A Historic Home Kitchen Remodel in College Hill

Perched above the busy thoroughfare of Main Street in downtown Providence sits a charming house built way back in 1782. Nestled in the slopes of College Hill, so named for its proximity to Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design, one can just make out the banks of the Providence River as you tromp up the stairs to enter the home. But like many buildings in the neighborhood, this house needed renovations to better align with the necessities of modern-day life. Keep reading to see how this historic home kitchen remodel was carried into the 21st century while preserving its distinguished past. 

The Wisdom of Historic Homes

When our client initially contacted Red House, she had recently purchased her first home: a multi-story house in the nationally recognized historic College Hill neighborhood. Our client loved the old home’s architectural details and distinguished personality but knew it needed a modern upgrade. Namely, her home needed a main-floor kitchen. 

Clearly, the home was built for a different time, as the only kitchen in the house was in the basement. This made it a bit inconvenient to use, to say the least, and with plans to turn the basement floor into a short-term rental unit, having a single space to prepare food just wouldn’t do. And while she knew a historic home kitchen remodel was in order, starting from a clean slate–something another renovation company might suggest–was out of the question. Preserving the home’s historic character was of utmost importance and something Red House Design Build specializes in. 

A Thoughtful Approach

After closely working with our client, Red House’s designers, well-versed in historic home renovations, proposed a bold new kitchen for the primary floor where our client would be living. The new design included a thoughtful, contemporary kitchen layout that simultaneously increases functionality without overshadowing the 200-plus-year-old home’s personality. 

For instance, while others may have opted to tear out and replace the oddly placed column with a structural beam, Red House saw an opportunity to incorporate it into the kitchen island. And in the time-worn wide-plank floors, uneven as they may be, our designers and carpenters found inspiration in their topography and wood tones, crafting a color palette and custom cabinetry that responds to the home rather than dictate what it should be.  

Unifying Past and Present

Red House didn’t stop there, either. With a new kitchen on the horizon, our team also suggested relocating the home’s side entrance to tie in with the space. This final, unifying gesture brought more sunlight into the kitchen and made circulation around the house more natural, but it also freed up space for another modern amenity: a laundry room. What more could one want?

Are you planning a historic home kitchen remodel? Let the experts help! Contact Red House Design Build to start your personalized design-build journey today!