This 1915 bungalow was transformed to uncover its original charm and beauty—as well as a few surprises.
In the small rural village of Ames, New York, sat a languishing 1915 bungalow, a treasure waiting for someone to take the time to lovingly restore its former glory. Homeowners Nick Drummond and Patrick Bakker, a design and restoration dynamic duo, saw the potential in the home’s beautiful historical features and property. “The kitchen was one exception to this—it was small, falling apart, strangely cut up and completely nonfunctional,” Nick recalls. With a background in architectural design, a love for all things vintage and a passion for saving and restoring historical spaces, Nick came up with a vision for the project. “I wanted to create a space that felt vintage and fitting to the home, that was quirky and beautiful but also functional with a circulation pattern and layout that made sense,” he says.
Creating Connection
After a botched renovation in the 1980s, the layout and flow of the 1915 bungalow left much to be desired. “To even get to the kitchen, you had to walk through the vestibule, then the foyer, then the living room, then the dining room, then the pantry (which was blocked by a dryer installed in the doorway you had to squeeze past) and then finally into the kitchen itself,” Nick says. “It was completely cut off from the rest of the house.”
The solution was to rethink the layout so the kitchen was connected to the other rooms in the house. “It is still closed off from the rest of the house—which was very important as we don’t like open concept—but is now well-connected and central to the other rooms,” Nick says. “It has become a truly functional and visual heart.”
Vintage Meets Kitschy in the Refreshed 1915 Bungalow
Nick and Patrick worked hard to find the right pieces to put the kitchen back together in a way that felt authentic to the home’s history while also comfortable and quirky. Because of this, nearly all the design elements are salvaged and restored.
“I am a collector of vintage kitsch and am obsessed with the details,” Nick says. “All of the accessories are vintage and have been collected over a lifetime.” Most of the materials and details of the home are likewise vintage, pulled and repurposed from other historical homes and buildings. For example, the hardware, light fixtures and glass doorknobs with backplates are vintage and the ovens, fridge and 1920s Vitrolite tile are all vintage finds lovingly restored and relocated to the home.
Uncovering the Unexpected
The most unique aspect of this project is the hidden history of the home, discovered after nearly a century of concealment. “In the process of renovating, we ended up uncovering multiple secret compartments packed full of packages of 1920s booze,” Nick says. “Our home was built by a notorious bootlegger called Count Humpfner who died unexpectedly in the house, leaving behind a lot of hidden treasure in the floors and walls.” That gave rise to their Facebook and Instagram account @bootleggerbungalow where they document their discoveries and bring awareness to the history of the home and surrounding area.
With their dedication to sharing the story of the home and their passion to breathe new life into it, Nick and Patrick have created a unique and beautiful space tailored to their style and full of fun, kitsch and vintage charm.
Custom Vintage on a Budget
Architectural designer and historic home preservationist Nick Drummond’s advice to those looking to DIY their own kitchen renovation.
Does the thought of customizing your own kitchen leave you seeing dollar signs? While kitchen renovations can be incredibly expensive, they don’t have to be. “Getting a custom kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive; we had a very limited budget,” Nick says. Check out the following tips for his ideas on how to save money on your next renovation project.
- Be Strategic. After you’ve determined your budget, figure out those specific parts of the renovation process that you are not able to do on your own and allocate for those larger expenses. “We spent the big money hiring experts to do the structural and plumbing/electric stuff,” Nick says. “Most of the rest we did ourselves.”
- Get Creative. Saving money on various aspects of your renovation will mean figuring out alternatives to ordering from a big box store or having a professional customize a piece for you. “We found creative workarounds to get custom cabinets by ordering a custom flat-pack kit that gets shipped to you—advanced Ikea, basically,” Nick says. “We learned how to customize them more in a historically correct way.”
- Shop Vintage. Be on the lookout for pieces that will complete your kitchen and give it a personalized, authentic feel. Facebook Marketplace, estate sales and even thrift shops are great places to hunt for treasures. “Vintage stuff is often very cheap or free,” Nick says.
- Salvage & Restore. Rather than purchasing new, check out local salvage opportunities. Not only does this enhance the historical feel of your design, it is also a great way to recycle durable pieces and often save money. In the case of the stove, Nick splurged more than usual to restore it but says it was worth it. “For the price of a nice new stove, we have an even better vintage one that will last forever and look fabulous doing so,” he says.
- Add Finishing Touches. Look for small ways you can give your pieces a vintage feel, even if they aren’t. “Everything (cabinets and trim) has a hand-brushed finish for a more old-school look,” Nick says.
If you loved this 1915 bungalow, read on for A Quirky Moroccan Home Renovation. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates and flea market inspiration.