Vintage Style, Modern Warmth: Tudor Kitchen Remodel in Swarthmore, PA

This historic Tudor-style home in Swarthmore, PA, received a stunning makeover that balanced vintage aesthetics with modern living. The homeowners faced a common challenge with their renovation: they wanted the authentic look of slate flooring without the bone-chilling cold that comes with stone in a historic house. Brooks & Stone solved this by installing a powerful WarmlyYours radiant system under the new slate, ensuring this grand kitchen is as cozy as it is beautiful.

Project Details

Location: Swarthmore, PA
Room Type: Kitchen
Heated Area: 113 sq. ft.
Flooring Surface: Slate (Tile/Stone)
System Info: 120V, 1690 Watts, 14 Amps
Installer: Brooks & Stone

Historic Tudor Meets High-Tech Comfort

The Challenge: Renovating a Tudor-style home requires a delicate touch. The homeowners wanted to preserve the "vintage vibes" of their property while upgrading the functionality for a busy modern family. The design called for custom cabinets and a classic slate floor—a material known for its durability and beauty, but also for being notoriously cold underfoot, especially in older homes that may have drafty spots.

The Solution: To combat the cold slate, the installers at Brooks & Stone selected the WarmlyYours TempZone™ Flex Roll system. This solution was ideal for the project’s 113-square-foot coverage area. The Flex Roll system allowed the installers to quickly roll out the heating elements for full coverage, using the "cut-and-turn" method to navigate the kitchen's layout and custom cabinetry. Paired with a programmable thermostat, the system ensures the floor is warm exactly when the family gathers for breakfast.

The Outcome: The result is a seamless blend of eras. The kitchen retains its historic Tudor character with deep textures and classic materials, but it feels undeniably modern. The electric floor heating provides silent, invisible warmth that radiates up through the stone, eliminating cold spots and turning the kitchen into the most comfortable room in the house.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost to run heated floors in a kitchen in Pennsylvania?

For a 113 sq. ft. room in Pennsylvania, it costs roughly $0.30 per hour while the system is actively generating heat. Using a programmable thermostat to run the system only when needed (e.g., mornings and evenings) keeps monthly costs affordable while maximizing comfort.

2. Is electric radiant floor heating energy efficient?

Yes. Electric radiant heating is 100% efficient at the point of use, meaning every watt of electricity purchased is converted directly into heat. Furthermore, because it heats people and objects directly (like the sun) rather than just blowing hot air, you can often feel comfortable at a lower ambient room temperature.

3. What type of flooring works best with TempZone™ system?

This project used slate, which is an excellent candidate for radiant heat. Tile, marble, and stone are the most conductive flooring materials, allowing the heat to transfer quickly and effectively from the heating element to the surface.

4. Can floor warming replace my radiators?

In many modern, well-insulated spaces, yes. However, in a historic Tudor home like this, radiant floor heating is often used as a supplemental heat source. It eliminates the "cold floor" effect and adds significant warmth, but the main HVAC system may still be needed during the coldest days of winter.