I live in a terraced house built in 1910. We are about to "re-do" the kitchen & I would like to know what it would have looked like when it was built so we can replicate some of it. Any one know where I can find pictures etc? Thanks
The Elements of Style by Stephen Calloway and Elizabeth Collins Cromley has pretty much everything you need to know about domestic architectural details. Farrow and Ball will give you an Edwardian colour chart.
It would have varied markedly according to the type and size of house and the area where you lived. But are you sure you want to replicate it, would it be practical? I have a house built in 1899 and am redoing the kitchen but there is no way I want it to resemble what was there 109 years ago, I just want it to be as 'in keeping' as possible with the other features of the house. (But I have a shoebox kitchen, maybe you have a huge spacious one with more options.)
It will probably have been divided up into scullery, kitchen, larder, painted in a horrible and depressing colour (probably sludge green and cream gloss paint) , and be fitted with such niceties as a "copper" - copper pan over a fire for boiling up the washing. There will probably have been a shallow sink plus vile wooden draining board. I don't think replicating kitchens from this era is a good idea, just fit a modern kitchen which is "sympathetic". I've lived in a variety of period houses - 1910 victorian semi, 1930's detached, 1930's semi, currently in 1640 thatched cottage, and although in each case I've kept the decor in keeping with the various ages there's no way I would want to replicate any of the kitchens.