21st Century Summer Kitchens and Outhouses

Exterior of a 1785 colonial in New Hampshire.

The "kitchen" with soapstone sink...and not much else.

Our latest house obsession is in New Hampshire--a 1785 colonial with original wide plank floors, doors, built-in cupboards and mantels. We haven't made the trip yet to see it live, but we wake up each morning thinking about the possibilities of this historic home.

The catch? The kitchen and bathroom (note there is no "s" on that last word) are totally bare. While some might see this as a serious downfall, we see it as an opportunity. But the restoration purists in us are having a hard time figuring out what these rooms should like--18th century references of kitchens and bathrooms don't exactly meet with modern day standards. Here are two restorations that have us thinking and that compliment the aesthetic of each home:

1795 colonial in Connecticut with updated kitchen, bathroom and laundry room

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1810 federal upstate New York

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