Kim’s original kitchen had a few strikes against it.
For one thing, the tile countertops were a pain to keep clean.
She knew there were original hardwood floors under the vinyl and wanted to restore them.
And since it’s in an old dogtrot house in Texas, she wanted the room to look a little less new.
Keep scrolling to see how she gave it a “new vintage” look…
A “New” Vintage Kitchen in Texas
It’s quite a transformation.
The acoustical-tile ceiling with the track lighting and ceiling fan were replaced by tin.
The original wood floors have been restored.
And the drywall is gone, revealing the wood-planked walls that were behind it.
They painted most of them but left one wall, not wanting to cover all the original character.
The original cabinets were moved to the garage, where they are now used for extra storage.
“I’m always looking for a way to incorporate true vintage elements,” Kim says.
“We bought the green light fixtures at the Marburger Farms Antique Show (my favorite antique show in the whole world). We turned them into pendants. The down rods are made from plumbing pipe, another industrial touch that I really love.”
Kim had always wanted a walk-in pantry and they had plenty of space to create one.
They found this old screen door at an architectural salvage store in Gonzales — perfect for the pantry.
Kim says, “I love all of my old signs, because of their graphics and the memories and feelings that evoke.”
One of her favorites is the yellow Dairy Queen sign that she bought at an antique store in Buda, Texas, “A nod to when I worked at a Dairy Queen during high school.”
“The tomato plants and fresh milk signs I scooped up at the Marburger Farm Antique Show the minute I saw them. My husband and I were dating at the time, but I knew even then that the relationship was promising and the fruit and beverage were two of his favorite foods.”
You may remember when I told you about the cool mudroom she built onto the kitchen earlier this year.
You can see that on her blog, too.
Thanks to Kim for sharing her kitchen makeover with us.
She blogs at Living Vintage where you can go for more photos and details!
House Crazy Sarah says
Wowzers! This is amazing! How thrilling that they uncovered so many of the vintage elements that were hiding! I do love all those signs and its great that the homeowner has a story to go with each one.
(I do remember that mudroom! Fantastic!!)
CottageGirl says
So charming, very clever and quite refreshing!
I absolutely love that old screen door at the entrance to that huge pantry. And instead of making a row of cabinets, Kim made it much more interesting by putting shelves in the middle.
I could pour over these pics all day. Thanks so much for posting!
Janice says
Beautiful Love the Canadian shout out with the Red Rose Tea sign on the pantry door!
Marsha Herndon says
Really love this one ! So charming and nice to see the personality of the owner come though.
Joanna says
Well done! I really, really like this. My favorite part are the open shelves tucked between two cabinets on the fridge wall. If Kim checks in here, can you share where you found the glass jars with green lids that hold your flour, sugar, etc.? I’m guessing they’re vintage or antique but I’m in love with them!
hookedonhouses says
She gives lots of details like that on her blog if you want to check for those!
Stacey says
Hi, My mom has those glass jars with the green lids, they are from the 60’s. But they have good knock offs at Target. The lids are white, but you could find a depression/jadeite green to paint them.
Laura says
This is excellent. Love the restoration, the vintage decor, the lack of recessed lighting (thank you!!), the floors, etc. Great job!
missgulfsouth says
WOW. Just WOW.
Kay @ redbirdv.wordpress.com says
This kitchen puts the AWE in awesome, + I mean that!
Everything’s divine, but the vintage groovies are the best.
The signs, that door, the corbels!
TY for sharing.
Rachel says
HELP! I’m in LOVE! Can I move into her kitchen please???
hookedonhouses says
It looks like there’d be space for you in her walk-in pantry. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. Ha.
DB says
I love it ! So fun and funky looking.
Katrina says
I am completely blown away. It turned out so lovely! I am especially digging the walk in pantry with the screen door. SO great! But I love it all. Beautiful job!
Dean says
Holy smokes!!! Absolutely stunning re-do. Love everything about it, especially the door to the pantry. Does it “knock” when closing like an old screen door? 😉
jep says
It is obvious that this kitchen was renovated with love and a vintage sense of style. Just lovely! I bet their family really enjoys being in this kitchen.
Sara says
The dark wall with the screen door to the pantry makes me want to go home and watch Fried Green Tomatoes! I love the idea of making a pantry door different, but I would have never thought to do a screen door (mostly because I know how messy I can make things!). Very neat kitchen!
Sherry says
Sara, that’s funny – I immediately thought of Fried Green Tomatoes too!
Asia says
Talk about adding character!! Amazing.
Cindy_FearlessDIY says
That kitchen is AMAZING! (And so is the mudroom!) Before now I had never heard of a dogtrot house before. Very interesting stuff! Around here (north central Indiana) I’ve seen lots of shotgun houses, but never a dogtrot house. I love that!
Oh, for those who aren’t familiar, in a shotgun house you could stand in the front door and fire your shotgun and the bullet can sail right through the house and straight out the back door. LOL
hookedonhouses says
I lived in a shotgun house when I was little. The front door led straight into my parents’ bedroom and you had to walk through it to get to my bedroom and then to the living room and kitchen. I don’t think they build many of those any more! 🙂
jean says
Hi, the KAtrina houses are all shotgun and there are many more types being built here in the South again
Sharrieboberry says
What incredible character this kitchen this has! I love it.
Carolyn Reed says
I absolutely LOVE this!!! The screen door reminds me of “the old market on the corner” kind of atmosphere . . . perfectly charming in every way!! . . . I wish I could do this in/for my kitchen!!!
Ruthann Ross says
Really Great Transformation! Love the screen door to the pantry! Nicely done!
