Retro Kitchens

[olive bleu]

love all the red accents too! i love the kitsch. I have a thing for a cherry motif.

 

[Tourbillion]

My kitchen has the wooden cabinets that you see in some of those illustrations. I think they are the original ones, but I thought this house was 20's or early 30's.

Anyway, the kitchen used to be that green color, but someone decided to paint everything pink. I really hate it, but as it is a rental I haven't gotten around to it. Also someone changed the drawer pulls, I've been meaning to get the old style ones, but well...anyway I want to repaint the cabinets white, but there are sooo many coats of paint, do I have to strip them?

My friend's parents had the best deco kitchen, with ochre yellow walls, and curved counters. Unfortunately, they remodelled.

 

[GOK]

...anyway I want to repaint the cabinets white, but there are sooo many coats of paint, do I have to strip them?

If there are not too many layers of paint you might get away with a lot of sanding, painting on a primer, more sanding, painting a coat of gloss, even more (very light) sanding and then painting on the final coat of gloss. Seems like a lot of work but good preparation is key (forgive the pun!). A tip for painting doors with gloss; always paint in a cross-hatch motion - it avoids brush marks. And only load the tip of your brush!

If you need to strip back to the bare wood (or metal), there is a gel you can get but rght now, the name escapes me. It's probably called something else over there anyway. You paint it onto the surface you want to strip, leave it for an hour or so and then peel everything away. I did a chest of drawers that must have had at least ten layers of paint and the whole lot came off in one go! It was quite satisfying actually!

Good luck with your project!

 

[CherryRed]

Hi HE,

You're so lucky to be getting a vintage stove! Here's my dream kitchen--it's a modern version of vintage but maybe it will give you some ideas.

My Dream Stove:

WOW WOW WOW!!!! That is my dream kitchen too! What a great magazine!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[olive bleu]

If there are not too many layers of paint you might get away with a lot of sanding, painting on a primer, more sanding, painting a coat of gloss, even more (very light) sanding and then painting on the final coat of gloss. Seems like a lot of work but good preparation is key (forgive the pun!). A tip for painting doors with gloss; always paint in a cross-hatch motion - it avoids brush marks. And only load the tip of your brush!

If you need to strip back to the bare wood (or metal), there is a gel you can get but rght now, the name escapes me. It's probably called something else over there anyway. You paint it onto the surface you want to strip, leave it for an hour or so and then peel everything away. I did a chest of drawers that must have had at least ten layers of paint and the whole lot came off in one go! It was quite satisfying actually!

Good luck with your project!

i THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF PRODUCT YOU MEAN

i HAVEUSED THIS, YOU JUST BRUSH IT ON AND IT LITERALLY PEELS THE PAINT OFF

 

[katiepickle]

My 50s kitchen

I hope this helps!

I live in a duplex that was built in the 50s (as military housing) and only the kitchen has been left alone (until the landlord remodels).

The metal cabinets are way cool to look at, but suck to use. You have to slam them to close them and yank them to open them...I forever sound like I am mad at the kitchen. They also dent and are way too tiny for today's kitchen essentials (pots and pans, food, costco anything). Where the fridge is was originally for a washer.
My grandma owns a few 30s craftsmen and they all have tons of decently sized wooden cabinets and matching built-ins in the dining rooms.
Long story short, the 50s metal and laminate look is fun to see, but sucks live with. Wood is much more practical.
(I'm new to the forum, by the way, and you all have amazing hair. I am very jealous.)

 

[hotrod_elf]

I went and got a subscription to "Old House Interiors". I looked them up and love it.

 

[olive bleu]

wELCOME

i KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN...THE HOUSE I AM RENTING NOW WAS BUILT EARLY 40'S. OH SO CUTE, BUT THE CUPBOARD DOORS ARE A PAIN.sADLY I HAVE TO MOVE(2 BEDROOMS FOR MY FAMILY OF 4.. DO THE MATH)

 

[Wild Root]

Pardon me but...

