
Bellingham, Washington
By Lauren Fritzen and Helen Solem
Photography by Oona Copperhill

Karen Cotton is not only an inveterate bargain hunter, she’s also pretty handy with a hammer. When she and husband Bruce decided to completely renovate the kitchen in their 1915 Craftsman bungalow in Bellingham’s historic Eldridge neighborhood, Karen was up for the challenge. Deciding on a layout wasn’t too difficult; as a professional caterer and mother of two young girls, Karen knew exactly what she wanted out of her new kitchen. “Most of all, I wanted it to be bright and I wanted a much larger workspace.”

The existing kitchen was dark and boxy. The stove stood just inside the entrance, with little counter space. “If I was standing at the stove cooking, I would block the entryway.” Three large windows at the back of the kitchen were obscured by a cramped breakfast nook and laundry room. The Cotton’s decided to completely gut the kitchen, breakfast nook and laundry room, and utilize the entire space for the new kitchen.

Once Karen had the layout planned, she started shopping. “I’m the kind of person who needs to have all my materials on hand before I start a project.” She shopped locally and on the internet, doing cost-comparisons and looking for wholesale prices. While resourceful shopping certainly brought down the cost of the renovation, their largest savings came from either doing the work themselves, or bartering with their friends and neighbors. “We have a group of six couples, and last year we agreed to help each other complete a major project for each family. So far, we’ve completed five out of the six projects. Our chosen project was to completely demolish the kitchen. Our friends showed up in the morning with two pick-up trucks. Twelve of us tore down the cabinets, and all the lathe and plaster. We did five dump loads that day, and totally gutted the space. It was a great thing to do together.”

After the room was gutted, the first project was to scrape off four layers of linoleum, and restore the original fir flooring underneath. “This was the worst part -- taking up the linoleum was awful -- there was all this black tar-like glue.” When finally uncovered, the floor was in surprisingly good shape, and the addition of a cherry finish gave it a rich, warm glow.

Now, as you enter the kitchen from the dining room, a built-in hutch with plenty of storage space replaces the awkward stove. Wavy glass cabinet doors give it an antique feel, and a Craftsman-inspired inlaid tile mural adds texture and a punch of color above the countertop. “I purchased a few Pratt & Larson accent tiles for the focal point then filled it in with inexpensive tiles from the local hardware store.”

The largest chunk of the Cotton’s remodeling budget went towards the cabinets, and it was money well spent. For the hutch and matching cabinetry throughout the kitchen, they hired local cabinetmaker Eric Fulbright, who crafted the old-growth fir cabinets with square recessed panels typical of the Craftsman era.

Knowing that a slab of granite would not fit in her budget, Karen opted for granite tiles -- usually used for flooring -- for her countertops and backsplash. She got the tiles for a fraction of the cost of granite slab, and bartered with a friend to install them.

Karen’s workspace was dramatically expanded by the addition of a large, extra-wide peninsula, with the stove in the center, and lots of counter space. On the backside of the peninsula are storage cubbies for their daughters’ craft supplies. Karen decided against an overhanging counter and stools: “I built it this way because I like to cook with people. I wanted enough room so three or four people could use the work space together.”

A do-it-yourself project of this magnitude takes time, especially for a couple with young children and busy careers. For three months, Karen cooked family meals in the hallway with a hot plate, microwave and toaster oven. Once the renovation was completed, and order restored to their home, Karen and Bruce inaugurated their new kitchen with a neighborhood party. “For the first time, everyone congregated in our kitchen. I was thrilled. I’m a real kitchen person, and this is now my favorite room in the house.”

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