View Full Version : my current obsession: old kitchens
It started with our trip to Eureka Springs where several of those charming Victorian cottages have old style kitchens from the 40's - 50's. They remind me of my childhood homes. And then, I'm full up on those HGTV house hunting shows where even first time buyers without a pot to piss in turn up their noses at anything less than Corian countertops. Rampant consumerism at work here, and they all look alike after a while. And THEN I visited a friend's home and was totally charmed by her kitchen decor job. She turned a large kitchen with lots of cabinets into a fantasy Parisian restaurant.
She painted the plain but solid 60's cabinets matte black, and added interesting touches in faux paintings, put in an inexpensive floor that was cute with the theme, and added metallic back-splashes. In a nod to current consumerism she put in granite countertops, but she chose a granite that was, I thought, especially strong and earthy and rock-like. It was not the small grain smooth granites in most kitchens.
Now I entertain myself looking at home shows and Realtor.com houses for old kitchens. Do not present to me a recent show kitchen, I do not wish to view it! I have overdosed on new shiny kitchens.
Iris lily: You may or may not remember that I had a thread going on Chaz's site last year about our someday kitchen remodel, and our dilemma over Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboard. I've finally figured out a plan for our tiny kitchen with FIVE entryways that permits me to keep the beloved cupboard and gives DH the counter surface he needs. But it cannot be granite, which would be totally out of keeping with the character of our humble cottage. I'm leaning toward wood presently. I have the plan, we just need to save up the money to execute. In the meantime, DH is currently baking the most delicious half-moons I've ever eaten in my life! He sure can do a lot with a little when it comes to a kitchen!
Do you read the Old House Journal? Now that magazine has some envy-worthy kitchens!
I agree with you wholeheartedly, Iris Lilly! And it is all about nostalgia, for me. I spent wonderful summers at my great-aunts cottage that was built in 1914, and she had the old-fashioned linoleum, a REAL farmhouse sink, old farmhouse table covered in oilcloth. She'd rinse out her slips in the sink in Ivory Snow (the smell still gets to me).
I've stayed in a couple of beach cottages in the Historic Landmark town of Ocean Grove. All the homes there are protected. But while you can't do much to tamper with the integrity of the Victorian exteriors, I feel a pit in my stomach when I see remodeling vans parked outside some of the homes, and I can only imagine those old kitchen features are doomed to be lost forever to granite and stainless steel.
My home is not quite that vintage: It's just vintage enough to be ugly (circa 1974). Maybe someday my grandchildren will have the same feelings about it as I do about my great-aunt's. Even my daughter's boyfriend thinks my old Kenmore wall oven is "cool." Sometimes I think about that and it holds me back from doing a total redo.
rosa, wood countertops are something I love. LOVE! but DH would never allow it and perhaps they are not practical for us, anyway. What was it I saw at a store, was it Pine plank countertops? I fell in love with those for about a week, whatever it was. I am fickle, can't remember exactly the wood or cut that I saw.
i feel the same way.
i go on facebook and look through my friend's photos. my friends from high school -- most of them live in the same city and some in the same neighborhood. I get confused because all of their houses look the same. :)
As in, "here are julie's 5th B-day party pictures!" and then "here are sarah's engagement party pictures!" and I think that Julie's mom hosted Sarah's party, but it turns out that Julie's mom was at julie's house and Sarah's party was at her own house. Same color of walls and trim. Same furniture. Same artworks. Same kitchen down to the tiniest decoration.
It's freaky.
I love World World I era kitchens or ones from the 30s/40s.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=16+LaSalle+elsah&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=587&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=2a85FgHvwIAg1M:&imgrefurl=http://www.homefinder.com/IL/Elsah/69426011d_16_Lasalle&docid=ugoT57rABGAWTM&itg=1&imgurl=http://images.homefinder.com/large/listings/EXTP/IMAGEJPG.27/564334/282167327.JPG&w=290&h=218&ei=Dx8CT8y1GujFsQKAtLS0AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=696&sig=114340574045380118958&page=2&tbnh=105&tbnw=146&start=21&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:21&tx=92&ty=60
I've been in this house, it's in the charming village of Elsah, IL on the mighty Mississippi. The reason why I'm so stuck on Elsah is that it has stone houses that are very old and they are in the New England style of rock houses, very different from the usual housing stock around here. I think this is darling and I want to buy the entire house! It's only $217,000!