Just have step in here for a quick bit and say that I enjoy vintage or "Vintagizing" a kitchen! Lauren Henline sold me some great dark red plastic 40's handles with aluminum trim with matching dark red knobs... I've put them all on my cupboards and drawers in my kitchen... the counter tops are modern but, the cupboards are all from the 30's or 40's... they could be original from the 20's... not sure but, they look good with the knobs and handles now! I have a few vintage appliances around like a late 30's Waring blender, a '39 Toastmaster toaster (MAKES THE BEST TOAST!!!) and also an old '38 Philco kitchen radio. In the future, I hope to have a nice 30's monitor top fridge and a nice Wedge Wood stove... jadeite green with black trim! Oh yEaH!

Jitterbug, looking through that link you posted, I found this and decided that this is my future kitchen!!!

That's the coolest! With the flip up stools! How cool is that I ask?

Thanks again for this thread, it's really interesting!

I leave now,

=WR=

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

Just merging these two threads, and keeping the discussion in the Golden Era forum.

 

[ohairas]

Vintage wallpaper

Just wanted to share this site for vintage wallpaper... even if you don't want the paper it gives you a good idea for the colors!
http://www.hannahstreasures.com/default.asp

Nikki

 

[SamReu]

Spokes Man

We live in craftsman bungalow, a creaky old pile of lumber built in 1922, and have been slowly restoring it. The kitchen was this tiny room that looked more like an afterthought -- hardly bigger than the interior of an old Packard, and about as easy to cook in. After two years of living with the cramped room, we hired a crew that specializes in period renovations. The day they waded in with sledgehammers was the day my wife decided to be somewhere else. With the advice of the crew's owner, we put in white wooden cabinets that closely mirror those from 80 years earlier. We also found the proper drawer pulls. The workers peeled away three layers of faux tile and linoleum to reveal floor boards sliced from the heart of Georgia pines. Specialists came in with sanders and low-gloss polyurethane and restored the floor.
The only time we disagreed with the builder was when he suggested black marble countertops. No, we said. We want some plastic covering (read that: Formica) that would be comparable to the countertops the first homeowners put in. The builder grudgingly complied.
The kitchen came together beautifully. It is functional, but clearly belongs in a house of that era. It's also a tough room: For the past four years, it has withstood the combined pounding of two little boys.
So, you folks restoring a kitchen or any other room: Don't lose sight of your home's historical precedents. Nothing looks dumber than a 21st century room in a house built in the previous century.
A postscript: When the workers tore down a wall, out rolled an ancient softball, as gray and hard as a boulder. The workers surmised that a kid slid it in the stud walls when the house was erected. That same kid, an elderly neighbor told me, went off to war, and flew fighter planes for the Army. We kept the softball.

 

[r lush]

Jitterbug, looking through that link you posted, I found this and decided that this is my future kitchen!!!

That's the coolest! With the flip up stools! How cool is that I ask?

Thanks again for this thread, it's really interesting!


=WR=

I agree completely!!! Was just about to post this photo. I love this kitchen. What we just need a good carpenter

 

[scotrace]

Stoves & Fridges

Saw these Tuesday in person. Pretty neat looking, for $4000, you're in Viking territory. From Elmire Stove Works.

 

[Speedster]

HOT and COOL

Saw these Tuesday in person. Pretty neat looking, for $4000, you're in Viking territory.

Who makes these??

 

[scotrace]

Ack!

I thought I linked it! Sorry...

Elmira Stove Works.

 

[Speedster]

Thanks scotrace.

 

[GOK]

That fridge looks similar to a Smeg. I like those.

Referencing the flip down stools in that photo - how on earth does one sit at the brekkie bar on them? There is nowhere for the knees to go!

 

[DancingSweetie]

This is the stove I want.

Incidentally I did live in a house built in the late 40's that had metal kitchen cabinets, and I liked them. They were in perfect condition considering it was the 90's when I lived there. Very easy to take care of.

 

[Miss Dottie]

I know somewhere there is a good thread about refurbishing older fridges. It might be a better solution than blowing $4,000 on a new vintage style version of it.

I rented an apartment that had the best vintage wedgewood stove around. I wish I had it now!