Erica credits her parents for her love of old things — and for her thrifty ingenuity. They were “restorers and keepers of many … beautiful Victorian buildings,” she says. “Memories of late night trash picking … learning to wallpaper a room at the age of 7, and rescuing tin ceilings from abandoned buildings are all things that have made me the salvager I am today.” So, it’s not surprising (to us) when she also declares, “When looking for a home I was praying not to fall in love with one that had a newly marbleized, stainless steel kitchen that I would have had a hard time tearing out.”
In fact, an 1888 house found its way to Erica… and one of her first major projects was replacing a failing and nondescript particle-board kitchen. Taking a vintage jadeite color drainboard sink and cabinet as her cue, she created a happy kitchen that seems right at home in its 123-year-old skin. Read on for her story, resources, a bathroom renovation too, barkcloth dresses and 17 more photos –>
Erica writes:
Come On Into My Kitchen!
Well, I finally did it! I purchased an 1888 home in historic Peace Dale, Rhode Island, after a year of looking and a lifetime of being a bit of a nomad.
After of renting and doing work on other people’s buildings, I could finally feel like all of my efforts would be towards something I didn’t have to walk away from.
My parents were restorers and keepers of many of the beautiful Victorian buildings in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Ingenuity, the love of old things and hard work are something I was brought up with. Memories of late night trash picking in our old stake bed pickup truck, learning to wallpaper a room at the age of 7, and rescuing tin ceilings from abandoned buildings are all things that have made me the salvager I am today.
When looking for a home I was praying not to fall in love with one that had a newly marbleized, stainless steal kitchen that I would have had a hard time tearing out. As luck would have it the house that turned out to be just the right one had no kitchen to speak of. When I moved it it consisted of a broken stove, a leaking sink and a few of the most horrible partial board cabinets barely attached to the wall. Perfect! It took less than a day to empty the room with no more than a hammer and a good friend.
I had been collecting pieces of this dream kitchen for over 3 years prior to owning the house and I am proud to say everything but the toaster, the blender and the Formica used for the counters has been salvaged or was second hand.
The metal cabinet with the enameled Jadite sink, which is my absolute favorite part of the kitchen, was inspired by love of the one that I washed the dishes of up to 30 guests in a week-end in our summer home on Hog Island in Rhode Island. Needless to say I spent a lot of time at that sink. The joy that I felt, and I’m sure most will think this is odd, at finding a Jadite colored sink for sale by a lovely girl in Maine (only 200 miles away!) was over the top! The jadeite sink came that way! It’s original. Lucky girl I am! I really love my sink!
The appliances started with an old aqua GE that I fell in love with and bought on ebay. It was the real deal and was kept in the home of an older gent who hardly cooked so it was like new.
What a beauty! The wonderful push button controls, lights and bells and whistles all worked.
As it sat in my basement waiting for a home I began to search craigslist for a refrigerator and then there they were…a Northstar stove and refrigerator.
In robin’s egg blue, like new. Wow! Now this was getting exciting. I called and sent the money off (they were an amazingly good deal!) to complete strangers with no guarantee or idea how I was going to get them to me. It all worked out great, and there is now a very happy lady in Florida cooking on the aqua GE.
The solid wood keystone cabinets with their fabulous original hardware came from a kitchen that was being torn out in Pennsylvania, the state in which they were made…and they are dreamy. They work like a charm and fit perfectly into the layout, having to only have one built using a left over door and a custom one made to fit to go over the stove.
The cabinet color, like a lot of the colors I have in my house is something I made up myself and had the awesome and very patient guy at Sherwin Williams make up for me. I believe it’s a darkened version of actual jadite dishware. I actually took the hood of the stove to the store so they could color match it to do some of the trim in the kitchen. I’m really crazy persnickety about color!
The cabinets and boom-a-rang counter top were made and installed by a musician friend of mine with a lovely voice who sang beautifully while he worked making the experience a delight. I am still amazed at the ease in which all of the components fit into the space and how wonderfully workable the kitchen is. I love to cook and I couldn’t be happier cooking in it!
I put in the black and white bathroom as well …
… from a section of one of the bedrooms.
I noticed the post on barkcloth you put up (my favorite). I’m a seamstress and thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of the dresses I’ve been making. No, the girl in the dress isn’t me. That’s just a little side business I have.
Enjoying the reader stories as always. There are so many of us out there! And it’s always great to see what people are doing!
Thanks, Erica
Thank you for sharing, Erica. Your kitchen is adorable and by my count, at least four shades of green: (1) Jadeite in color, (2) Salvaged and recycled = Better for the environment than manufacturing something anew, (3) Salvaged and recycled = Thrifty — I’ve heard the new “American Dream Home” is one that’s paid for — sounds about right to me, and (3) Well, making us green with envy, of course!