They will deal, I'm sure.
I was in my next-door neighbor's house a couple of weeks ago and actually liked the original 1960 kitchen. It has the same materials as our old one, but, unlike ours, is still in good condition. I'd have gone for a different countertop, as I don't think either his or our old one were original. I remember the rounded laminate counter front as being more 70s than 60s.
Unfortunately, ours had been hacked up to install a dishwasher and a smaller (standard) stove, so it got a full replacement in 2009.
Bastelmutti
1-2-12, 4:49pm
I like old kitchens, too. The entire kitchen in our place doesn't match the era, but we do have a Chambers stove Model 90C. This one, but white:
http://www.antiqueappliances.com/products/chambers/1952_chambers_model_90c.htm
And no, it didn't cost $7k. It was something like $200 back in the early 1980s when my parents put it in this unit.
ApatheticNoMore
1-2-12, 5:29pm
I have nostalgia for old Pyrex and Corningware and so on (reminds me of my grandma etc.). Luckily, of course, that is entirely within reasonable expenses (it always was just middle class stuff) and I try not to go too crazy :)
I like old kitchens, too. The entire kitchen in our place doesn't match the era, but we do have a Chambers stove Model 90C. This one, but white:
http://www.antiqueappliances.com/products/chambers/1952_chambers_model_90c.htm
And no, it didn't cost $7k. It was something like $200 back in the early 1980s when my parents put it in this unit.
that stove is gorgeous!
I was in my next-door neighbor's house a couple of weeks ago and actually liked the original 1960 kitchen. It has the same materials as our old one, but, unlike ours, is still in good condition. I'd have gone for a different countertop, as I don't think either his or our old one were original. I remember the rounded laminate counter front as being more 70s than 60s.
Unfortunately, ours had been hacked up to install a dishwasher and a smaller (standard) stove, so it got a full replacement in 2009.
hey Bronxboy, aren't you the one who has the fused glass counter tops? Did you post a photo of that? Whever that image came from, I can't get it out of my mind. That counter top is gorgeous.
We're going to do our own poured-in-place concrete countertops with some sort of stain in them, hopefully this year, after the garage remodel for my office & a workbench. I have an awesome deep forest green kitchen sink I got off craigslist 4 years ago, under a tarp, waiting to be resurfaced. We're replacing a small area of plain laminate with the concrete, and have a slab of fir made from reclaimed old growth we bought when I worked at the groovy place that sold it, with my discount. If we were to ever to a major reno, I'd get hired at Lowe's part time for the discount.
Here's the kitchen I have fallen in love with, Iris Lily.
http://www.inspiredhomedesign.net/storage/CLASSIC_KITCHEN_1_INES_LOMBARDI_OF_OSBORNE_CABINET S_.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1297552869213If you look to the far right (through the door opening), there looks to be a butlers pantry. Love the windows and simplistic design. Not old (OLD), but rather, "traditional old".
I asked my landlady -- can we paint the cupboards white? or strip them and polish them to their natural wood color (they are solid wood)? can we pour a concrete countertop? PLEASE?
she hasn't said no yet. so it might be a maybe.
Of course, looking at Mrs M pictures, our cabinets are the same dark brown as the image's island, so maybe we just paint the walls and go from there. :)
I have also become obsessed with vintage kitchens! Unfortunately, this obsession started after we were already working on our new home, so I won't be making any big changes in the near future (we moved in this week!). We did work in a Chambers 90C, just like Bastelmutti has. If for some reason I ever get to start from scratch on another kitchen, I might go seriously old school and aim for an early 1920s kitchen. I just love those old stoves on the long legs. :)
Mrs M I love that kitchen, too. I've got a brick wall painted white like that in my kitchen, formerly the exterior wall of this house. That kitchen has beautiful big windows! I like the ?slate? floor a lot only I would go with irregular shaped pieces.
I like concrete, too! Today I brought that up with DH and he's not on board with it. He's working in a house right now that has poorly fitted concrete counters. But I would still like them.
Would you have better luck at a more specialized builder's supply place? Might be more pricey, but maybe the chances of finding things you agree on would be higher, too. And you could boost the economy even more!