Jan says
It’s kinda perfect!!!! I love it, and I’m a Mid-century modern type!
Kelly says
That kitchen is TO DIE FOR!!!! Such an amazing transformation!
Sherry says
Wow, I am blown away by this kitchen! I love, love, love to see rooms restored to match the age & character of the house. This reminds me of so many old places from my childhood. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. Amazing job!
Lorrie says
Thank you for sharing this beautiful kitchen. I wonder if we could convince her to come to our homes and help us redesign and remodel ours 🙂
Deanna says
That screen door is a perfect example of how fitting your individual personality and history into every space makes it extraordinary. If you were raised in America, you can’t help but feel an instant warm connection with some part of your past when looking at it! What an inspired feature in a totally inspired makeover!
Cheyenne says
Shout-out for Big Red soda! LOVE the vintage signs! When I was a kid in Texas getting a Big Red, a Vanilla Coke, or a Peach NeHi was the HUGEST treat. The stores out here in San Diego are JUST starting to carry Big Red, after years of me begging! LOL
I saved a bunch of these to my Houzz kitchen ideabook- I love that so much character was added by removing drywall and adding vintage touches. Now the kitchen just looks so comfortable! 🙂
Cheyenne says
PS- And HOW could I forget the wood floors?! Beautiful!
Karen says
I’d love to put a microwave below the counter – but how the heck do you actually use it there?? I’ve seen this idea before and think it’s so impractical – but looks nice.
snaggy says
Love It
Zsuzsa says
Amazing transformation! This kitchen is truly an inspiration.
Laura @ the shorehouse says
I would like Kim to come stay with me. She should totally feel free to renovate the kitchen while in residence. 🙂 This is an AMAZING transformation, and most importantly it looks like it’s original to the house. Gorgeous!!
Erin says
Wow! What a great transformation! I always love seeing a home that reflects the personality and style of its owners, and this one sure does that!
Rebecca C says
I love, love, love this kitchen!
Jennifer I says
This kitchen is FAB.U.LOUS!!! I would die and go to heaven to have a kitchen this size and she did an amazing job keeping the vintage look….and that pantry, OMG. This is just WOW all around!
Daricia says
That pantry with the screen door is just the best thing I’ve seen in a while! Love it!!!
Kelly D says
I love it all! Nice job!
Tina Gleisner says
Love the story behind the kitchen, and it’s something most folks can learn from … much better than the high end designs on Houzz. Nice job!
dawn says
Absolutely FABULOUS! Thank you for sharing this amazing transformation. It is magazine worthy!
Destiny says
WOW! Just wow…
Barbara says
I am being consumed by envy!
Nikki@ProjectHome says
That’s adorable! I feel like it’s a little vintage grocery.
Steve@AnUrbanCottage says
The wall where the pantry door is totally charming. It reminds of the little country store where we used to ride our bikes as kids to buy beef jerky and fireballs. It totally took me back to a different place and time.
Cathy says
I love this kitchen. The ceiling tiles are to die for. I have been wanting to do this in the downstairs powder room. And that back splash, instantly took me back to my grandma’s kitchen. Love.. Great job.. I would spend a lot of time in there.
GemmaMae says
I think this is one of my favorite kitchens EVER. I want to live just in the kitchen!! Can’t even pick one favorite element – I love the authentic vintage signs, love the door, the green lights.
Clearly a true labor of love.
Debbie W. says
LOVE!!!!!! Love all the details in this kitchen!!! What a great job… I love bringing in those old vintage elements, it’s such a great way to feel connected to the past. And that pantry!! It would be like walking into an old general store every day!! LOVE IT!
Carolyn says
What a great job taking a kitchen backward in time and forward as well. It’s great that she had the raw materials to work with (original floors, wood walls, high ceilings) so that it feels authentic. If it was in a newer house, it would feel more staged. Here, it’s perfect.
Jonia says
So very, very lovely, stunning, fun, cool, excellennnnnnt! I so very much appreciated the huge space. What I could do in there, oh my!! The walls, oh how I love those walls! I just love that she painted the planks white, but left one wall untouched. That to me is an excellent example of how an accent wall should be made. Thanks Julia for the dogtrot house info. I’d see them only a handful of times, but never with that title. I feel smarter already haha
jen says
this is so beautiful
i love the screen door the color and micorwave place
Kim says
What an amazing transformation! I love the vintage look and feel of the kitchen.
Rob says
Great use of antique furnishing, really gives a very unique feel to the kitchen.
Aria says
Now THAT is my kind of kitchen! Oh the pantry *swoon!* As a collector, seller, and all around vintage/antique obsessed person, that kitchen is absolutely perfect!
Who in the world would put acoustical tiles in a kitchen ceiling?, I have never seen anything done like that before. I honestly cannot pick which part is my favorite….the restored floors are so beautiful, but the wood plank walls are amazingly cool, and don’t even get me started on the island corbels!! Love it all!!
Jeanie says
Oh my gosh…this is FABULOUS! I would KILL for that pantry. Love, love, love it!!!
Laura says
Thanks for the link to the other vintage kitchens and houses, Julia. They are definitely my favorites! I hadn’t seen a couple of them. Fab!!!
hookedonhouses says
I do love a vintage-inspired kitchen! Glad you enjoyed them, too. 🙂
Anita says
Love this Kitchen she did an awesome job!
Alie B says
Oh I love this! It has a very country store vibe, which is fantastic! 🙂
The Impatient Home Builder says
That’s a great kitchen! I especially like the pantry door. It makes it look like an old country store.
Jill says
WOW! Love every inch of it…favorites? Well yes, the ceiling and the vintage signs are PERFECT!