THE GRIT AND POLISH GUIDES
Kitchens for Old Homes
A kitchen has to work hard, but it should feel at home in the house, too. After renovating old homes for over a decade, we’ve learned how to balance layouts, budgets, cabinets, and finishes. Here are the projects, sources, and practical details that help us bring warmth and character to the heart of a home.
More good things for your next project
Explore our guides here for practical advice, favorite sources, and ideas for your renovation.
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Our Kitchen Favorites
Sinks, lighting, and useful supplies from our renovations
We look for hardworking fixtures, classic shapes, and useful supplies that earn their place in a well-used kitchen.
Kitchen Sources
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Ball Cabinet Knob
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Hood Classic Pendant
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Faucet
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Cabinet Latch
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Rail System
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Drawer Pull
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Drawer Pull 2
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Toaster
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Bin Pull
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Juliska Country Estate Delft Blue Plates
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Scallop Napkins
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Kitchen Island
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Café Curtain Rod Set
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Café Curtain Clips
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Estelle Sunday Lowball Glasses
Kitchens in Our Homes
From a small cottage to our country Farmhouse, these kitchens bring together practical layouts, classic materials, and thoughtful details.
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Our Poplar Cottage Kitchen
A small cottage kitchen with painted cabinets, a curved plaster hood, and hardworking storage, finished after five years of thoughtful changes.
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Our Farmhouse Kitchen Reveal
A brighter layout, existing cabinets made new again, and white, wood, marble, and brass brought warmth to our 1912 Farmhouse kitchen.
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The Finished Dexter Kitchen
Black and white cabinets, warm wood, and a few final updates made this well-used kitchen feel finished and ready for its next chapter.
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The Porch House Kitchen
An island with seating, a pantry nook, and a connection to the sunroom transformed this kitchen during a whirlwind renovation.
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Stock Cabinets, Made Our Own
We adapted basic wood cabinets for a small cottage kitchen, adding thoughtful details and finding a paint color that suited the room.
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A Hands-Free Kitchen Faucet
A foot-pedal adapter added a useful everyday upgrade to our Poplar kitchen. Here’s what we installed and why we wanted to try it.
A Backsplash That Feels at Home
A backsplash doesn’t have to be tile to work hard. We carried painted paneling through our Farmhouse kitchen for a simple, old-house feel. After years of cooking and everyday splashes, we shared how it’s holding up, how we clean it, and what we’d consider before choosing this finish again.
Before You Plan Your Kitchen
A good kitchen starts with everyday life. Think about how you cook, where everything lives, what needs to change, and which details will make the most of your space.