Period kitchens and baths
A working kitchen or bath in an old house, with the original trim and layout kept where they can be.
Old houses were not built for dishwashers and walk-in showers, and the walls hide what the builders did. We plan a kitchen or bath around the house: its joists, its chimney, its original windows. Cabinets are built or fitted to suit the room, and the plaster, floors and trim around them are repaired, not replaced.
What we don't do
We don't remove a bearing wall without an engineer's drawing, and we don't build to a catalog layout the house can't hold.
What's included
A layout drawn around the house's structure
Plaster, floors and trim repaired and kept
Electrical and plumbing by the trades we work with, under permit
Cabinets built or fitted to suit the room
Tile, counters and fixtures chosen to suit the period
Pricing
What changes the cost
We print no figures. These are the things that move the number.
Size and layout moves
Moving a sink or a wall changes the work more than changing the cabinets.
Wiring and plumbing
Old pipes and cloth wiring behind the wall may have to be replaced, and you find out when it's opened.
What's behind the walls
A sagging floor or a hidden flue shows up with the first cut.
Cabinets and counters
Stock, custom or salvaged cost differently, and have different lead times.
Permits and inspections
Building, electrical and plumbing permits each have their own steps.
The work, in order
How the work goes
Step 1: Measure and draw
We measure the room and draw the layout around the structure.
Step 2: Open with care
Plaster and trim come off carefully, so they can go back.
Step 3: Rough-in and inspection
Framing, wiring and plumbing go in, and the inspector looks before anything closes.
Step 4: Plaster, trim and floors
The room is closed up and repaired to match the rest of the house.
Step 5: Cabinets and fixtures
Cabinets, counters, tile and fixtures go in last.
Step 6: Walk-through
We check each drawer, door and valve with you.
Permits and rules
Permits
Building, electrical and plumbing permits apply to most kitchens and baths. We say which ones, and who pulls each.
Houses built before 1978
Opening walls and removing old finishes is covered work under the EPA's rule for older houses. It sets how we protect the rest of the house.
Historic districts
Interior work is rarely reviewed, but an exterior change, a new vent or a window, can be.
Questions about this work
Can I keep my old kitchen windows?
Usually yes, and we plan the room around them. We'd rather move the sink than lose the window.
How long does a bath take?
It depends on what the walls hold. We give a range of weeks with the estimate and update it if we find something.
Do you design the room?
We draw the layout. If you want a designer's eye on finishes, we work with yours or suggest one.
Tell us about the house
A house visit is the first step. We write down what we see before we talk about a price.