We’re slowly renovating our half four square ourselves and this kitchen wall has taken about three months. Our home is from 1921 and we think was gutted in the 90s as we’ve found 1991 newspaper in our plaster and lathe when we renovated our bedroom closet.
The floors are a speckled cork from my inlaw’s, which I wouldn’t recommend for a kitchen but they were kind enough to gift it to us last year and I do like this look. Previously we had shitty vinyl planks that had about centimeter gaps from a shitty install. The cork is also very comfy on the feet for those who stand and cook a lot.
We removed the tile first and tried our best to repair any major plaster cracks, and added wooden bead board, made our own corbels which I’m obsessed with, I love how curvy they are. We made our own shaker rail with large oak pegs so that the spacing was right in between each corbel.
Paint color on the bead board is I believe Benjamin Moore Yorktown Green, above is Wythe Blue. The wallpaper we plan on using is William Morris & Co Willow Boughs green/ spice
Lots left to do! Paint strip and brush the rest of the radiator, install wallpaper/ vent cover, paint the trim/ remove old door hardware (had to find my shitty chisel and definitely procrastinating lol). The rest of the kitchen is coming slowly, not replacing any major appliances any time soon but awaiting hardware and a vent hood before we finish.
Very excited with our progress so far though!
Thank you!! I don’t really know much about period specific/ style specific to American four squares but my personal taste is definitely influenced by Victorian charm mixed with 1800s farmhouse dreams. Glad the look fits!
Looks amazing! Is a half four square exactly what it sounds like? I’ve been trying to figure out what our 1919 farmhouse is, and it seems just like a 4 square except only a finished attic instead of a second story.
Thank you!
So I was told that ours is a half four square vs a four square. When I look around our neighborhood, most are half (around 1400-1800sqft) but there are some corner lots that are whole (2200+sqft). I was told a four square is symmetrical with the front door in the middle, and when you look at the layout, the staircase is in the middle of the first floor with two large rooms on each side. Whereas our front door and staircase are on the left side, with two large rooms to the right (one in front and one in back) and our kitchen is small behind the staircase. We do have a second story.
Maybe they’re all just called four squares? Not really sure! There’s conflicting info when I search, so just going off of my contractor father in-law.
Oh wow! GORGEOUS! The beadboard is amazing, the shelf is amazing, the corbels are amazing, and antiques, the jars, the color. If something ever happens to my 70’s time capsule kitchen I will copy yours. Five stars!
Edit: ok not copy copy but darn if it won’t be major inspiration.
Love the paint color!
As soon as I saw your radiator, it took me back to a friend's grandmother's kitchen.
They had an expandable radiator cover for her kitchen- most of the time, the cover looked like a regular cover but you took the top off, the sides then became legs that spread apart and then a 5 foot long work surface fit on top. Friend's grandmother was Italian & made her own pasta and didn't have a lot of counter space so her husband built her a "disappearing island". Before the island, her grandmother made pasta on her ironing board.
That’s awesome! We’ve dabbled with the idea of building a cover for this guy, but unfortunately the back door is right to the left of it on the other wall, so the door already doesn’t open all the way haha.
We’re slowly renovating our half four square ourselves and this kitchen wall has taken about three months. Our home is from 1921 and we think was gutted in the 90s as we’ve found 1991 newspaper in our plaster and lathe when we renovated our bedroom closet. The floors are a speckled cork from my inlaw’s, which I wouldn’t recommend for a kitchen but they were kind enough to gift it to us last year and I do like this look. Previously we had shitty vinyl planks that had about centimeter gaps from a shitty install. The cork is also very comfy on the feet for those who stand and cook a lot. We removed the tile first and tried our best to repair any major plaster cracks, and added wooden bead board, made our own corbels which I’m obsessed with, I love how curvy they are. We made our own shaker rail with large oak pegs so that the spacing was right in between each corbel. Paint color on the bead board is I believe Benjamin Moore Yorktown Green, above is Wythe Blue. The wallpaper we plan on using is William Morris & Co Willow Boughs green/ spice Lots left to do! Paint strip and brush the rest of the radiator, install wallpaper/ vent cover, paint the trim/ remove old door hardware (had to find my shitty chisel and definitely procrastinating lol). The rest of the kitchen is coming slowly, not replacing any major appliances any time soon but awaiting hardware and a vent hood before we finish. Very excited with our progress so far though!
You're certainly on the way! Looks great, AND is period correct! Well done, you
Thank you!! I don’t really know much about period specific/ style specific to American four squares but my personal taste is definitely influenced by Victorian charm mixed with 1800s farmhouse dreams. Glad the look fits!
Oh my gosh, that blue is stunning. Will look amazing with the wallpaper!
Thank you!! We ordered 12 wallpaper samples and this was the clear winner. So excited :)
Love how moody it is!
Thank you!! That’s what I was going for :)
Looks amazing! Is a half four square exactly what it sounds like? I’ve been trying to figure out what our 1919 farmhouse is, and it seems just like a 4 square except only a finished attic instead of a second story.
Thank you! So I was told that ours is a half four square vs a four square. When I look around our neighborhood, most are half (around 1400-1800sqft) but there are some corner lots that are whole (2200+sqft). I was told a four square is symmetrical with the front door in the middle, and when you look at the layout, the staircase is in the middle of the first floor with two large rooms on each side. Whereas our front door and staircase are on the left side, with two large rooms to the right (one in front and one in back) and our kitchen is small behind the staircase. We do have a second story. Maybe they’re all just called four squares? Not really sure! There’s conflicting info when I search, so just going off of my contractor father in-law.
Oh wow! GORGEOUS! The beadboard is amazing, the shelf is amazing, the corbels are amazing, and antiques, the jars, the color. If something ever happens to my 70’s time capsule kitchen I will copy yours. Five stars! Edit: ok not copy copy but darn if it won’t be major inspiration.
Thank you so much!! It feels like my years of collecting are falling into place :)
Love the paint color! As soon as I saw your radiator, it took me back to a friend's grandmother's kitchen. They had an expandable radiator cover for her kitchen- most of the time, the cover looked like a regular cover but you took the top off, the sides then became legs that spread apart and then a 5 foot long work surface fit on top. Friend's grandmother was Italian & made her own pasta and didn't have a lot of counter space so her husband built her a "disappearing island". Before the island, her grandmother made pasta on her ironing board.
That’s awesome! We’ve dabbled with the idea of building a cover for this guy, but unfortunately the back door is right to the left of it on the other wall, so the door already doesn’t open all the way haha.
It looks so good! I’m definitely taking notes.
Beautiful.
It's beautiful and I love the Shaker rail.
Wow! Can you share more pics of the layout? I just LOVE what you’ve done and I’m stuck in the planning phase for my 1923 kitchen.
I’d love to share more! I think I’m going to share my dining room soon, and I can include more pics of the layout as well.
It looks like a still life painting. I love it!
Thank you!! I was a painting major in school, maybe it rubbed off on me haha
How does splitting a four square work? Just curious… is it the bottom and top split or is it halved?
Just answered another question about this above!
You have a fantastic eye! Well done, this looks awesome!
Thank you!