Clayson House Kitchen

Clayson House kitchen table

Last February, I blogged about my kitchen and the plans I have for it here. Then in March, I started removing the vinyl floor covering here. Well, the floor is still in progress. I didn't work on it all summer, but this fall weather has me hoping to start up again, if my knees will cooperate!

Today, I decided to walk over to our local house museum, the Clayson House, for some kitchen inspiration. The overall look is what I would strive for, with a lot of wood everywhere. Wood wainscoting, door and window trim would really enhance my kitchen.

The ceilings at the Clayson House are at least 10 ft. and mine are 8. Although I would have loved a fixture like this, I settled for a different style that doesn't hang so low.

And although I would love the look of an old stove and ice box, my current oven and refrigerator will have to stay. I'll just try to pretend they're not there!

The dry sink shows more of the beadboard look I want to achieve.

The museum kitchen wasn't really set up the way it would have been used. Because it's a museum, there were more tsatskis on display than a working kitchen would have out all at one time.

Although, part of the charm of these old kitchens is how things sit out on open shelves. I love the scale and the blue graniteware!

And my kitchen clock would look so much better sitting on a shelf with a lacy cloth like this!

My neighbor has one of these wall-mounted coffee grinders and actually uses it.

My coffer grinder is more like the one above, and is only decorative. Notice the nice spice boxes and the copper clothes boiler. Laundry was done in the kitchen. Clothes were boiled, wrung out, starched, ironed and pleated, and hung to dry.

This looks like maybe a wash tub for the baby? I'm lucky I don't need to do my laundry or bathing in my kitchen!

I like the oil lamps with the iron wall brackets. I have one, and plan on using it when the kitchen is completed.

A cherry stoner. People back then probably thought they were living the good life, with all the fancy contraptions at their disposal. They proudly displayed any modern devices they owned. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out places to hide my food processor, coffee maker, etc. in order to make my house more "Victorian." Something not right about that, huh?

There's something so simple and elegant about glass bottles on a windowsill.

The fake pie was a nice touch. I love looking at fake food. But it made me realize that I should bake more often. And I believe I will, in the dream kitchen I'm slowly creating for myself. And although my oven will be modern, my food refrigerated, and the ingredients bought at a supermarket, stepping back in time in my own kitchen will be the secret ingredient that makes everything taste better.