I have been thinking it is high time for another Kitschy Kitchen.
I was cruising over on ThisOldHouse.com and came across this article:
We Found Our Dream Kitchen on Craigslist
Therein is detailed a kitchen remodel by some fortunate Massachusetts homeowners who came across a "find" on Craigslist. A nearby kitchen dealer was selling a display...
They jumped at the opportunity. Even though the display had some obviously poor color choices (stark bone white and brown cherry in combination).
This is a kitchen that would only have happened under such circumstances.
Kitchen dealers usually replace their displays every few years when they get "tired" or aren't prompting purchases as expected. Or because they have changed product lines.
The homeowners were fortunate in this case. Additional matching cabinets were available to fill out the scheme.
Unfortunately, they didn't decide to buy an oven cabinet, even though they really, really, needed one (see image 1 of 11). Probably a cost issue.
In image 2 we see that the original display had crown molding. Sadly the buyers decided not to use it. The upper cabinets look very naked as a result.
In image 3 we see the dishwasher placed obstructing the door to the basement, even though the owners say: "we made sure the basement door next to the dishwasher could open all the way," says Jack. "It just fit! It's like we were Cinderella and the kitchen was the glass slipper." No further comment necessary here. I'm sure the kids can get through.
In image 4 - WELL! There's the crown molding!
Skip the ad and go to image 5, where we get back to the oven "cabinet" with wine cooler below. Cool. That little niche to the right of the oven cabinet is so unusable. In image 6, I won't even comment on the temporary oak countertop in the niche.
Image 7 is actually fine, except for the painted sheetrock wall behind the cooking surface. That is not likely to hold up long, considering the cook is a chef. A little tile or something to protect the surface would be good.
8 and 9 are "befores".
Image 10 shows the happy family doing their best to conceal the strange size doors at the top of the oven cabinet and hood. Something odd has happened to the hood. It looks as though it has been cut down in width. And not very well either.
This Kitschy Kitchen has lost all semblance of function, and whatever beauty there was in the original display has been lost as well.
The upshot: Buy and install a kitchen designed for another space at your peril. The compromises you will have to make to make it work may not be worth the effort.
Peggy
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