Retro Renovation

Ellen’s search to recreate her parents’ Crosley kitchen

$Ellen\'s parents in their Crosley kitchen$

I’ve been emailing with Massachusetts Ellen for a while, about her quest to re-create her parent’s 1955 kitchen. If anyone knows of Crosley cabinets for Ellen - please comment here!

My parents had a 1955 Crosley kitchen. It was the state of the art kitchen - actually the set from the 1955 Crosley Bendix dealers’ movie which my father made. Original kitchen was in Wilmette, Illinois. It won a design award and was in McCall’s magazine — and I have been trying to recreate this kitchen for years here in Falmouth, Mass.

Wish I could find the film, made by Wilding, which was bought out by Bell & Howell, in Chicago. Found this reference on Google. May be in the Chicago Film Archives.

Would also love to find a copy of the McCall’s magazine. I am not sure which issue- sometime between 1955-56, I think.

HELP. If anyone knows where I can find the cabinets, please let me know! Cabinets were copper in cooking area, laundry area was white. Floor was speckled tan, cream and beige tile- like marmoleum. Countertops beige speckle formica, stainless steel sink. Appliances were ss electric cooktop (this was midcentury modern sleek, not Happy Days) and separate frig and freezer. Freezer had an ice cream maker, frig had thru door water. Both had circular chrome center handle. @ ss wall ovens. Accent color was a soft aqua/turquoise.

Found not one, but two, sets in Cincinnati, but lost them both. One sold, the other remodel delayed indefinitely, due to health probs. Color doesn’t matter. I will have them repainted. The fridge (which Ellen already found-Pam) will need to be painted too.

Attached is the photo - which shows my mom and dad in a messy, but well-loved kitchen.

Thanks so much for your help.

Actually, Ellen ended up connecting with some sellers from St. Louis, who had listed a set of Crosley’s on the Postwar Steel Forum (nav bar above). So she has a first batch of cabinets with which to recreate her kitchen. But, she’s still chasing some leads for others. As I’ve said before, when you need to fit other peoples’ kitchen cabinets into your space - you need a lot to work with to get it right.

Isn’t this a great story — and a most wonderful photo of Ellen’s parents in their famous kitchen! Good luck, Ellen.

See another great Crosley kitchen in this post: