Large houses, long-lived kitchens
The Prospect Hill Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1979 and takes in most of the residential neighborhood. Kitchens in houses of this age and size have usually been changed more than once, which is why the first job is finding out what is actually there.
Three jobs that suit a big older house
- A full rebuild with a new layout. If the kitchen is a separate back room, a full remodel can combine it with a pantry, breakfast room or back hall.
- New counters over good cabinets. If the cabinet boxes are sound, countertops and hardware change the room, and the materials guide compares the options.
- Moving a wall or the range. Layout changes in a house like this start with finding out what the wall carries.
Before the walls come down
EPA’s lead-safe rule requires certified firms for paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978, and EPA says nine in ten homes built before 1940 contain lead-based paint. Many houses on Prospect Hill are older than that. Ask any remodeler for the certification, and see our older-house guide for where surprises tend to appear.
Questions from Prospect Hill homeowners
Does National Register listing stop me from remodeling the kitchen?
Listing on the National Register is a separate thing from the local districts, where the Historic District Commission reviews exterior changes. We did not find Prospect Hill among New Haven’s three local districts (Wooster Square, Quinnipiac River and City Point). Confirm your address with the City Plan Department, especially if the project changes the outside.
How do I find out what is inside the walls?
Often you do not until a remodeler opens a small section or inspects from the basement and attic. Ask for that inspection before the price is fixed, and ask how surprises will be handled in the written contract. See what the contract must say.
Can a large old kitchen keep its character?
Yes, if you plan for it. Keep the room’s proportions and trim, and update the cabinets, counters, lighting and systems around them. Say so at the first visit so the plan covers repairs and not only replacement.