Julia Child's Childhood Kitchen Gets a Makeover
Drop in on the California kitchen that may have influenced a legend, now remodeled for a next-generation cooking and entertaining enthusiast
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
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Growing up right across the street from it, homeowner Kristin Harrison had always loved this lovely 1909 colonial in the heart of Pasadena, California. Local lore had it that Julia Child grew up here, adding a layer of mystique to the already charming house — and in fact, Child did spend her early childhood years rambling through the rooms of this home. After years of pining over this house while visiting her parents (who still live across the street), it happened that soon after Harrison and her husband, Berkeley, got married, this very house went on the market. It seemed meant to be.
The couple lived in the house for 10 years before remodeling, though Harrison dreamed about it for years. Now with two teenage boys, they felt ready to breathe new life into this historic home. Working with designer and Houzz contributor Charmean Neithart, and Harrison's brother, architect Warren Techentin, they embarked on a whole-house remodel lasting nearly two years. As the heart of the house, the kitchen was especially important to get just right.
Photography by Erika Bierman Photography
The couple lived in the house for 10 years before remodeling, though Harrison dreamed about it for years. Now with two teenage boys, they felt ready to breathe new life into this historic home. Working with designer and Houzz contributor Charmean Neithart, and Harrison's brother, architect Warren Techentin, they embarked on a whole-house remodel lasting nearly two years. As the heart of the house, the kitchen was especially important to get just right.
Photography by Erika Bierman Photography
Harrison always imagined having a white kitchen but also had her heart set on using a particular shade of Tiffany blue. While she was waffling about whether to go for blue cabinets, Neithart suggested putting in a blue beadboard ceiling instead, in a more subdued shade of blue. After finishing the project, Neithart came across a photograph of Julia Child's Massachusetts kitchen, which was used as a set for three of her television shows and had cabinets nearly an identical shade of blue. As Neithart said, "Maybe Julia had something to do with it!"
Paint: Ceilings: Bali 702, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore
Paint: Ceilings: Bali 702, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: White Dove OC-17, Benjamin Moore
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BEFORE: The original kitchen was a narrow galley-style space. With only one wall of cabinetry and the stove in the corner, the layout was awkward and storage was sorely lacking. The kitchen was almost gutted during the renovation, setting the stage for a more functional and open space.
Neithart found these charming art prints in an antiques store. The three vintage prints were still in the original wrapper but had been damaged, so she had them restored and framed. The scenes of a woman doing her shopping with the local grocers reminded Neithart of Child.
Artwork: vintage; cabinet hardware: Buckle Up collection, Atlas Homewares
Artwork: vintage; cabinet hardware: Buckle Up collection, Atlas Homewares
| This vintage 1950s Wedgewood stove belonged to Harrison long before she moved into the house, and it was an absolute must-keep item. Neithart initially tried to talk Harrison out of using it, concerned that the new cabinets would dwarf the petite vintage stove; but Harrison would not be swayed. Cabinets: Charlton Cabinets |
Now, after the stove has been fully refurbished and reinstalled, Harrison and Neithart agree it really makes the kitchen. It gives the whole kitchen a more authentic, charming feel, providing the perfect counterbalance to more modern elements, like the random-length Carrara marble backsplash.
Stove: refurbished 1950s Wedgewood; backsplash: 1/2-inch random-length Carrara blend
Stove: refurbished 1950s Wedgewood; backsplash: 1/2-inch random-length Carrara blend
| Harrison had her heart set on these rich coffee bean–brown cork floors, even though they are more delicate than hardwood or tile. She loves the softness underfoot — perfect for getting comfortable in the kitchen while whipping up many meals and party dishes. And speaking of party dishes, also on Harrison's wish list was a truly gigantic fridge and freezer. With their two teenage boys, three dogs and regular parties, the family has been putting this massive fridge to good use. Floors: Cork; light fixture: Visual Comfort Cornice Hexagonal Flush Mount |
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Harrison adores entertaining. In addition to smaller family dinners, she regularly throws large parties, where the home's multiple sets of French doors are flung open, allowing as many as 100 guests to mingle both indoors and out.
The countertops are black Ceasarstone, which is, as Neithart says, "bulletproof" — in other words, ideal for two teenage boys.
