Grandma's Kitchen

Host Joan Kohn visits the charming antique Victorian home of Randal Rucker to see his renovated kitchen that recalls the country comforts of his grandmother's home. By opening up the space with breakthroughs in the walls and added doorways, the kitchen has a more open, modern feel that doesn't sacrifice the room's vintage appeal or change its original dimensions.

• Simplicity is a key element in the decorating scheme; simple checked cafe curtains and a braided rug dress the floors and windows. The color palette is muted and classic; warm woods, gray, black and white. Touches of color come from the imported Mexican tiles used for the backsplash, and from the display of cherished collections of cooking utensils and bowls.
• Cabinets are clad with a light, imported English wood, as is the refrigerator . Although there are not a lot of cabinets, ample storage is provided by a floor-to -ceiling cupboard.
• An open wood display case houses a colorful collection of kitchen gadgets and family photos. Beneath it on the counter is another collection of bowls and containers.
• The small round kitchen table, surfaced with a mosaic of terra cotta tiles and nestled in a corner full of windows, is just large enough to seat four or five people for relaxed family dining. The adjacent dining room, which has a wall with a pass-through to the kitchen, is used for more formal occasions. The chairs for the kitchen table are made from the wood of the kitchen's original counters.
• The plaster ceiling was resurfaced with tin tiles. They were left unpainted and have the look of stainless steel. Pendant lights, which don't interfere with the pattern or mar the surface of the tiles, are used instead of cans or recessed lighting.