Products and ideas to remodel your mid century home in authentic vintage style
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postwar homes – “modern” and “modest” alike.
I'm Pam Kueber, your mid mod mad guide. Read more
Florida Leslie sends this very excellent 1961 stove/fridge/cabinet/sink combo. I’ve seen these before, but never in this great shape. Someday if I make an apartment in my basement, I will install one of these. Hey – from the day when someone thought people might actually like COMPACT kitchens. Haha, that’s a good one!
San Diego, $1500. Manufacturer: Dwyer. With original paperwork. Thanks, Leslie!
Over at her blog The Home Project, reader Linn and her husband continue to chronicle the remodel of their adorable bungalow kitchen. Recently, they rolled up their sleeves and installed a stainless steel countertop right over the old, existing laminate countertops. The headline: When first considering the stainless steel countertop option, Linn contacted a big [...]
For either kitchen or, especially, bathroom countertops, I believe that Carrara marble laminates are an authentic vintage choice. I blinded myself searching for them among the 8 retailers of laminate in the U.S. today. The number-one choice, I think, is going to be from Wilsonart — their White Carrara, shown above. Read on for some [...]
UPDATE (Oct 2011): Click over to –> this story to get an update on all three sources for boomerang laminate. Here is a third selection of boomerang laminates to consider for your retro kitchen renovation. Wilsonart has informed me that residential buyers can buy from this “Indie” line …. it is just a special order placed [...]
Another first for the blog and our Retro Renovation journey: Last night I spotted vintage Geneva steel kitchen cabinets in a Target commercial. Don’t they look fantastic! Continue on for the close-up and more play-by-play commentary —> I think the countertop is some variety of solid surface material – a very sleek, modern look. And, I’m guessing that [...]
I spotted this vintage salesman’s sample showing different styles of metal edging for a kitchen countertop, and it reminded me that I wanted to do a story showcasing some other varieties beyond the stainless steel edging that I used for my kitchen. First off, thanks to Hard to Find House Parts for letting me share [...]
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For Karmi – 1961 Progress lighting close to her ebay find 
Leslie’s kitschy dreamboat time capsule in California 
Leslie, Aaron, Marc & Bill: It’s a Small World 
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this is almost identical to our kitchen except ours is a pale pink. And ya, I love my little compact kitchen. I didn’t at first, but less counterspace means less space to pile the dirty dishes.
With a built in fridge under the counter and a compact stove, it’s original to the apartment building we live in, built in 1949.
Wouldn’t it be swell if you could fit a unit like this into a renovation of a classic Airstream Trailer?
Pam, if you read this, I have a question: in your vast collection of vintage magazine ads, do you have one for free-standing steel kitchen cabinets? I’m thinking of two I once saw that were sort of like metal versions of Hoosier cabinets — two doors below, workshelf at counter height with two drawers, and an upper half like a hutch, with shelving fronted by either metal doors or sliding glass doors.
I’m still kicking myself for not buying those.
…maggie
Hey:
Dwyer has been building compact kitchens for slightly over 80 years. While we don’t see quite as many of the old “porcelain” kitchens as we used to, there are still thousands of units out there that are still working as well as the day they were built.
While the theory of the the compact kitchen is still extremely valid today, the materials, finishes and design of the compact appliances have been radically updated since Florida Leslie’s kitchen rolled out of our plant 45+ years ago.
Dwyer can be located at http://www.dwyerkitchens.com.
And please tell Maggie that Dwyer has the ability to fabricate steel, stainless steel or aluminum kitchens in virtually any size, shape or color.
Dennis McCurdy
Western Sales Manager
Dwyer Kitchens Incorporated
I am trying to find one of these compact kitchens, but it seem the appliance stores here in
Ft. Lauderdale no longer stock them. Can you please advise if and who may have these
and how much on of them may cost?
Thank you look foward to hearing from you soon
i have this exact set-
light pink – excellent condition –
everything in working order-
contact me
480 239 1782
i can send photos as well
i am located in phoenix arizona
Dwyer Kitchens is the place to start, Barbara. Check their website – call your rep – let me know how it turns out! Pam
I love this… If I ever build a small cabin somewhere, I want one of these!!!
My husband just informed me he has one of these units in his workshop. He was thinking of selling it, my comment was…. OH no you won’t! I absolutely love this unit!