This fresh, modern kitchen started life as a 1700s tavern

It’s true! Long before we got our hands on it, this small-but-mighty kitchen led a much-remodeled life, first as an 18th century tavern and later as a private home.

When the current owners came to us, it was a dark and dated 1980s-style space. It did the job as far as cooking was concerned, but it wasn’t pleasant or efficient for the family to use.

Especially because of its small footprint, it needed lots of help to make it look open and bright and to maximize its work surfaces and storage.

Enter gorgeous custom cabinetry from Timber Mountain Woodcraft!

We tore everything out and designed these clean-lined Shaker style cabinets as a nod to the home’s historic roots, but with a thoroughly modern look and functionality. We chose a creamy white paint so the space would feel bright and warm at the same time.

The cabinet knobs and bin pulls feel right for an older home.

I bet some pretty interesting guests stopped for a meal at this tavern. And now it’s a sweet family that “bellies up to the bar” every day for their breakfast.

We carefully designed little details like the microwave niche above the counter, the stained exisitng wood beam, and the pared down custom range hood made the best use of the space available while still infusing the kitchen with loads of character.

It’s a pretty dramatic change from when we started and the owners love how it turned out. It doesn’t feel like cooking in a cave anymore, ha! And the new space now complements the adjacent family room, making the whole house feel fresher, brighter, and more livable.

Not bad for an old tavern, right?!