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Kitchen of the Week: A ‘Frankensteined’ Historic House in Philadelphia’s Fishtown, Before and After

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Kitchen of the Week: A ‘Frankensteined’ Historic House in Philadelphia’s Fishtown, Before and After

April 2, 2020

It was a gray waxed canvas tote that first caught my eye thanks to its leather strap made from a World War II gun sling. That was at a trade show several years ago, where Margaux and Walter Kent of Peg and Awl were also showcasing wooden bath trays, “apothecary cabinets”, and rope tree swings, all of which looked as if they had been created by nostalgists with very good taste. “Our work is made from old things found and recovered from misfortune and neglect,” they explain. “When the old eludes us, we use sustainable materials. We started making these items for ourselves and now we make them for everyone.”

Margaux is an artist-jewelry designer-book binder and Walter trained as a woodworker under his father and did time in the U.S. Army in Iraq. They met 12 years ago, just after Margaux had sunk her savings into an 1850s row house in Philadelphia’s not-yet happening Fishtown. Walter moved in a week later, and they’ve collaborating ever since, now accompanied by their sons, Søren, 11, and Silas, 9.

The house was their living quarters, initial work space, and ongoing project—it had been added onto over the years, and the previous owner, a high school shop teacher, “trash picked historic doors and windows considered garbage,” says Margaux. “He used his finds to restore the rooms closer to their former, albeit frankensteined, self.” But the place needed a lot of attention, particularly the kitchen and warren of surrounding spaces. That was tackled in stages over time—and was recently completed just as the family decamped for country living outside of Philadelphia. They still have their workshop in a converted factory in the city, and have held on to the house, which serves as the Peg and Awl “living showroom”—and is available on Airbnb. Join us for a tour of its charmingly new-0ld kitchen.

Photography courtesy of Peg and Awl.

søren and silas sit on joad chairs from peg and awl&#8\2\17;s just int 17
Above: Søren and Silas sit on Joad Chairs from Peg and Awl’s just-introduced first furniture collection, all of FSC-certified domestic hardwoods.

The wide-plank pine floor is original to the house, which in the 1920s belonged to a bootlegger (“a barrel that’s still hidden in the basement rafters held the illicit hooch,” says Margaux). The couple’s biggest remodeling move was to take out the two walls separating the dining room from the kitchen and pantry. The kitchen’s concrete and steel truss in the background was introduced to “support the story-and-a-half of brick wall above it.”

&#8\2\20;the kitchen is an encapsulation of our ideas and ideals: sustainab 18
Above: “The kitchen is an encapsulation of our ideas and ideals: sustainability, beauty, industriousness, and continual exploration,” says Walter. “We love the layers of story found in materials and objects from the past and wanted to incorporate them into the room, giving them a new and useful life.”

Case in point: the radiant-heated floor is made of slate chalkboards, “a half-inch thick and super durable and forgiving,” rescued from a derelict school in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. And the 3-by-4-foot butcher’s table was purchased by word of mouth from their local deli owner, who had long ago salvaged it from a neighborhood butcher shop.

  to ready the island for use by guests, walter topped it with new butcher 19
Above:  To ready the island for use by guests, Walter topped it with new butcher’s block: “it had been very sway-ey from years of use and cleaning, causing many a good apple to roll and slam to the floor,” says Margaux.

Walter built the kitchen cabinets from salvaged Pennsylvania barn beams: the doors are American chestnut and the countertops are quarter-sawn white oak.

the couple found their \1950s enameled cast iron double sink at a flea market s 20
Above: The couple found their 1950s enameled cast-iron double sink at a flea market still packaged in its original wood crate. Soap bottles are stored in Peg and Awl’s blackened maple Apothecary Caddy.
as a counterpoint to the patinated surfaces, they installed industrial style ap 21
Above: As a counterpoint to the patinated surfaces, they installed industrial-style appliances, including a GE fridge and Ilve gas range. The 3-by-6-inch subway tile is Daltile from a local supplier, but they point out, is also available at Home Depot. “One of the things we love about the kitchen is the marriage of old and new,” says Margaux. “The warmth and coziness of the reclaimed materials—with a not completely known past and a yet-to-be-told future—stand comfortably alongside the modern stainless steel.”

