Linda's Kitchen
1922 Craftsman · Bungalow Heaven · 260 sqft · 9 weeks
the assignment
A 1922 Craftsman in Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven Landmark District with a galley kitchen sealed off from the rest of the house. Linda wanted morning light, two cooks at the island, and a quiet visual continuity with the dining room she already loved.
Spec sheet —
- Counter
- Honed soapstone, 3cm
- Cabinets
- Custom flat-panel, white oak
- Floor
- Existing douglas-fir, refinished
- Range
- BlueStar 36" gas, ducted hood
- Permits
- Pasadena BLD2024-00412
Challenges
- Load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room
- Original douglas-fir floor — cannot match a new species
- Bungalow Heaven Landmark District design review on any street-visible change
Solutions
- Engineered LVL beam, flush with ceiling joists — no soffit
- Sourced reclaimed white oak that reads quiet next to the fir
- Kept work entirely behind the front facade so HPC review was administrative, not full hearing
Timeline
9 weeks · 5 milestones · 2024
- Week 1Mar 4
Demo + temporary kitchen in dining room
- Week 2–3Mar 11milestone
Beam install, framing, rough electrical
- Week 4Mar 25
Inspection, drywall, prime
- Week 5–7Apr 1
Cabinets, counters, tile, finish electrical
- Week 8–9Apr 22milestone
Appliances, punch list, final walk
“They left the house cleaner than they found it. Every Friday.”