Victorian Home's Kitchen Demolished Except for One Surprising Feature

A Victorian home in need of renovation presented a daunting challenge for its owner, Christine Urbanek. The 1890s-era house had been a rental property and had seen updates in the 1970s and 1980s, but it was clear that a complete overhaul was necessary.

The foundation had sunk several inches, the chimney wasn't functioning, and walls and ceilings were damaged from cracks. To make matters worse, there was no hallway, just three doors leading directly into bedrooms and the main bathroom.

Urbanek decided to start from scratch, reconfiguring the interior layout to create a brighter and more open space. She removed a wall separating the dining room and kitchen, converted the original dining room into a living room for an open-concept kitchen, and added a laundry room and pantry in the former stove nook.

The only thing Urbanek chose to keep from the old house was the dishwasher, which she replaced with new everything else. She achieved a luxurious look on a budget by using affordable cabinets from The Home Depot and adding nice drawer pulls and handles.