The Cozy 1920s Kitchen

A CONVINCING BLEND OF NOSTALGIA AND FUNCTION

“We wanted a kitchen that looks like it was here in the 1920s,” Shirley says. That’s the genius of the Erstads’ new kitchen: it’s convincing yet functional, outfitted with its original oak millwork, leaded-glass windows, and built-ins. The transition from dining room to kitchen is seamless. The entire house looks like a lovingly maintained period piece.

In the new “period” kitchen, they used antique appliances, lighting, and plumbing fittings, but integrated them with top-of-theline contemporary elements. The refrigerator is an original 1927 GE Monitor-top. Beside the 1924 sink, however, are two freezer drawers hidden behind wood cabinet doors.

“The freezer in the old refrigerator is miniscule, and needs to be defrosted periodically,” Rich says.“But that fridge measures 17 cu.ft. and is quiet and efficient, using one-third the electricity of a modern unit. It has the original coolant and a motor that probably dates to 1938.”

The kitchen floor posed a challenge. “We wanted 6"-sq. linoleum tiles in period-correct colors, but they no longer exist,” says John Biancini, president of APEX Construction Management. “So, the owners found some

12" commercial vinyl tile, in the right color combination, and we had them laser cut to precise 6" squares for the checkerboard.”