Hats off to this Kitchen and the House it Lives In

Special is exactly what we found inside The Millener’s House, built in 1875 by a fellow who sold the hats he made in his store on Market Street. That and other bits of history associated with this house are important to the homeowners, who renovated the place in the autumn of 2014. They know the history, they respect it, and they share it with grateful visitors to their beautiful home. Prepare to be awed.

Now this is a tour of kitchens, so that is our focus. However, when you enter the home through the front door, you must look to your right as you walk down the wide hallway leading to the back of the home, where the charming kitchen resides. The living areas will be roped off, but visible. This home is at once museum-like and comfortable. The high ceilings and wonderful furnishings and fabulous finds throughout are so much to take in. There’s a player piano to the right of the front entry. It makes beautiful music, trust me. And down the way, just before the kitchen, is a sun-drenched solarium, circular in shape and awesome by design. Magnificent.

So you are already impressed as all get out when you get to the kitchen. And believe me, the hits just keep on coming.

My favorite part is the built-in breakfast nook. It’s rimmed with black Soapstone meant to cover an old radiator that could not be removed. But it’s perfect. It’s a perfect look and a perfect vibe. Inviting cushions, a wonderful view of the backyard. Love it. But wait, there’s more. The table in the nook is glass, and its base is from an old sewing machine. And lighting up this great space is a gorgeous etched glass chandelier. Rather than cook, I’d rather sit in this nook! First time I saw it, that’s what I wanted to do. Sit down and share an English muffin with blueberry jam right then and right there.

The black Soapstone is on the counters, too, and the black and white throughout the kitchen space (with lovely white custom cabinetry) is marvelously offset by textured teal blue wallpaper. Such care and thought went into this kitchen.

This kitchen isn’t huge, but every design step was big. The built-in hutch makes that precise point. Sure, it’s great for storage.  But the big glass doors offer the chance to add bits of color to the space in the way of dishes and vases. Smart. You will love the high glass-covered cabinets and the cutout over the kitchen sink. Through the window behind it is a nice porch and the yard beyond. Every feature in this kitchen seems deliberate, to have a purpose.

The owners of this home definitely wanted to modernize when they renovated a few years back. But they also wanted to maintain the vintage look of the home. They surely did that. You’re going to feel what’s special about Portsmouth when you visit this home and this kitchen. This is how you preserve history while living in the modern age.