Despite these flaws, James did not want a spanking new space. "I'd seen too many old houses with fabulous kitchens that looked totally out of place," he says. "I really wanted the same old kitchen, but much nicer." Local architect Anita Rogers and contractor Paul Eldrenkamp gave him just that—with one big change.
The kitchen now flows directly into the breakfast room, which retains a handy sink but gave most of the plumbed area over to a new half bath. The embossed metal ceiling, original iron stove, and pine floors remain. In fact, without a close look, you might not know that a major renovation took place here. Says James, "That's exactly how I wanted it."
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