Historic Renovation with Nostalgic Heartland Appliances

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For Montana designer Jeremiah Young, not any generic appliance would do for the historic kitchen restoration of his design studio. It had to be American-crafted Heartland appliances.

Timeless Kitchen Design in America’s Heartland

On the hunt for a new studio workspace for his Kibler & Kirch design firm, Jeremiah Young set his sights on the looming Stapleton Building in Billings, Montana. Originally built in 1904 on the site of a livery stable, the Stapleton Building was once the largest and tallest commercial structure in all of Montana, the “monster building of four stories” by oral dictation.

Throughout the century, it would become a hotel, men’s club and home to many prominent Montana artists. But the day Young walked through the property, it was virtually abandoned, derelict and stripped of all its historic charm.

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Seeing its potential, Young purchased the property with the intent to remodel the gutted, sagging space into the eclectic, little-bit-rustic-little-bit-posh 4,000 sq. ft. design studio it is today. It was a tedious 3-year process of removing asbestos and lead paint, and artificially aging the original wood with a multilayered restoration process of Young’s own creation.

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The chic mountain-modern space is a breathtaking culmination of Young’s careful planning and concepting. Every item is deliberately placed, and the service kitchen was no exception.

“We took great pains to make it appear this was always there,” the Montana designer said of the transformation. For him, Heartland Appliances were not only the natural choice for the turn-of-the century service kitchen but an investment in quality.

“Not any generic appliance would do. I wanted to emulate the character and style of our studio,” Young explains. “The Heartland range is the star, and it allows the rest of the kitchen to be primitive.”

The fact each Heartland range is handcrafted in the Midwest was an added bonus.

“Made in America is something I’m passionate about,” he adds.

heartlandSince the kitchen renovation, Young hosted Kibler & Kirch events out of the small kitchen, which surprisingly fit as many as 12 guests! The clever layout and open shelving keeps everything within easy reach, making for a very efficient workspace. Instead of an island, Young opted for a butcher’s block table to double function with aesthetic.

“Everything is right at your fingertips. People often think you need a large kitchen space, but in reality, efficiency matters more in terms of functionality. Even though it’s small, it’s such a lovely, intimate space. People just want to be there, being together.”

Wide oak countertops are coated in food-safe stain and an adjacent butler’s pantry offers hidden storage behind muted drapery.

“We’ve had chefs cook on the Heartland range and they loved it.”

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About Kibler & Kirch

Kibler & Kirch is an interior design firm that specializes in comfortable and timeless designs across a spectrum of styles–rustic, traditional, and modern. In addition to their 25-year interior design legacy, Kibler & Kirch also stocks an eclectic collection of American-made furnishings, artwork, accessories, handmade rugs, lighting, bedding, and gifts, inspiring homeowners to create a fuller, better sense of home.

about-kibler

SHOP THE LOOK

Designer Showcase: Modern Rustic Kitchen with Heartland Range

With plenty of natural lighting, rich bursts of denim blue offset by earthy accents and a white 30″ Heartland Electric Range, this modern rustic carriage house kitchen has a piece of our heart.  Dusky grey porcelain tile exude the rustic look of pickled wood down to the detail of the grain striations, and a long built-in bench offers cozy banquette style seating for meals cooked on the retro-inspired Heartland range.heartland-stove

Featured Designer: GH Wood Design
Style: Modern Rustic
Location: Pasadena, California
Photo Credit: Carolyn Reyes

Browse the latest collection of Heartland ranges with nostalgic handcrafted quality and fully modern features.

DIY Network Features Heartland Kitchen Appliances on “American Rehab: Buffalo” Episode

“American Rehab: Buffalo” Selects Heartland Suite of Kitchen Appliances for DIY Network Premier

Did you see the full kitchen suite of our Heartland appliances on the premier episode of “American Rehab: Buffalo” on the DIY Network? If you missed it, make sure to tune in for the repeat airing on November 11 at 5 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. CST!  The entire season is also available to watch on demand via Amazon Prime.

In the first episode, “Modern Vintage Kitchen and Dining Room”, Jason Wilson and Bernice Radle rehab a vacant American foursquare home in Buffalo, New York, built in 1910. Piece by piece, the couple tears down the small kitchen, renovating it into a modern, open kitchen stocked with a full suite of Heartland kitchen appliances, including a 48″ Heartland Classic Gas Range stove, Heartland Classic French Door Refrigerator and Heartland Classic Dishwasher.

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The DIY Network describes the show as such: “Jason Wilson and Bernice Radle love their hometown of Buffalo, New York so much, they’re making it their life’s work to revitalize the city, one home renovation at a time. With degrees in urban planning, the passionate and preservation-minded couple is buying up century-old homes at auction to save them from demolition. Then they’re getting down and dirty to do the renovations themselves, restoring not only the old homes, but preserving their beloved Buffalo neighborhoods as well.”

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Here are our favorite quotes from the episode:

“It is so advanced – the cooktop is amazing – it’s all gas. There’s a matching refrigerator and everything too.”

“This is going to work perfect in our kitchen. I’m thrilled.”

“The appliances have just arrive and I can’t wait to open them up.”

“Beautiful! They’re so shiny!”

“Oh my god, this refrigerator is incredible. These are super cool.”

“The appliances alone sell properties, and these are beautiful.”

“My favorite thing about this kitchen has to be the appliances. It really does blend a lot of historic charm with a little modern twist.”

Make sure you check out the full episode to see the dramatic Before and After transformation!

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