Birch Plywood Kitchen Renovation in a 1911 Craftsman Bungalow, LA

Can you tell us a bit about your home?

'It’s a 1911 Craftsman Bungalow in South Los Angeles. It has an original fireplace, built-ins, crown moulding and hardwood floors.'

What was the kitchen like before you renovated it?

'It was a quick, tasteless flip with white vinyl cabinets and horrible blue tiles. We lived in it for a year while trying to decide what we wanted to do with it.'

What were your main goals for the renovation?

'We wanted to make it functional, and compliment the original architecture of the home. We wanted it to feel new, but not out of place given the home has so many amazing original details intact.'

Did budget influence your decisions?

'We saved everywhere we could! We left the footprint as-is so we could focus on everything else. We prioritized appliances, and got creative everywhere else.'

How would you describe the look and feel you wanted to achieve?

'We wanted it to feel warm and welcoming like a Santa Fe kitchen - it’s one of our favorite places to spend time. We didn’t want the cabinets to feel too ‘new’ or modern color-wise so we went with something that we felt complemented the Saltillo tile floors.'

Were there any design details that required a more creative approach?

'We love the archway area we did near the oven. We have an air duct on one side of it, so we had to get a little creative on how we approached that space but we love it now.'

How did you find working with Plykea?

'I loved all the options for cabinets, it was tough to choose. And everyone was so helpful!'

What advice would you give to someone planning a kitchen renovation?

'Spend the time ahead of the project planning, buying materials and making decisions. We lived without a kitchen for many months so in hindsight we would have spent a bit more time planning.'

If you’re planning an IKEA kitchen upgrade, plywood kitchen, or custom kitchen fronts we’d love to help.

Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.

Get A Quote