S3.27 Let's Take a Close Look at the Kitchen

[@paulafoster2607]

I love the cabinet latches on the butler's pantry cabinet! I love a proper butler's pantry in a home, as it's such a useful place even now.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

We are so lucky that the cabinets are in great shape. Once the plumbing is done, this room should come together quickly.

[@bythebaybagco]

I can just see it with white gleaming tiles, a big old wooden table and sparkling copper pots and pans hanging above! 😍

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I couldn't agree more. I'm already starting to collect some old copper pieces.

[@manycats9943]

This was so interesting! The drawings and photos are so appreciated as it really gives context to the open space. The tiles are great. I think it is going to be amazing when it's restored.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Glad you enjoyed it! I love home remodel shows on TV but they just don't have the time to get into all the real issues you face especially with a giant old house like this.

[@coffeecup3177]

Thanks for the explanation on the tiles, floors, and walls. You can really see the size of the room, windows, and doors on this vlog.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

It's a simple room but I just love the way it feels. I wish I could start working on it right now but other things are more pressing.

[@claudiamann7111]

So glad that you have the hood which can be used again. It will be labor intensive with the tile on the floor and the walls but it is there. It will be a gorgeous kitchen. Love the built in cabinet. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I love this kitchen too, sometimes simple is best. I can't wait to get the hood back up. That floor is going to be a nightmare.

[@glenmurdock9143]

The window screens are very smart and interesting. That tile is going to be quite a job!

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

It may be a sit down job with a few glasses of wine.

[@glenmurdock9143]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@ManWhoLovesTheMary]

Hmmm. I suppose in a modern context, the kitchen is the heart of the home since that is how we see it nowadays. Makes me wonder what was considered the heart of the home back then. Oh, and what a space. It’s so deceptively large. I hope that when the time comes to fix the floor, the meticulous nature of it only secures beautiful memories that reappear every time you’re in the space thereafter. The whole project is so inspiring. If it be considered jovial for me to declare, I just purchased an antique Edwardian Era suit that I’m super syked about. Perhaps when, hopefully, the day comes, I can wear it while visiting the League-Kempner house. See what smashing, olde-tyme inspiration this home and its restoration imparts to us rich history-minded pupils.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Great observation.. Back when this was built the family probably rarely stepped into the servant's areas. I'd love to have you come tour in costume. We've had others do that. When the weather is cooler it would be fun to have docents in costume as well.

[@dragonlove1]

What a lovely kitchen. It is going to look so nice when you are done with it

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

The kit hen is my favorite room. I can't wait to see it restored.

[@noelle7714]

I’m loving all the windows in the kitchen, it’s great that it’s in such good condition as far as it still being original.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I totally agree! In the morning with the sun rising the room just seems to glow, even in the poor condition it's in.

[@susanbellefeuille]

I just love all the ornate catches and bolts in this house so lovely!

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

This house isn't as fancy as some so I was thrilled to notice this little lift.

[@cherylholasek2193]

This stuff is so interesting to me. Thanks for taking the time to explain how they lived years ago. Look forward to seeing more videos. 😊

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I'm happy you find it interesting. I love doing the research to understand what was going on back when the house was built.

[@katrinatinker8250]

I thought it was the open window that sold you on the house ...😂😂😂

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

That open window sucked me in, but this kitchen sealed the deal.😀

[@grote51]

Have been anticipating the next video. I’ve seen the whole series twice. Looking forward to touring the house this fall. 32:12

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Wow, you are dedicated. I hope you can come tour in person. The feed back we get is that the videos don't do it justice. You just can't get the sense of scale.

[@stephenburns3678]

Great information in this video. Thank you to you and Jo.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Our pleasure!

[@janicebishop6601]

I sure wish I could help you with that floor! I really love projects like that...

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I wish you lived closer, I'd put you right to work.

[@toniasalways]

Did you put that window back in upside down? That finger lift thing is on the bottom of mine.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

😜 You are right. That's the way it was there when I bought the house and I just never thought about it. That makes much more sense.

