Installing kitchen cabinets is a great way to revamp your kitchen. Aging cabinets eventually wear out, even the highest quality custom cabinetry. In historic homes in New Jersey and New York, this is especially problematic. When you live in a historic home with old cabinets, you may eventually need kitchen cabinet replacement service from an experienced kitchen renovation contractor.
At we’ve worked with many homeowners to find and install kitchen cabinets that perfectly balance personal taste with historical accuracy. If you’re looking for kitchen cabinet replacement in NJ for a historic home with a distinct period design style, call us any time for a free consultation and cost estimate.
Kitchen Renovation & Cabinetry for Historic Homes
New Jersey has a long history, and you’ll find homes that were built throughout many different periods of American history. From classic Colonial architecture and Queen Anne Victorians, to 1920s farmhouses, to retrofuturistic midcentury modern construction, each period has a distinctive look and feel. In many historic neighborhoods, homeowners may be required or strongly encouraged to meet certain standards for historic preservation.
Naturally, kitchens have evolved quite a bit over the last two or three centuries. Even in the oldest historic home, a kitchen still must incorporate a full range of modern amenities. Modern sinks, dishwashers, stovetops, and ovens are essential.
When it comes to kitchen renovation and kitchen cabinet installation in NJ for historic homes, your choice will be influenced by both the time period and the architectural style. One period of time can contain different building styles. For example, ornate “gingerbread” Victorian houses share the same vintage with the elegant simplicity and clean lines of Craftsman architecture. Each home is unique, and when you’re planning on installing kitchen cabinets, it’s important to consider both design and function.
Before the 1920s, Modern Kitchen Cabinets Didn’t Exist
It makes sense to find cabinetry that feels “natural” to your home. The wood, finish, and other aspects of design needn’t always be perfectly accurate, as long as they capture an aesthetic that suits your unique historic home. In many cases, it won’t be 100% accurate. Even having cabinets isn’t technically accurate to the time period, especially if your home predates the 1920s.
Today’s kitchens feature two key elements: cabinets and countertops. Together, they provide a continuous workspace, with ample storage underneath. Modern kitchen cabinets didn’t really take off until the 1920s, an era which saw a lot of change in the design and functionality of American kitchens.
In the 19th century, when many historic New Jersey homes were originally built, kitchens were large and open. Instead of modular cabinetry, storage was more likely to take the form of individual hutches, sometimes with glass in the front. Instead of countertops, a central work table providing space for food preparation. Obviously, modern refrigerators and even modern ovens weren’t yet a fixture of kitchen construction.
By the 1920s, kitchen cabinet installation in NJ was quickly becoming the norm for middle- and upper-class households. If you look at pictures of kitchens from the ‘20s and ‘30s, you’ll notice that they look quite a bit like a respectable modern kitchen.
Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets for a 19th Century Home
Going without cabinets and countertops simply isn’t an option for any modern homeowner. When you’re considering kitchen cabinet replacement, it’s a good idea to choose a style that, like your old cabinets, complements your home’s architectural style and time period. This can influence the wood, finish, and other elements that you choose.
Custom cabinetry is a great choice for finding cabinets you love for your historic home. These high-end cabinets are designed especially to your specifications, rather than being mass-produced in factory like stock cabinets. Custom kitchen cabinet installation allows you to choose from a nearly endless range of different woods, paints, varnishes, finishes, styles, and sizes.
Kitchen Installation Contractors in NJ
Installing new cabinets for your historic home? At All 1 Kitchen, we can help you find and install the perfect set of cabinets to meet the functional demands of modern cooking, while still fitting your home’s unique historical character. For a free consultation and cost estimate.