There is some great kitchen remodel porn over at The Kitch'n -- I like this $50 facelift:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/whitneys-fabulous-50-makeover-kitchen-tour-159728
lhamo
I meant to say, "if you look to the left", but I gather most everyone figured it out. http://thmg.photobucket.com/albums/v738/LadyFire/Smileys/th_blush-anim-cl.gif
I love older kitchens too! Ours has been facelifted a bit since I was a kid and we moved here. When we moved in the kitchen was very 1970s harvest gold and avocado green. My mom painted the dark 1970s cabinets white and just before Zach and I moved in she replaced the awful flourecent lights with inexpensive, but cute light fixtures from IKEA. Mom bought white appliances sometime in the 1990s. I painted the kitchen a pretty light green and replaced an old pendant lamp with a small chandelier. I put up white curtains with little blue emoridered flowers and took the doors off of the cabinets in the pass-through to let more light into the dining room. I got rid of a table my mom had in the dining room and installed a little breakfast bar under the window, which made a little more space. Pretty soon I want to touch up the paint on the cabinets and get new handles. We still have the same cream coloured standard 1960s counter tops we've always had, but they are still in good shape.
Eventually I'd like to redo the kitchen to open it up to the dining room. That is not high on the priority list, though.
Bastelmutti
1-3-12, 2:37pm
I would take this one, lock, stock & barrel!
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/the-kitchn-rhiannons-kitchen-tour/item/290205
Bastelmutti that is a cute kitchen. That's pretty close to the green I painted my kitchen. Mine is just a hair brighter. I love that stove!
Bastelmutti
1-3-12, 2:47pm
Nice color! My bedroom is green (more like a light spring green) - it's my favorite color.
I have always liked older kitchens too. All this granite and stainless if used in excess reminds me of cemeteries and autopsy rooms. Our current home had the original 1952 kitchen when we bought it. White honeycomb counter tile interspersed with black "flower" shapes. The edging was rolled black tile. Tall white cabinets with black hinges. It had those funny little corner what not shelves on either side of the sink upper cabinets. It was all so grungy though from years as a rent house that we tore everything out and started over.
I would take this one, lock, stock & barrel!
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/the-kitchn-rhiannons-kitchen-tour/item/290205
That is adorable!! Gee, we're trying to fix up my MILs house to sell it, and the carpenter was trying to talk us into removing the scalloped wooden valance over the sink. Now I think I'll tell him, no way! Love how it's basically white with the spring green accents!
I really like concrete counters. I suppose you need to reinforce the floor/structure for those though. We are getting ready to re-do the cider house and I'm thinking stained or acid washed (same thing I think) concrete for the floor. From what I've seen in pictures, it's beautiful and would make lovely kitchen counters. Another thing I've seen for kitchens is to add "feet" to the cabinets, sort of faux feet, to give them the feel of stand alone pieces of furniture. I'll try to find a picture. My kitchen is rather small and standard, as far as kitchens go. I plan to paint the cabinets and add the 'feet' to them. Maybe some tile, haven't decided. But I love the 'old' look like the OP.
In the opinion of those here, what elements define this type of kitchen? Stand alone furniture? A certain color? What?
...In the opinion of those here, what elements define this type of kitchen? Stand alone furniture? A certain color? What?
Well, it depends on what era, but wood cabinets painted signal "old." Usually that color is white.
My friend put in a concrete floor, stained, in her kitchen and it's nice and interesting. At one time I said no I've never do that, but now---hmmm, maybe. But the perfect old kitchen for me would have either brick floor or wood floor. Neither will ever happen in my lifetime here.
I hadn't thought of putting faux feet under cabinets. I will have to explain that to DH the woodworker and cabinet builder.
catherine, you are right, keep that scalloped wooden valance, that's one of the things that define a (? 50's) kitchen.
Bane of my existence...the heart pine cabinets in my kitchen and wall in my dining room were painted! What were these people thinking? The cabinets are a creamy beige color that looks horrendous. The dining room "accent wall" is a crimson color that I can live with, but I will never be able to get the original natural wood back.