[@ericalbany]

I was ready to reply on that...good catch

[@Zethera393]

The bar in the pantry could be used for dry/drying herbs

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

That's a good thought. I bet they had a small garden to grow their own.

[@Amy-e4b]

Would love to see that sunroom.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

As soon as we get it cleaned up I'll do a video on it. I think it's a wonderful space. We have part of the ceiling torn up to get to the new plumbing and all the furniture needs to bo up to the attic until we can have it restored.

[@tracebooks]

Actually that vent in the ceiling would not have been passive. Most ceiling fans can be reversed to either pull warmer air down during the winter, or to send it up during the summer. It’s no coincidence they put a vent above it.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

The hanging fan is not original, it was added much later. But that would be a great idea to have the fan on reverse to pull the hot air up toward the vent.

[@staceyengardt3074]

Looking forward to seeing some inside progress! So exciting!

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

You and me both. I want out of that basement and yard. Sometimes I wish I could snap my fingers and get to the pretty stuff.

[@pennyneal2456]

One of the vlogs I watched cleaned a porcelain sink with bartenders soap then used oven cleaner, believe it or not! You can only do that on porcelain sinks, he said? It was immaculate when he was done.

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

My sister-in-law used oven cleaner on her old porcelain tub where the gloss had worn off and the tub was porous. It worked well. I think it has lye in it.

[@cferguson3368]

Oven cleaner does have lye in it which is why it is used to clean cast iron pieces. There is no need to heat the piece like you wuold do if cleaning a stove... just let the lye work.

[@heathermorley6074]

This is so interesting. We’ve just visited cragside in Northumberland. For a Victorian house they were way ahead of their time. Highly recommend a visit if in the uk .

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Wow, I just looked the house up. I'd love to go there someday.

[@janetlewis8038]

Girl there’s no volunteer who can take those tiles up like you can. Maybe get your knee pads out. Best wishes 😊

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

My knees come with their own padding.😜 It's going to be heartbreaking to see it all come up, but it must be done.

[@daughterofthemosthigh7777]

Thank you. So interesting

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dcallan812]

It must be a difficult choice as to what age do you restore the house to. The cooker hood stripe pant is "relatively" modern in the house's history. So do you , mix and match the rooms or restore the whole house to a specific era? Very interesting video 2x👍

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Your comment is very timely. I just started working on a video about that subject. There's no clear right or wrong way and I've been giving it a lot of thought. I think I have a broad plan but there are still lots of little details to work out - almost on a room by room basis.

[@ericalbany]

@@leaguekempnerhouse I wonder if the stripes were contact paper

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

I don't know. i assumed they were painted because they looked like they matched the painting in the elevator car. But you'd think there would be some remaining paint to see on the hood.

[@98Zai]

You know when they say people were shorter in the past because the doorways in old cottages were so small you have to hunch over to enter? Well, apparently people were giants in Victorian times because you look absolutely tiny in that kitchen!!

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

😜 the older I become, the tinier i get. I couldn't believe how short I looked next to the elevator repair man.

[@98Zai]

@@leaguekempnerhouse So you were a Victorian giant as a child? That explains why you love these houses so much 🤯

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

🙂@@98Zai

[@wwjanedo]

Big motor!

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

Yes, it is.

[@gingermcgarvey7773]

That tile removal is going to a job. I remember the fireplace tiles and the questionable bathroom tile situation. There is so much to work with it would be a shame to not reuse it. I love the idea of the sink as is with just a couple touch ups. It was a lived in home and should show alittle age and use around the edges.🥰❤️🤍💙

[@leaguekempnerhouse]

The tile is a problem all over the house. Fortunately, we can save almost all of it. I would love to keep this house as original as possible. I used to worry about everything looking new but I toured all the big houses in Newport RI and they don't try to hide the wear. It's part of the history of the house. I like that idea. too.