Before & After: Andrew’s Long Time Coming Bungalow Kitchen Update

When I shotAndrew’s Vintage Berwyn Bungalow house tour, the kitchen was in the early stages of being torn apart for a rehab. It took almost two years but Andrew finally put the finishing touches on his new kitchen and is ready to share it with the world.

Before I show you the “after” photos, let’s take one more look at the dated old kitchen that Andrew inherited when he bought his house:

Those cabinets! That ceiling fan! Oof! Andrew knew all along that he wanted to update the kitchen … he just didn’t know he was going to gut it and start all over. Now that he’s on the other side of the renovation, he’s happy he did. Ready for the after?

Here’s what Andrew has to say about this major kitchen update:

Originally the plan was simpler: paint the light oak 1980’s cabinets grey, replace the countertops with something less plastic & blue, and install an inexpensive cork floor in place of the peeling peach vinyl. But then I wanted a dishwasher. Adding a dishwasher meant re-configuring cabinets, and the stove was gross. I suddenly decided I didn’t need upper cabinets. Before you know it, the whole kitchen was basically gone. For about a year I lived with it semi-functioning with a fridge, stove, small section of cabinets, and sink. In an effort to try and move forward, I finally tore out the sink in August of 2011 and gave the old stove to a neighbor. The room then sat virtually empty for an additional year. In order to make this financially feasible, components were purchased as I could afford them and they would sit, unused, waiting to be installed. The light fixtures, sink, and faucet had been in the attic two full years, the stove and dishwasher on the back porch for about 18 months. The cabinets were delivered in July of 2012. I stored them in the dining room where they sat taunting me, a reminder of how ridiculous this renovation had become. I knew I had to forge ahead, but finances and my busy work schedule (and side business) got in the way. On August 20, 2012. I was contacted by the Berwyn Historical Society. They were hoping I would consider being a last minute addition to their September 23rd Bungalow Walk. Because I am insane, I said yes. It was the impetus I needed to get this thing completed, and with the help of my amazing friends was able to pull it off in one month… barely. The hood was wired and installed at 2 AM the morning of the walk, and the tour volunteers helped take the plastic off of the appliances. I was still finishing when the first tour attendees entered the front door. Realizing I had done everything I possibly could, I grabbed the dog and a change of clothes and headed to the basement, bathed in the laundry sink (the only bathroom was “on display”), and spent the rest of the day in the back yard. I was so happy it was over.

Thanks for the tour of the new kitchen, Andrew!

(Images: 1-2: Andrew Schultz, All others:Jason Loper)

重新from a post originally published 3.8.13-NT