The people before us hacked up the kitchen to bring the laundry in from the storage room...its much less usable that way. They did several unimpressive redos.
hey Bronxboy, aren't you the one who has the fused glass counter tops? Did you post a photo of that? Wow, that's an impressive memory! They are green Silestone with recycled glass and mica in it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52638022@N00/3278215285/in/photostream/
I would take this one, lock, stock & barrel!
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/the-kitchn-rhiannons-kitchen-tour/item/290205
Oh my god -- for some reason I can't get past the second picture, but have to say my grandmother had that exact same tray that is hanging over the stove!
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/the-kitchn-rhiannons-kitchen-tour/item/290195
Love the green, too, though my favorite shade of green is more sagey -- we painted our living and dining room in our NYC apartment that color and I was so sad to leave it. Now I have a sage bedspread.
Nice countertops, Bronxboy.
(I think I have just discovered a new pickup line for us kitchen porn addicts :)
lhamo
Bronxboy, your cabinets are pretty. But--that's not the countertop I had in mind. Maybe I Googled fused glass after your post because this is the
sort of this I had in mind:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/332318652/fused_glass_countertop_for_kichen_furnitures.html
it is gorgeous, but not good for an antique kitchen.
I think Rhianna's kitchen is adorable. The stove is the star of that show, but look at how those upper cabinets are cut in a half circle--really cute.
We all like the same color! Our newly, partially painted living room is that color with a bit of yellow thrown in. I evaluated that apple green on her wall and ended up with a related color, more lettuce yellow.
Bastelmutti
1-4-12, 8:47am
I like feet on appliances and furniture, too. When we redid our living room, we got everything with feet! So much easier to clean. I would LOVE kitchen cabinets on feet! I know I have seen them at IKEA.
This thread is a wonderful gift! I bought my grandmother's house, circa 1939, and it has a real linoleum floor, white painted cabinets, half moon shelves by the kitchen window, and yellow "cracked ice" Formica (I think) countertops. And the kitchen counter includes a peninsula, also with the half moon shelves.
"Remodeling," to me, means how can I make the kitchen look more like the late 1930s-early 1940s. So: no dishwasher or garbage disposal, but hoping to hook up a dark green pitcher pump to pump water from the reservoir under the kitchen. I have Fiestaware that I regularly use, and I like the oilcloth tablecloth suggestion upthread. There's a stainless steel double sink now; if it wasn't so durable I'd probably spring for a farmhouse porcelain sink. I'm wondering how I can hide the countertop microwave, and I'd love a Chambers stove to replace the 70s-80s era gas stove.
Glad to find others who love old kitchens!
rosarugosa
1-10-12, 7:42pm
What's with the current trend of removing cabinet doors? Do other people just enjoying dusting a lot more than I do? The idea of dusting my canned goods, dishes, etc. on a regular basis just doesn't excite me in the least!
Bastelmutti
1-10-12, 8:12pm
gail_d - I love Fiestaware. We have dishes in all sorts of colors and used them mixed. It has started a weird habit with me, though - I have to use dishes that contrast with the color of the food, i.e., carrots on green, broccoli on red, etc. It looks so happy and lively.
What's with the current trend of removing cabinet doors? Do other people just enjoying dusting a lot more than I do? The idea of dusting my canned goods, dishes, etc. on a regular basis just doesn't excite me in the least!My thought exactly. That, and looking at tins and cans and things.
Bastelmutti
1-11-12, 8:53am
I agree about the cabinets. My pantry items just aren't that attractive!
I think those open cabinets are mostly seen in decorating magazines, where it's all set up as an ideal. Who has nothing in their kitchen but perfectly matching plates, which can be balanced aesthetically with carefully chosen pottery?
I have an old, big plate rack in my kitchen, which I put up as a space-saver. All my everyday wear is exposed on the plate rack. I never thought much about them getting dusty! Ooops! Hopefully I circulate them all enough for that not to be a problem.
My BIL came over one night to eat and he went to get himself a plate and I heard him opening up every cabinet in my kitchen. I asked him what he was looking for and he said, "your plates." I was a little confused and pointed out, "They're right on the wall on the rack!" (You can't miss them--as I said it's a big plate rack and my kitchen is small.)
He said that he thought the plates on the rack were for show. "I don't think of eating plates being displayed on a wall." Oh, well. Hope he wasn't worried about eating dust.
