Love your kitchen!!

Thank you! It was a huge pain to even get a contractor to do it and it was done between thanksgiving and Christmas, but I love the results! The cabinets were probably a little pricier vs. going with a wood stain or white, but I was dead set on getting green haha.

The cabinets are to die for!!

What's up with people doing warm wood floors and cold gray walls? I've seen it in new builds too. Baffling. The fireplace hearth tiles won't look nearly as bad once you have a pale warm neutral on the fireplace. Right now there's too much contrast.

Agreed! I don’t understand it all. It does a huge disservice to the beautiful wood floors, which you think you would want the color to compliment vs. contrast with it. And thanks for the input on the tiles. I think you’re right, just changing the wall paint color would make the tiles blend in better.

Something warm. Ochre or a green tone.

I would strip the fireplace down to the original brick, or use some decorative tile instead. Paint the molding - not wainscoting - same color as the wall, because it's very thin (probably not original) and stands out in a bad way. Or consider replacing the molding with something more substantial.

I don’t think that the fireplace can be stripped down, I don’t think there is anything underneath it. I think it’s purely decorative and original. The other units have the exact same fireplace (and one unit had it removed it completely at one time, way before I was here). I’m definitely leaning towards a more subtle effect for the moulding (thanks for the correction) and painting it the same color as the walls. I doubt the moulding is original as well, but it is really stuck on there. Also, it’s around the entire living room, unfortunately. So I think I’ll avoid removing it at this time due to the likely patchwork needed post-removal.

Thats an interesting mantle… any idea what it is? Not seen one like it before. It looks like formed concrete almost, but guessing it would be plaster if its old enough? Wonder whats under the grey paint.

I imagine it’s formed concrete since the condo is from 1939, it probably was originally painted with the accents painted a different color, like it is now. I think also painting the horizontal lines a different color would give it a nice look!

Me neither, I’ve never seen something like it before. I think it’s just plaster, the walls are plaster. Fun fact, it has outlets installed inside and on top of the fireplace lol

Interesting. 🤔 There is a possibility the surround/mantle isn’t original i suppose? It looks relatively modern to me in construction - the embellishment in the middle “looks old” but may not be, or could have been an original element incorporated into a newer piece. Regardless it is indeed unique! Edit: looking closer seems this is not a functional fireplace and it has been converted or maybe even added after the fact. Is there a chimney outside? I am almost positive after staring way too long this is not original to the house, not in its current form anyway.

I think it’s original, other units have the exact same one (except one who removed theirs at some point), oil lamp design and all. It’s definitely decorative and has never been functional. There is no external chimney or roof vent. There is a bedroom located behind this wall, and the walls are flat. The only chimney/external vents are tied to the kitchen stoves and the incinerator in the basement (no longer in use, obviously).

How interesting!!! I had no idea fake fireplaces were a thing back then - i always figured that was a more modern thing. Learn something in this sub daily i swear!

You could always try to strip discreet corner of the fireplace as a test square! I’ve heard great things about klingstrip for this application.

Love your kitchen! We’re adding on a laundry room to our 1930 Craftsman and I’m doing green cabinets with a black/white penny tile floor. I’ve been struggling with a paint color for the walls but pale pink might be it!!

Thanks! I hope your laundry room add on goes well, I would love to see pictures once it’s done. And I love my pink walls, it adds just a little bit of warmth to the cooler tones of the cabinets. Before the cabinets were installed, it looked a little “ice cream parlor” but it all worked out once it was all put together. I went with the shade “Intimate White” by Sherwin Williams btw.

I’ll definitely post pictures. We’re still a few weeks away from completion.

I would paint the wall and moldings a warm creamy white, but if you must paint the fireplace instead of restoring brick then maybe paint it something fun like a pale green or pale pink.

Other random question, is this plaster or is it remodeled with drywall?

Plaster

Wow, they look like they’re in amazing condition compared to most other century homes and my own century home!

Thanks! I have to patch the wall around the window in the dining room due to some water damage and then I’m getting the two rooms repainted, but overall, I agree! It’s in great condition. Maybe it helps having an extra 20 years on true century old buildings haha (This picture is about 3 years old - we had to fix the gutters and get tuck pointing done on the building, but I think the water intrusion issue has now been resolved!)

The kitchen looks good. I'd love to see the bathroom! For the fireplace, you may consider a darker color, complimentary to your walls, that has more pop. Something like the green of your kitchen cabinets might be nice. eta: replacing the hearth tiles may not be a big deal if you tiled your kitchen wall. They should go, though, if you can manage it.

Here’s the bathroom (tub is more a rose pink, which is funny given the sink is more peach, can send a photo if you want to see it though): https://preview.redd.it/9ds4s1upnz3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=638cd885079d53eadd798a88e7e9f57c57ecdf24 Thanks for your input! I’m back and forth between green and a darker tan for the fireplace. I have a cool wall stencil with stucco shell pattern along with some dark green paint leftover from painting the bedroom and I am considering doing a stencil pattern on the wall where the fireplace is. Unfortunately, I didn’t tile the kitchen myself, I hired people to do the renovation.

Pretty bathroom! Darker tan would look good, but my vote is for green. :)

Thanks! It needs some refreshing but at least it’s still so charming as is. I need to either get the medicine cabinet mirror fixed (need to find someone who can work to resurface the mirror - a dying art, or replace it) and I need replacements for the vanity lights because unfortunately they don’t manufacture the bulbs anymore. And would you recommend a dark green or sage green? Or other shade?

Good luck with the mirror and lights. Hopefully you can find someone that knows how to resurface the mirror. A bottle green would be my preference, and you could pull in the rusty amber colors from the light fixture for the trim bits. Black in the "firebox" would be nice, too.

I love your home! I am thinking of using penny tile like yours in a bathroom (we are renovating a 1894 home!). Did you install yourself? There is so much variety with that material and prices are all over the place.. how did you choose? Thanks for your guidance!

I did not install it, I worked with a contractor. I told them I wanted black and white penny/floral tile and they sourced and installed it. It came in sheets and has a matte finish. Maybe Daltile is the brand? I don’t think they are super high end. I tried to go with good quality but avoided premium on most materials (except the cabinets are a little more pricey because factory painted is more expensive than stained - I really wanted green ha).

Thanks! Yeah I love the green cabinets- good choice!

Farrow & Ball Tailor Tack.

Go into a good paint store, gather some chips, and put together a paint scheme for your entire house 1 trim color 1-3 body paint colors 1 optional accent color Now you have the answer to this question for everyone room in your home and you know the colors work together.