Got our kitchen transom opened up again (pic)!

[housecrazy sarah]

Nice job Theresse! Your cupboards are impecable!!
Beautiful OLD kitchen! Love it!

[Don M]

All that you need now is one of these;
http://www.vandykes.com/sb-transom-wind ... d/p/204923

That reminds me of the long pole & hook we had in school to open & close the large double hung windows in our classroom!

[Neighmond]

All that you need now is one of these;
http://www.vandykes.com/sb-transom-wind ... d/p/204923

That reminds me of the long pole & hook we had in school to open & close the large double hung windows in our classroom!

We had those too! The teacher I had for third grade always called it the monkey pole, and if the superintendent was due to visit everyone scrambled to find or borrow one because every other window was supposed to be cracked open at the top for ventilation and he was a stickler.

[Don M]

It was an honor to be asked to open or close the windows in my school; also light or hall monitor---eraser beater not so much!

[Texas_Ranger]

I think I've seen those poles at Abraham Lincoln High in Brooklyn in 2001! Lovely huge 1920s school building with insanely tall double hung windows.

[Theresse]

Hi everyone and thanks SO much for the kind comments! I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. Every time I try logging on it seems a child pulls me away - it's ridiculous how hard it is to get anything done online but yes, I know, kids are the higher priority.

Pqtex - I'm trying to imagine a living room with that many bedrooms off it! What style house does that?! I had a cabin-like bungalow once upon a time that had one bedroom off the living room but 4? Would love to see pics and hear more about it but I'll also try clicking on your name in case this site's user-friendly enough to tell me all about you! Thank you for the liking of the kitchen BTW. I think it might be nicer online than in person, as you can't see all the little flaws as easily, but it's always so nice to hear. I fantasize about having the money to knock

Josiecat - once again I want to see pics (even if it's not up yet)! Old houses are always lovely but when you feel you've been sorta introduced to someone, seeing his/her house somehow makes it all the more exciting. I'll try clicking on your name too to see if it sends me there. I don't remember seeing addresses on transoms - is that your own idea or did you see it somewhere? I can imagine how cool that would look - and it would really draw the eye to the transom too I'll bet.

Jade Mortimer (why do I like your name so much?) - thank you!! I sometimes feel embarrassed cause most of the people in my neighborhood have been able to enlarge their kitchens (and also have families as I do so really need the space) but that's not really in our budget...so I've focused on making the little room (11.5 x 12') as period-approprate-with-a-twist-or-two as I can - i.e. have tried to make it charming...so that folks will notice that more than how pathetic the space and poor layout is! I could improve the layout slightly by taking out the little stairs and little door in the kitchen that lead to the house's main stairs (a little landing just a few steps up from the entry way) but because I do love old homes so much and see such stairs less and less often I can't quite bring myself to do it, much as I'd love the extra space (that could be filled in there e.g. more counterspace and cabinets).

Sooth - I love the stained glass look and have been thinking I might add that to that window someday (though for now it's fine as it is for sure and being original, I have no problem waiting). Actually in my house what would be more appropriate would be leaded glass. You are so kind to say it's one of your favorite kitchens, thanks so much. It's so strange to hear (read) that from anyone - I have such an inferiority complex about my 12 year-old white electric stove that you can't see (will make a point to take a pic though, just so you can see more of the kitchen) and my silly free-standing Samsung fridge and my big annoying chimney sticking out into an 11.5 x 12' room hogging valuable space and the big wall of darkness which cuts me off from all that great south-western/western light that could be coming into the kitchen were it not for the lack of DOUGH! There have also been tons of mistakes and issues in the relatively recent kitchen renovation (just one wall of renovation, that is!) although I suppose all kitchen jobs have hidden issues. If I pointed them out you'd see them I'm sure. Anyway thanks again and yes I'll make a point to take pics (or find old ones) to show you more of the cabinets on the left.

Sashguy - I know! I've been wondering if I should get one of those, thanks! I even had the latch put on the left side of the window cause the right side would mean it would get hit by the cabinet doors opening up next to it (just in case)!

Diane - sorry about the low ceilings. I do like having tall ceilings. Old houses have lots of issues but I do love high ceilings and I do love plaster over drywall (and built-ins, and the list goes on...).

YinzerMama - I should have titled this thread "show me yours and I'll show you mine!" Where are the pics of your transom??? Please do share. Thank you for loving the cabs! They're original (house was built in 1913 and is a craftsman-colonial hybrid). The little door below is a spice cabinet which yes we use for spices although it's not quite big enough for all our spices. The tall skinny one as you I'm sure know was an ironing board cabinet and only 3 months ago I had the ironing board removed (but am saving it) and had shelves added in there for coffee cups and teas. The ones to the left which are all wide and deep are I guess what you'd call pantry shelves. The only non-original cabs in the kitchen are the lower ones beneath the sink. They had already been replaced in maybe the '50's or '60's with some very boring single-panel things that were begging to be replaced. I couldn't afford (sorry to always be talking about money, yeesh) to replace them with replicas so I just went for a simple shaker inset.

KathyJB - thank yer kindly!

Abuela - thank yer kindly as well!! Seriously...warms my heart and really surprises me (still) to see all these very kind/flattering/accepting comments! BTW, what are you sighing about? It's usually me sighing! Is it the old cabinets? I love that they're such a hit and that I didn't have to do anything besides paint them.

[Theresse]

Oh! I see there's a page 2!

Housecrazy Sarah - thank you!

Don M - oh yeah - we had those in our school too.

Texas_Ranger - that would explain it - our school's from the 1920's too (by our, I mean the one my brothers and I went to and which my kids now go to...just a public neighborhood school).

[saaraah]

I love everything about your kitchen. It's gorgeous. And, that transom is so cool.

[pqtex]

Pqtex - I'm trying to imagine a living room with that many bedrooms off it! What style house does that?! I had a cabin-like bungalow once upon a time that had one bedroom off the living room but 4? Would love to see pics and hear more about it but I'll also try clicking on your name in case this site's user-friendly enough to tell me all about you! Thank you for the liking of the kitchen BTW. I think it might be nicer online than in person, as you can't see all the little flaws as easily, but it's always so nice to hear. I fantasize about having the money to knock

It is a modest one-story Greek Revival Farmhouse. All the rooms open to each other for ventilation. Here is the transom from the living room side into the master bedroom shortly after I moved in.

izzie on transom.jpg (48 KiB) Viewed 506 times

The cat uses any method possible to get up there.

I didn't even know there was a transom there. I discovered it when I removed the paneling covering it on both sides. I had just removed the dropped ceilings, restoring the original 11 ft height. This is the only transom that is missing the glass. In addition to the four transoms over the bedroom doors, the door from the living room to the back porch has a fixed transom that is boarded up with plywood. There is no evidence of hinges that would indicate it was ever anything but fixed. I will replace the glass there someday, when priorities allow more cosmetic work.

And since you were wondering about the floor plan...

house sketch 2.jpg (21.42 KiB) Viewed 505 times

To give some perspective, this photo shows the living room, looking to the front of the house from the dining room. It's a terrible photo, before much work had been done, but you can see the bedroom door to the right of the photo, and the front bedroom door to the right of the door and lite. There are two bedrooms opening to the living room on the other side, too.

living room.jpg (67.43 KiB) Viewed 505 times

[Josiecat]

http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv161/Galesc/

Here's my photobucket site. I've done a ton of work since these were taken but can't upload new pictures because my laptop broke and work doesn't allow it.