I have one open cabinet. It holds my plates and bowls, which are matching. I opened it up because it is part of a pass-through from the kitchen to the dining room. The kitchen gets a ton of natural light, but the dining room doesn't, so the open cabinet lets more light through. I use the stuff in the cabinet daily, though, so it doesn't get dusty.
The first of two "old" inspirations to share this morning.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysHmDjl5tDQ/TlmkUCf6qeI/AAAAAAAATKw/KdXgIzm5rOg/s1600/dream-kitchen-built-in-china-cabinet-l++southernliving.jpg
Notice the cremone bolts? You just don't see that today, anywhere. Definitely old world by design.
And the second.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Lvk_ouYTxPA/S6BK5x6IueI/AAAAAAAABNg/rObi01UZBe4/s400/white+house.jpg
There's something about simple French White that does it for me.
early morning
1-11-12, 2:27pm
Mrs-M, is that your kitchen?? The cabinets are lovely! The bench makes me laugh, though... I have a really long old dining table and in my last kitchen (long and narrow), having chairs took up too much space so we had two long old benches. People learned quickly not to set on an end first, OR get up from one end without warning the person seated on the other, as benches can be very tippy! To this day my (adult) kids always sit in the MIDDLE of a bench, lol. I do love old kitchens. Mine is old, but not cool. I kinda like it though. It has an awkward but endearing personality.
Early morning. Oh, how I wish the two pictures were related to my home/kitchen, but not so. The bench provides such a sense of casual relaxed informality doesn't it, and the overall rubbed/worn painted surfaces lends such an old world charm to the overall setting/effect. So warm-welcoming and homey.
P.S. I have always admired both you (as a person) and the way you live, Early morning. You have such a knack for all things old-fashioned and traditional. I love the sounds of your home. There's a natural talent and gift that people have where they are able to meld an array of old things together to form a seamless transition of class and style, and I believe you have that talent judging by your posts.
early morning
1-14-12, 4:35pm
Thanks, Mrs-M, I do try, lol. Don't know about "seamless" - and not to everyone's taste, but it suits us fine, and I love finding old things and new ways to use them. I like hearing about other people's houses and decorating. Someday I'm gonna get a digital camera and post pics. Maybe. :)
Aaronpena
11-20-12, 2:49am
I didn't realize you had so many! I love the old kitchens, It reminds me of the one in my mother-in-law's house that each kids has sat on to reach the table at one point. Pretty!
decemberlov
11-20-12, 9:57am
Oh I LOVE old kitchens!! I fell in love with the kitchen in our home we just bought. There's lots to do as far as re-upholstering the booth and putting a new floor in but I just absolutely love it! Everything is original to when the house was built in the 50's including the appliances that were well maintained. Here are the only 2 pictures I have at the moment though:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a91/decemberlov/booth.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a91/decemberlov/bottles.jpg
Blackdog Lin
11-20-12, 4:07pm
Oh decemberlov, your kitchen booth is just lovely! Too cool.
I've been looking at realtor.com and old houses in my hometown (1900-1925) and I may make my decision based on an old farmhouse sink in one of the houses....oh and the woodwork in the dining room.....and the staircase....and the....
awakenedsoul
11-20-12, 5:25pm
I've got an old kitchen, too. It's really fun. (1943...no remodel.) After reading this thread, I think I'm going to paint the wood cabinets white! The kitchen is yellow. I've got an O'Keefe and Merritt stove, an antique oval mirror, a 1930's silver plated coffee percolator, and a nice breakfast nook. Next year I plan to add some powder blue subway tile along the back wall. I made knitted dishcloths, dish towels, and crocheted potholders as decorations, too. I love the old style homes!
Oh my goodness, Decemberlov, awesome kitchen/nook! The table/seating is over-the-top, cool!!! The Coke bottles work so well!
P.S. Seeing all those lemons reminds me of lemon-loaf and cake! OMG! I am so craving a slice of lemon-loaf right now! With a drizzle of vanilla icing over!
iris lily
11-20-12, 9:15pm
decemberlove your kitchen banquette is adorable, love it! also the table!
decemberlov
11-21-12, 12:28pm
Thanks! I eventually want to get the booth re-upholstered...maybe black or silver, just dreading the cost, as I'm sure it will cost a small fortune! I also want to paint the cabinets black and the walls a sea foam green. I really love this color scheme here: http://www.hgtv.com/kitchens/your-kitchen-style-retro/pictures/page-5.html
Maybe not so modern though.