That’s Peg and Awl’s Mess Hall Knife Rack on the wall next to their spice-stocked Apothecary Cabinet, which, they explain, was “historically used to house medications, elixirs, herbs, and the like in the days before drugstores.” Pots and pans hang from old butcher’s hooks found at a flea market.

the microwave and toaster oven, both sourced from webstaurantstore , sit on a c 22
Above: The microwave and toaster oven, both sourced from Webstaurantstore.com, sit on a cart from Ikea. The hutch next to the fridge is one of Walter’s first Peg and Awl creations, made in 2010 of reclaimed oak that came out of a general store in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

“For years I worked with my dad on historic renovations, and we did many, many kitchens” he says. “When it came time to work on our own, we recruited my pops and incorporated so much of what I loved from our projects.”

the breakfast table is peg and awls&#8\2\17; new hawley table in black 23
Above: The breakfast table is Peg and Awls’ new Hawley Table in blackened oak, surrounded by their Joad Chairs and Lewis and Clark Expedition Stool.

As you can imagine, laying the floor was a feat. Walter tells us: “First we had to reinforce the joists from the basement to make sure that they could hold the weight. We ran radiant heat tubing along the whole floor and poured a two-inch cement wet bed on top of that. Then we laid the slate chalkboards; each one weighs around 100 pounds and is about 3-by-5 feet. Getting them level and flush with each other on all four sides took a lot of patience—and a handful of pennies that we used as shims.”

Before

the kitchen was last tackled in the \1970s and included a small addition in the 24
Above: The kitchen was last tackled in the 1970s and included a small addition in the back used as the pantry.
before the walls came down, the pantry, kitchen, and dining area were small sep 25
Above: Before the walls came down, the pantry, kitchen, and dining area were small separate rooms.

The Kent Family

margaux, walter, søren, and silas have recently moved to west chester, \25 26
Above: Margaux, Walter, Søren, and Silas have recently moved to West Chester, 25 miles west of Philadelphia, where they’re part of a homeschooling co-op; they’ve dubbed their new place the Five Acre Wood.

Tour the rest of the Peg and Awl House on Airbnb; it sleeps eight and rents for $185 a night.

More kitchens that incorporate old and new:

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Frequently asked questions

What is the inspiration behind the Vintage Style Kitchen at Peg and Awl Philadelphia Historic House?

The inspiration behind this kitchen is a mix of old-world charm and modern functionality.

What is special about the kitchen design?

The kitchen features a custom-built island made from reclaimed wood and vintage cast iron legs, a vintage-style range, and a pegboard for hanging kitchen tools. The design marries vintage features with modern functionality beautifully.

Why is the kitchen design unique?

The kitchen design is unique because everything is custom-built, from the island to the shelving. And the space features a variety of vintage elements that add to the overall charm of the space.

What materials were used in the kitchen design?

The kitchen island is made from reclaimed wood and vintage cast iron legs. The shelves are made from reclaimed wood and plumbing pipe. The countertops are made from quartz, which is durable and easy to maintain. The backsplash is made of antique tiles. The sink and faucet are both vintage and add to the overall look and feel of the space.

Who designed the kitchen?

Peg and Awl, a small family-owned business in Philadelphia, designed the kitchen. They specialize in making handmade products from reclaimed materials, and the kitchen is no exception. Every piece in the space has been custom-built and designed specifically for this kitchen.

What is the overall feel of the kitchen?

The overall feel of the kitchen is cozy, warm, and inviting. The vintage elements and reclaimed materials create a sense of history and charm that is hard to find in modern kitchens. The space feels lived-in, and you can imagine cooking a meal for your family and friends in this space.

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