North of Forbes: Craftsman Kitchen Addition

Pittsburgh, PA

1989

The original single-family dwelling typifies the traditional “foursquare” which began to proliferate in Pittsburgh’s East End neighborhoods about the time of the Great War. This house was clearly influenced by the American Arts & Crafts Movement, which had preceded the War, but continued on through standard builder homes of the post war era. The original interior casework and trim survive and were readily identifiable from Morgan Woodwork Organization catalogues at the time. 

The clients have an extensive collection of original early 20th Century Arts 7 Crafts furniture and decorative objects. To Accommodate the addition of a much needed first floor coat closet, powder room, larger eat-in kitchen, and central air-conditioning system, they sought a sensitive treatment which would reinforce the Arts & Crafts character of the original house, and compliment their collection.

The space of the original kitchen was incorporated into a 300 square foot addition, which included the requisite powder room and coat closet, in addition to the new kitchen and eating area. Related to the original house through the use of similar brick and ceramic roof tile, the addition is subtly distinguished from the original house by its more emphatic prairie style. Further distinguishing the old from the new, the new brick work was held back from the corner of the original house, with the soffit, fascia, trim and fenestration expressed as simplified versions of the originals. On the interior the transition from the original to the remodeled space is marked by a change in the direction of the wood floorboards. Further, a change in the ceiling height distinguishes the remodel and new space while accommodating the ductwork for air conditioning the first floor. The doors and millwork replicate the original Morgan profiles.

The client, architect, and cabinet maker collaborated extensively to create the kitchen cabinets and casework which evoke the quality, construction techniques, proportions, and finish of the original early 20thCentury Arts & Crafts furniture in the house. The bronze pulls on the cabinet doors were custom cast from an original antique furniture pull from the client’s collection.