Float On
11-21-12, 12:55pm
I like that color scheme too decemberlov. I recently painted my lower cabinets this color http://www.lowes.com/pd_98824-4-50108-GYPSYTEAL98824_0__?productId=3691690&Ntt=teal+paint&pl=1¤tURL=&facetInfo=. My kitchen is an explosion of color.
decemberlov
11-21-12, 12:59pm
I like that color scheme too decemberlov. I recently painted my lower cabinets this color http://www.lowes.com/pd_98824-4-50108-GYPSYTEAL98824_0__?productId=3691690&Ntt=teal+paint&pl=1¤tURL=&facetInfo=. My kitchen is an explosion of color.
I love that color!! My old living room was teal and chocolate brown, it felt so cozy!
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one who fancies retro/vintage.
awakenedsoul
11-21-12, 8:57pm
I love love love it Mrs.M! I just had some pink speckled ceramic tile put in my shower. I used a rose pink trim that's from the 1930's. There's only one company in LA that carried it. It came out so beautifully! I've left the linoleum floor from the 1960's but I plan to replace that with something more 1930's. I found a place in Santa Monica that sells the vintage patterns.
I haven't read all the posts yet but I just moved into the new 1950's digs where everything is original. No pics yet but here is a kitchen similiar to mine except the dark green tile that surrounds my mint green tile is really large and thick and all bullnosed and it goes completely around the faucett area in a sort of pattern (tiles are similair to the second photo in size and thinkness). My faucett is also the in-the-wall kind which I love. The cabinets are all knotty pine but painted white and there is knotty pine scrollwork too that was so popular back then instead of moulding.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1061&d=1354132281 http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1062&d=1354132654
Oh and the tiles are all set in a diamond pattern like this photo.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1064&d=1354133790
decemberlov
11-28-12, 3:11pm
I haven't read all the posts yet but I just moved into the new 1950's digs where everything is original. No pics yet but here is a kitchen similiar to mine except the dark green tile that surrounds my mint green tile is really large and thick and all bullnosed and it goes completely around the faucett area in a sort of pattern (tiles are similair to the second photo in size and thinkness). My faucett is also the in-the-wall kind which I love. The cabinets are all knotty pine but painted white and there is knotty pine scrollwork too that was so popular back then instead of moulding.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1061&d=1354132281 http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1062&d=1354132654
Love this, especially the faucet in the wall!! Lovely :)
awakenedsoul
11-28-12, 3:28pm
That's pretty, Spartana. I may put in some powder blue subway tiles along the back wall of my kitchen. I love the look and the color. My kitchen faucet is in the wall, too. I've got a big window at the sink with the old fashioned schoolhouse windows. I look out at my orchard as I'm doing the dishes.
That's pretty, Spartana. I may put in some powder blue subway tiles along the back wall of my kitchen. I love the look and the color. My kitchen faucet is in the wall, too. I've got a big window at the sink with the old fashioned schoolhouse windows. I look out at my orchard as I'm doing the dishes.
I also have a big window over the sink but it only looks out on some trees (big tall cypress trees) that are along the back fence. Butr it faces west and I get a great sunset view in the evenings. Still have to move into the place (this weeken hopefully), get new curtains, and do stuff like clean, paint, re-grout the tiles, new flooring, etc... lots of little things but will leave everything else "as is" otherwise. Also have to buy a fridge, washer and dryer, but no dish washer - not even a place for one - which is OK by me.
I also have a big window over the sink but it only looks out on some trees (big tall cypress trees) that are along the back fence. Butr it faces west and I get a great sunset view in the evenings. Still have to move into the place (this weeken hopefully), get new curtains, and do stuff like clean, paint, re-grout the tiles, new flooring, etc... lots of little things but will leave everything else "as is" otherwise. Also have to buy a fridge, washer and dryer, but no dish washer - not even a place for one - which is OK by me.
Oh boy! Congratulations! This is the best part of moving. Fiddling about and making a place your own. Arranging furniture, rearranging furniture, hanging pictures, and discovering all the little delightful things you missed on the countless walk-throughs. Of course you also discover all the little annoyances you missed, but that make the character of a home. Have fun!
