So sad. The last day for all of our pink kitchens. I hope that you have enjoyed them, and that they have provided many new ideas for your own kitchen retro renovation — or as Uncle Jack calls it, ‘down-dating’.
51. One of my favorite pink kitchens EVER, created by the ingenious interior designers selling Armstrong floors:
52. Another kitchen from Armstrong floors. Notice the George Nelson bubble light, nice:
53. A mid-50s Beauty Queen kitchen marketed by, it looks like, Mrs. America!:
54. A new-to-me (and the Postwar Steel Forum) J&L Steel Kitchen:
55. Another Beauty Queen. I love the way that the photo melds into and becomes the illustration. Very indicative of the transition that did actually occur — as by the late 50s, illustrations gave way to photos in shelter publications:
56. Love this mid-50s Lyon steel kitchen!:
57. This Frigidaire appliance advertisement touts the homemaker as queen for a day. Awesome fridge. Pink and yellow was a common combo color:
58. And if you can’t afford an all-new steel kitchen, you can just paint your birch kitchen. This ability to repaint actually was one of the reasons that wood eventually ‘won out’ over steel for kitchens:
59. Another Armstrong kitchen, this time in a lovely pastel-and-wood “Mondrian” style. Love it!:
60. And one final, fab Armstrong design. Wall-fridge lovers, check this one out – set mid-level. You can still get a version of this floor today, and if you’re clever, a pink kitchen to go with it!
Well, now I have an admission. I got to the end of this post – and realize, I do not have 61 Mamie Pink Kitchens – I have 60. Oops. I miscounted. I think I took out several “honorary” pink kitchens at one point and messed up the count. I hope you understand.
So…I am going to wrap it up with this lovely 1968 image. Let me assure you, that by 1968, I see NO SIGNS WHATSOEVER of pink kitchens anymore! Maybe some primary colors here and there. But mostly earth tones, french provincial and that dreaded (by readers) casa de torquemada mediterranean. But pink has never, and will never, die. Lather up.
Gary says
My kitchen is an original pink from 1957. I’m still using the caloric cook top and built-in oven like the ones in the picture with Mrs America.
tracie says
My grandmother had the yellow fridge from 57. When we sold her house in 2000 it was still going strong. I was young, so I’ll excuse my stupidity in not sticking something cheap in there and saving it.
The pink kitchens have been amazing.
Amy says
oooh I love the 2nd one from the top – that dining suite is divine 🙂
Sumac Sue says
Thanks so much for the series — what a treat. What I think I like best about these kitchens is that the pink gives the rooms such an upbeat, optimistic atmosphere — it’s that same optimism shown by Mamie. I’ve appreciated this series from a decorating standpoint and also as a history lesson.
Surely you will come across more pink kitchen illustrations — please share them with us in the future! Thanks again.
50sPam says
Thank you, Maggie, for your kind words. I assure you, this was a labor of love. If you can wait re setting up your folder, I think that I am going to upload these to my flickr account at some point. And also put in a gallery on the site. Have to figure this out, though. Bottom line, it may save you some time if you can wait for me to organize these new files. And…this definitely has made me think about doing other series’. Stay tuned!
maggie says
I’m so glad you don’t lock your photos; I’m going to take some time tomorrow to download them all to an Inspiration Pink Folder for that future time when I get to down-date my kitchen. Man, with a wall cabinet fridge and a Frigidaire Flair or Tappan 400 range, I’d never have to bend over again!
I hope you’ll consider other theme weeks for the future. Maybe stoves, fridges? Aqua Kitchens? Dishes/cookware?
This series has been the joy of my whole week, Pam. You’re truly a Pink Princess for putting this together.