Sacramento Hostel kitchen gets a facelift

The Sacramento Hostel is proud to unveil their newly renovated kitchen!

The six-week project is now over and the freshly painted kitchen is ready for use. The design and construction was completed by artist and Victorian restoration specialist Artie Burger and his son Nathan. At age 18, Artie took on his first Victorian renovation in Eureka, California, completely restoring the interior and painting the exterior with an elaborate five-color design, using paint that he had mixed himself to ensure the proper hues. Since that time, Artie has completed renovations in Denver, San Diego, and Berkeley, sometimes incorporating his own stained glass artwork into his restorations.

The goal of the Sacramento Hostel project was to restore the kitchen to its former 1905 glory, while adding some 21st century improvements. The early 20th century was deemed more appropriate than restoring the original 1885 kitchen -- which was little more than a storage area –- because 1905 was a time when architectural details were important. Steve Haynes, the hostel's general manager, says that the renovated kitchen combines "the best of the old and the best of new," incorporating elements of Victorian style with modern conveniences. "We're not trying to make a museum, but a functional kitchen."

The new kitchen is equipped with Energy Star refrigerators and a fully integrated recycling system with built-in bins. Artie chose a three-color decor for the kitchen to complete the classic, turn-of-the-century aesthetic. White, black, and grey are traditional Victorian kitchen colors that reflect the room's utilitarian purpose. Artie also constructed a decorative box to surround the kitchen's utility light -- the result is a light fixture that recreates architectural motifs from the kitchen's original woodwork.