Blackdog Lin
11-28-12, 7:38pm
Very happy for your new digs, Spartana. But after checking in on this thread today, I'm kinda, I don't know.....LOLing, or abashed, or wondering about my decorating abilities.....
.....your larger picture of the darker green tiles - could've been taken in my kitchen. Exact same tiles in exact same pattern as my backsplash and island top (mine might be slightly darker). In this house we built in 1992/93. Not exactly a retro period thing. I remember doing it at the time because I decided we were going to ruin the wallpaper on the backspash areas, I had to make a quick decision on how to fix it, decided on tile, and that green was the only one that seemed to work with the kitchen wallpaper.
It seems awful dated to me now, as a look, and I'd redo the whole kitchen with a more modern look if we had the money, which we don't so I won't. Your photos make me think well, maybe I need to look at the kitchen with a new eye and think of it as a retro thing.....:)
awakenedsoul
11-28-12, 8:41pm
I also have a big window over the sink but it only looks out on some trees (big tall cypress trees) that are along the back fence. Butr it faces west and I get a great sunset view in the evenings. Still have to move into the place (this weeken hopefully), get new curtains, and do stuff like clean, paint, re-grout the tiles, new flooring, etc... lots of little things but will leave everything else "as is" otherwise. Also have to buy a fridge, washer and dryer, but no dish washer - not even a place for one - which is OK by me.
The view of the sunset sounds beautiful. Are you going to buy a retro fridge? I want to get a pink Smeg someday. I got a used Kenmore washer and dryer through the Pennysaver really cheaply, and they work really well. They're so reliable. There's no space for a dishwasher here, either. I'm the dishwasher!
iris lily
11-28-12, 9:17pm
Spartana I am dying here at how cute that is! Original cabinets and tile, that's fab!
Thanks everyone!
IL - The first small photo are the colors of my tile but the back splash behind and around the sink and along the wall behind the counter are the darker green large tiles, and the smaller mint green tiles are just on the flat counter part in a diamond pattern. It's funky and 50ish so will look for some vintage stuff to play it up. I'm not much into decorating at all but it'll be kind of fun. I noticed that those 50's colors are all the rage with newer appliances now - especially Kitchenaide - so can probably find some things to match the tile. Of course if I start wearing a puffy poodle skirts and bobby socks and saddle shoes make sure and shoot me to put everyone out of their misery :-)!
No AS, I won't get a retro fridge even though I'd love one but from a practical standpoint they are too small (sis is sort of a packrat, including keeping large amounts of food on hand, so need space). Also will probably get a newer oven too as the older one, while cool, is too much of a safety concern with having to light the gas pilot light by hand each time (don't want an exploding house!).
Mrs. M (or at least how I envision her) stopping by to help me stock up the new (old) mint green fridge?
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1068&d=1354227345
Oh I LOVE old kitchens!! I fell in love with the kitchen in our home we just bought. There's lots to do as far as re-upholstering the booth and putting a new floor in but I just absolutely love it! Everything is original to when the house was built in the 50's including the appliances that were well maintained. Here are the only 2 pictures I have at the moment though:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a91/decemberlov/booth.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a91/decemberlov/bottles.jpg
I just saw this - SOOOOOOO cute! I forgot all about how popular that look was for the 50s. Linoeum table and countertops - don't see those much anymore.
Oh boy, am I ever enjoying all the pics!
Spartana. Love, love, love, the picture of me helping you! :)
ToomuchStuff
11-30-12, 4:59am
Pine or fir cabinets are what these homes had originally. Two still had them. I could tell my house was different, due to plumbing holes left, and the outline of a work style sink, etc. (under the oil cloth, the walls had never been painted) I found out from the elderly neighbor, that my home had been the builder's model, that they then moved their daughter into originally. The cabinets had been replaced a few years before a relative bought the home, with those old metal, Sears and Roebuck cabinets.
I plan on making something more in the style of the original (updated for current needs), and would love to find one of those farmhouse sinks. They are just so expensive, for the look (haven't found one used yet). Another choice I have (have one currently and a better shape one to replace it) is those sinks with the built in drainboard. (may not put in a dishwasher)
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