Counters: black Caesarstone
Counters: black Caesarstone
The glass-front cabinets are double-wide, and the couple ended up taking one set out to provide additional counter space and let the room breathe a bit more.
One must for the kitchen was creating lots of space for Harrison's entertaining arsenal. Dishes, platters and glassware have finally found a home in the extra-tall cabinets. And because her husband is extremely tall, Harrison says she never needs a ladder when he's around!
Neithart had the interior of the hutch cabinet wallpapered in a fretwork print from Schumacher, adding a beautifully decorative element and subtly tying in the ceiling color.
Wallpaper: Summer Palace Fret in Mineral, Schumacher
Wallpaper: Summer Palace Fret in Mineral, Schumacher
A capacious new sink with an elegant faucet makes washing up a more pleasant experience.
Faucet: polished chrome, Bridge Faucet w/ Sidespray, Perrin & Rowe collection, Rohl
Faucet: polished chrome, Bridge Faucet w/ Sidespray, Perrin & Rowe collection, Rohl
The only piece left mostly as is: a large butler's pantry attached to the kitchen. Now that all is finally finished, the kitchen seems to have a nice balance of old and new, vintage and modern.
| And now for the big question: What would Julia Child have thought of her childhood kitchen now? Neithart laughs and says that at over 6 feet tall, Child would certainly have appreciated the tall scale of the kitchen. Also its simplicity and the fact that at heart, it is a really functional kitchen, meant to work hard and handle tasks without a lot of frills. Now that is something Child would have gotten behind. Get design ideas from more white kitchens |
Ideabook updated on Feb. 5, 2013.
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"...nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should." - Julia Child
~Steve
Great inspiration from this!
Great work I envy the space to have the vin stove and a modern oven in one kit.
btw is the ceiling 4*8 sheets or strips?
Thanks
I think what makes it extra-charming in these photos is that it looks a well-used space: there are appliances and food out on the counter (shock, horror), unobtrusive vintage accents, and obviously personal items lying out in view.
Thanks for the post, Laura (and Charmean!). I had to google Julia Child's kitchen, which was fascinating (I'm not from the US) - I had no idea she cooked on a big ol' Garland (now Bluestar) range! Loved her peg-board walls with a spot even for her (his?) spectacles.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chucks-appliance-service-south-pasadena
I wonder what Julia Child would have thought of granite counters.
If you look in the before picture, where the lab is in the background...this is where the kitchen got bumped out to the left. The row of windows in the foreground in the old kitchen also got bumped out, but became the family room. If you look at the third to last picture that shows the sink, you will see the pass through to the family room. So it was an addition and remodel. I will be photographing the rest of the house shortly, stand by...more to come. Thank you for your interest, I appreciate your comments. Charmean
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chucks-appliance-service-south-pasadena
They should be able to guide you with resources in your area if you're not in Los Angeles.
There are several companies around the nation that restores the vintage. They almost all have sites. http://www.antiquegasstoves.com in Alto loma Ca. did mine though I bought it from a lady in Houston.
One of those spaces that you can FEEL yourself in!!!!
Thanks for the notes on products and refurb for stoves---we "broke" our vintage stove trying to move it without enough manpower and I regret to this day (23 years later) that I didn't just move it ANYWAY and see if it could be fixed. Sigh. Still on the lookout for some other one I can love.
Was the beadboard for the ceiling just plain old sheets from the lumber yard or a special type? Finish? Paint? Inspired kitchen re-finishers NEED to know!!!!!
Actually the walls of my kitchen now are a slightly more Robins Egg than this but this was the color I was "aiming" for! But the reverse would give me MUCH more light--and cover up the TEXTURED CEILING in our 70's shoebox shape ranch. Who puts a TEXTURE ceiling in a KITCHEN?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/julia-child-quotes_n_1775163.html
The Letterman video is classic Julia. CN
Wedgewood stove stays & appliances all good. I am smiling!
These cabinets are all brand new with a fresh coat of paint. If you do paint your cabinets, make sure you find the best painter possible. It's not easy to make stain grade cabinets look good with a new paint job. Hope that helps. Charmean
Charmean Neithart