Congratulations, Erica! What a wonderful kitchen – the pieces you put together are fantastic – you must smile every time you go into that room! And it’s lovely to find another Retro Ren fan right around the corner from me (I’m in Narragansett). Peace Dale is lucky to have you!
Kate of
http://retrorenovation.com/2011/01/10/kates-camp-cottage-renovation-on-marthas-vineyard/
Kate, I think we are soul sisters! Same fridge, almost, and a love of boom-a-rang Formica and bark cloth! and… I also have a Dash & Albert rug in my bedroom! I saw your cottage when it was posted and love it! We are both very lucky gals! Perhaps I will run into you at Belmont but most like the Phoenix! Super job!
Or the Corner Cupboard!
This home looks so easy to live in. The kitchen is delightful. The little display of cat figurines makes me think you need a Kit Kat Clock, a red one in the kitchen or a black one in the bathroom.
You read my mind! I absolutely want a black one for the bathroom!
I have never seen a sink that color. I love it!! I just want to come sit in your kitchen and have a cup of coffee!! You did a great job. You should be very proud!! Between Nancy’s pink lottery find yesterday and the blue and green today I don’t think I can stand to go in my yucky 1986 boring kitchen!!!!!
It’s vacation week and what a nice way to start – ogling a great kitchen, I like green! The collected items are wonderful, especially the oversized tools. You are one talented person. Thanks for sharing.
The opening sink photo made me gasp w/ delight! How did I never know sinks came in jadite?! Love every choice you’ve made and I wish you many years of happy cooking in your beautiful space.
What an incredible kitchen! Great job Erica!!! I think even I would enjoy doing dishes at such a pretty sink.
Nice! It’s great how you are clearly designing a whole environment around one or two key items. All salvaged, thrifted or made…which is why it looks so great!
That sink is truly a gem! Glad you were able to find all the rest of it.
I noticed your great use of color all over the house. I like how you chose a strong color for your living room and really went with it. It makes your period stuff look really alive and interesting without being TOO trendy. I guess I put this in the context of all those great victorian and other old pieces that got painted over in the 1970′s. You got the color without doing something dastardly. Right ON!
Love it!
Love that sink and what a great find on the fridge and stove!
How very lovely, Erica. Your photos are virtual reflections of the word “home”.
Best compliment ever!
You have such an eye for color & I love everything you have done! Beautiful (I also love color)! I am working on my kitchen & loved your coffee maker! What brand is it? It would be perfect on my kitchen!
Great Job!
The toaster, coffee maker and blender are Hamilton Beach’s all metal line.
I think the colors are gettting harder to find but that why I love ebay.
Mine are in the sea breeze color. Love them.
Expensive, but really high quality. : )
Green and aqua are my favorite colors, so I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that kitchen!
Love your kitchen, it’s beautiful!
I have the exact same sink base in my kitchen! Same color too!!! I have a white double drainboard sink though. I think it is a Homart, but I’m not sure. Does anyone know?
My parents also have the same sink base w/ white double drainboard sink! The only thing is years ago my dad painted over the drainboard and base and now the paint is pealing all over the drainboard/sink. I wish there was a way to restore it to its once beautiful being.
I often wondered what brand it was.
Gorgeous! And I absolutely LOVE that sink – it’s uh-MAY-zing!
As always Erica, I’m so envious of your abilities. Your parents passed on a great gift. I’m drooling over that stove. I’ve seen pictures of your living areas but somehow I’ve missed the ones of your kitchen. As I was oohing and ahing over the stove and showing Stu he said, “Oh, I know. Her kitchen looks like something out of a book.”
And you still need to come over for dinner so we can make a great big mess of it!
Erica, what a beautiful kitchen. Thank you for sharing it with us.
This has got to be one of nicest kitchens I have ever seen! I absolutely LOVE it! I am SO jealous!
Can’t even find the word to express my LOVE for that kitchen!! The color of the sink makes my heart go vintagey pitter pat.
I am now green with envy! My one & only chance to really retro a kitchen was done in pink, red & white, taken from Sal & Peppy salt & pepper shakers & a great find of a 1940-50s red/gray & chrome kitchen table. My next kitchen if I ever got the chance again, was going to be in beautiful seafoam greens & such. I have so many red pieces of kitchenalia already displayed, but have been collecting those green planters for years as well. Love your house. Hate when things that gorgeous are torn out & replaced with that boring stone stuff plastered all over modern homes. Yo go girl-your’e an inspiration! (Actually this rental I’m in in Florida USED to have pink tiles, either in the bath or the kitchen. Have only dug up 3 so far, plus a buried stone patio & stepping stones. OH-& I found a rusted Coca Cola thermometer sign too…cleaned it up & it still has some original paint. Dontcha love what we do?
