Kitchens & revival baths

As we all know, kitchens have rarely escaped remodeling. Oddly enough, a period-inspired kitchen is less likely to look “dated” because it’s timeless, and takes cues from the rest of the house. Rely on classic, natural materials like wood and stone. For cabinets and millwork, mimic woodwork in the dining room or pantry, but make it simpler rather than grand.

Today’s bathrooms run to traditional, classic, and retro design: white subway tile or painted beadboard, classic fixtures, historical lighting. Baths of the early 20th century are good models, as the basic three fixtures are familiar still. Owners of 19thcentury houses find it easy to incorporate Victorian details such as electrified gaslight-era fixtures and a few antiques. Creating a colorful Art Deco or midcentury room is another approach, since many bathrooms were updated in those years.