When reader Amanda wrote to me asking for recommendations on what to do with her 1950’s kitchen, I said “Let’s see some pictures!” So here they are. Leave your own ideas in the comments.
Here’s my input:
I still dream about those cabinets from this post and I think Amanda has to go PINK, PINK, PINK! Whatever color you choose (PINK!), I think the “Rick Wrench $50 paint job” are some of the best tips on the internets.
And don’t forget the pink fridge to match from this post. Ok, if these are too pricey, get an old fridge and paint it along with the cabinets. I’m not sure how I feel about vintage fridges though. Energy wasters, ya know?
Throw in a splash of blue for the counter top. See this post.
Vintage linoleum from Second Hand Rose. Kind of expensive. Hmm….how creative are you? I’m seeing painted floors.
Do you know about Retro Renovation? You can spend hours on that blog!
I’m done. Ok, your turn!
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Pink??? I hope you’re joking. Imagine waking up and fixing a cup of coffee in a Pepto Bismal bottle YUK!
I suggest painting the cabinets with Ralph Lauren stainless latex then cover in latex varnish. There are many colours to chose from. A back splash of red and white glass tiles. The floor with nice slate tile finished with a gloss protection. Ceiling white and appliances white.
Very retro and modern as well.
I would keep the old appliances too.
Comment by Scot Blakeley — September 4, 2009 @ 7:08 am
I have seen modern linoleum that has a great speckled 50s look to it in many colors(forget the company’s name off hand) and i thought the prices on the product,very reasonable.
Comment by Gary Kopp — September 4, 2009 @ 7:50 am
What a fabulous kitchen! The cabinets… the dishwasher!… the stove: All fantastic. There are so many possibilities with a kitchen like this, the sky is really the limit.
I actually did a whole series on pink kitchens a while back. You can see 73 pink kitchens in one slide show, here: http://retrorenovation.com/2008/11/10/68-pink-kitchens-all-in-a-new-slide-show/
I love pink kitchens, as you can tell! Thanks for the post and the love.
Comment by 50s Pam — September 4, 2009 @ 8:08 am
White appliances??? BOR-ING!
PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or red.
Comment by RH — September 4, 2009 @ 9:10 am
I have a hot pink kitchen and it’s my favorite room in the house. Pink makes it impossible to stay in a bad mood.
Comment by Judy — September 4, 2009 @ 9:46 am
Yeah..I really like the pink and chrome idea..There is nothing that says 50″s like pink and chrome or even that ligh blue color that was also used back then for kitchens , but def. keep the original appliances.
Comment by Emilia — September 4, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
I’m not seeing pink either. Pink and digestion don’t go togther, IMO. The dishwasher (that IS a dishwasher?) is a keeper, if it can be made to work. I AM seeing white + stainless + natural materials for the window treatments and floor. That is, leave the old cabinets & pulls & D/W and get a vintage-looking but new stove & fridge and new countertop of wood or stone, to bring it into the 21st century while retaining what was good about the mid-20th (not everything). Love the lower cabs; the uppers could go and be replaced by open shelves or at least glass door cabinets, for some breathing room in that corner. Vintage linoleum flooring for some pattern, yeah - or else just wood. Lighting, definitely ’50s - sputnik chandelier or George Nelson bubble or some such. Fifties kitchens were COLD (I was there) with all that lino and chrome and formica. Need some warming up with wood, bamboo blinds, etc. IMHO.
Comment by Cara — September 6, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Ok, you got me there, Cara. I wasn’t around in the 50’s.
The 60’s….that’s another story.
Comment by RH — September 6, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
Wow, what a kitchen to work with! Very fun!!! I’m going to buck the trend and start with a modern color like, say, a light khaki. First of all, Amanda doesn’t say what she’s going for in colors, style, etc. etc., what can be changed out, what can’t, and so on, so I’m shooting in the dark and will make assumptions and I won’t remind you what assume really means!!
So, let’s freak them out with a light khaki for the cabinets. The floor looks like wood, so let’s keep it wood. I would remove the upper cabinets or at least that corner cabinet. She could put the two singles side by side and run shelves from the window to the corner or do all open shelves. The shelves could be wood like the floor.
The countertop could be a nice beigy mica like the range and the walls could be the same shade so it flows in a very large tile, possibly huge, so you just need 2 or 3, in the same shade as the countertop. The walls above would also be the same shade as the countertop and tile.
The shelves would provide contrast and decorative items on the shelves could tie into the khaki colored cabinets.
Paint the trim a very light version of the cream.
Something should be done with the corner cabinet, though, it looks like it could be fixed. Hopefully!
There’s my shot in the dark!
Comment by susan — September 9, 2009 @ 6:14 pm