We are at it again…totally renovating another room at the Red Forest! This room has been pushed aside for a long time, mainly because it is not one of the rooms that the guests use. So after 25 years of operating as a bed and breakfast, the cook and innkeeper get a new kitchen. That’s me!!! I am thrilled that we finally decided to go ahead with the project.
I have been planning it in my head for several years, knowing exactly what I would like to have incorporated in this new kitchen. First and foremost it needed to be designed to the period of the house which was built in 1907. (The current kitchen was redone in the late 60’s or 70’s.) We have original blueprints which shows where the actual butler’s and maid’s pantry were located, and also where the white marble lined sink was. We also hoped that there might have been an original wood floor in the kitchen.
The late 60's-70's kitchen
In January, we contacted John De Noyer of De Noyer Woodworking, Manitowoc, WI
( www.denoyers.com). We talked about the list of things I wanted to have incorporated in this new- old looking kitchen. 1. I wanted the cupboards to go all of the way to the top of the ceiling. 2. I thought we could use the frames of the old cupboards to save some money because the layout was going to be the same. 3. I wanted the doors and drawers of the cupboards to be flush mounted with legs on the bottom. 4. I would like to have a soapstone counter top and a farmhouse sink, 5. and a wood floor! The more I talked, the more John was understanding what I was trying to achieve, and said, “We can do that!”. Then we decided to go a little further and replicate woodwork, wainscoting, and baseboards.
They started on March 2. They removed all of the cupboards and took them to his shop where they will be adding a top bank of cupboards with glass doors and refacing the old . After that, they will paint and return.
The cupboards are removed
Original Maple Floor
On March 11 – March 16, our super fantastic wood floor guy
Joe Hauser, Simply Hardwood, Manitowoc, WI (www.simplyhardwoodfloorsmanitowoc.com) did his magic. Under three layers of linolium and one layer of partical board, we found the original maple floor. Check out the before and after pictures. It is amazing how he was able to bring this 108 years old floor back to life. I would highly recommend Joe for any of your wood floor needs.
Before
After
That is all I have to report for now. Check back soon for another update on the kitchen. During the renovation, the Red Forest will be closed. We will hopefully be ready to re-open by April 12. We would love to take your reservations for this spring and summer by either online from our website at www.redforestbb.com or phone 920-793-1794.
Thanks,
Kay Rodewald, Red Forest Bed and Breakfast, Two Rivers, WI