Pink, red, white and grey are fabulous kitchen colors!
I wish I had another one to do!
So beautiful that I can’t even find the words! My first thought was “It’s like the magical Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz!” Such a wonderful color combination and I love the determination to find just the right items and colors to make things perfect. Absolutely a dream! And I noticed Patsy there. Every kitchen needs a little Patsy.
And the rest of the home is beautiful too! – such a happy place. Now I’m off to look into that beautiful barkcloth dress!
Beautiful and Fun!
Oh, and I NEED that dress! Can I convo you on Etsy to get one?
Thanks so much! I’m mostly here:
http://www.facebook.com/RabbitRabbitRI
Drop me a note! : )
What a fun kitchen & bathroom! I love all the colour! It makes such a happy home! Enjoy!
i pretty much want to LIVE in your kitchen, Erica. It’s just beautiful. Great job!
I’m wondering what brand that coffee maker is? I’ve been looking for colors and have had no luck.
They are Hamilton Beach’s all metal brand.
I believe they have red, avocado, a yummy yellow and the aqua one’s I have called sea breeze. Check out ebay!
This is exactly the color scheme I want for my kitchen, which is on hold till we pay off a little debt. Your kitchen is gorgeous!
I have to join the chorus—WOW, fabulous kitchen!! The green with the aqua is stunning and the kitchen looks so happy!
Love it, and all the attention to detail in the creation of your beautiful home! Anyone who uses a retro sryup dispenser for dishwashing liquid gets an A++ in my book! You’re a very talented and resourceful person. So glad you shared your story.
Oh, oh, oh, the color scheme is soooo beautiful. I’m glad you were so persnickety about your paint color. I love the Northstar appliances with the Jadeite sink.
My thoughts exactly!
I can not find your coffee maker anywhere!
Great kitchen, great house, great stuff, great dress, great girl. I enjoyed it all!
~~glorious greens, deliciously done . . . I’m delighted and inspired . . . . kudos!
You are so lucky! They no longer make your coffee maker… & there is no old stock anywhere! Yours is so perfect in your beautiful kitchen! Enjoy!
We’re just starting the process of buying a new house, and I absolutely love this kitchen – it’s pretty much my dream to have something like this! Love it. Emma x
Most. Beautiful. Sink. Ever!
and don’t even get me started on the Fridge. HELLO!
I’ve not seen that color of sink/cabinet, but it is beautiful! Erica, you have been on a streak of extremely-good fortune. I hope you realize this. I would die to be able to afford the turquoise applainces for my diner-inspired kitchen, but at least I have the aqua boomerang Formica on the breakfast bar & table. You should have (and still can) put scalloped chrome edging on the counters. I got mine from Retro Trim, who advertises on this site. The added touches are great, too, especially the turquoise, swing-out can opener. I had forgotten about those. That brings back memories. Love the chevron handles, too!
Erica, you are the luckiest girl alive! I about died when I saw your kitchen masterpiece:-) The color combos are absolutely dreamy and I imagine you feel so joyful in there. Way to go. The story is inspiring to all of us long-time, die-hard collectors. Thx for sharing!
I’m so impressed!! Thanks for sharing! If we ever get our countertop Formica replaced, I pledge to send pics of our aqua restoration project as well, but I cannot compete with that refrigerator — so jealous! (But in a good way, as we say around here.
)
I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU KITCHEN~ THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PHOTOS>
I know this was hard work but you kept the vision and it is absolutely beautiful. I am now reenergized to work on my own kitchen.
GI
What a great kitchen & I love the color. Bravo! I need some input – I shouldn’t labor on things like this but i do. Help me peeps. I am demodeling a 70′s kitchen. 70′s in not a great way. All my stuff is 50′s & 60′s so that’s where my kitchen is going. Bought an estate sale gem 63′ GE Frost-guard fridge (swing out shelves & turquoise interior) & late 50′s mint GE pink oven. Doing all the work myself with white formica straight edge counters & flat cabs. It’s been a mess for a year but gonna be amazing for little dough. HINGES…. is it snobby thinking I need European invisible hinges for clean design or is chrome visible ones like these cool? I’ve seen both in the 58-63 era that I should be living in. These look great! Thoughts? Thanks. Eldon
either way is fine, i think….
Erica! I have the same cabinets that are under your sink in my kitchen, the exact configuration and the cool round handles! I am so glad that I found your article. Do you happen to know who the manufacturer is?
I found your page by doing a search on jadeite salt and pepper shakers. My stepmother gave me a set that I love. Your kitchen is like a dream where everything fits together seamlessly and the colors work so well! Someone mentioned something about a book in a comment-you should write one. Your house will provide perfect illustrations and your sense of style is flawless!
Thank you, that it so sweet. Jadeite is one of the most beautiful ever!!!