Bronwyn and Greg’s retro renovation kitchen
Remember Bronwyn and Greg? They finished the updates to their 1950s kitchen earlier this year, and Bronwyn sent me photos. 
This is a compact, galley-style kitchen — a style that I know many readers share. Bronwyn and Greg kept the original cabinets and a rockin’ O’Keefe and Merritt stove that came with the place. They added new, retro-style appliances, Formica Skylark countertops, a backsplash and above — the Dishmaster M2000 faucet. In fact, it was Bronwyn who first told me about The Dishmaster.
This kitchen layout can be super-efficient in terms of saving steps and getting work done. I love the way the white repeats throughout the kitchen – from the stove to the fridge to the dishwasher to the sink and backsplash. When space is small, it’s probably smart to be conservative about the number of principal colors you use on “fixed” surfaces. You can always dial things up with accessories. This kitchen is cheerful — yet serene, too.
That stove is awesome. Bronwyn says that the countertop edging is a kind of composite material (not metal) that her contractor found. I think these options are out there — used for commercial applications. It certainly has the right look. How is it holding up, Bronwyn?
The light is “deco” rather than modern. I think that’s totally appropriate to the house — which has a “romantic revival” feel to it, as well. And — it’s always great to mix things up.
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Very nice and I like that you put the color on the walls and left the wood cabinets natural.
John
Sweet Kitchen. It looks like a very happy place.:)
My spring project is the kitchen & I’ve been wondering about countertop edging, I’ll have to look into the composite.
That is an awesome kitchen–love the layout and the color combo–turquoise, orange and white, with the wooden cabinets. Great job!!!
Those yellowed varnished cupboards; I used to hate them because a neighbor had a kitchen full of them—amber wood everywhere you looked. It was overwhelming. But in this modest amount of cabinetry, it looks really neat. The aqua really helps to offset the yellow. Nice kitchen. Makes me want to sit and have coffee, and I hate coffee.
I never thought I’d like wood cabinets, but . . . I like those wood cabinets.
I love that light!
You guys did a fantastic job! You kept the original feel of the kitchen, and did very tasteful updates. If only more homeowners would follow this lead!
Oh…Wow!
From the gleamingly-finished plywood cabs to the Huddee ring and that awesome sink…to the fridge and that gorgeous back door! What a beautiful job!
I really dig the mixmaster and scale, too.
Spaces like this make a real home, and these folks have done such a marvelous job of it! I hope they (and any former occupants that may have observed, haha) are justifiably proud!
Dave
What a beautiful kitchen. I couldn’t help but notice the vintage Sunbeam mixmaster in the first photo under the paper towel holder. My mother used to have one, and I would love to have one again. That was the best mixer ever. I still have the sturdy white bowl.
I can’t make out the name on the dishwasher, but it’s gorgeous! What is it, where can i get one?
What a lovely, restrained, yet lively kitchen remodel! I like the aqua boomerang countertop and I love that you kept the wall color aqua, too. The white tile backsplash is perfect (a great suggestion, Pam) and works so nicely with your classic white appliances, while your period countertop appliances complete the picture. Thank you for retaining your unpainted wood cabinets!!
I know you love working in this sweet kitchen. Great job!
I believe that would be a Big Chill dishwasher, which is a newer addition to their appliance offerings. I think they started out just with vintage-look fridges. I know they have lots of awsome color choices too.
Beautiful kitchen, love it! Those cabinets are divine, they remind me of my Mom’s (grandparents) kitchen cabinets same pulls too, I talked her out of painting them and changing the pulls (ack!)
Yes, that is a pretty dishwasher, what kind is it? I have never seen a new one so nice!
Love that formica, the bold color, and the black and white floor! My eyes can’t help but wander to the glass-front buffet in the adjacent room.
Great job, you two! Loads of inspiration in that little space. Skylark Formica is quickly becoming my favorite countertop. Love the shiny whiteness of the tile backsplash and the seamless blend of your blue and orange wall paint. Are your floor tiles original to the house? It’s amazing how well a large pattern works in a small space.
Good color choices! I think you made a great impact in a small space.
What a great use of space this kitchen is! I can’t believe that such a small kitchen has as much counter and cabinet space as yours. The counters themselves are beautiful. I love the color and the edging. Great job Bronwyn & Greg!
The stove, fridge & dishwasher are all fabulous too. Like Candice, I’m curious about the make of the dishwasher.
As a realtor, I see those wood cabinets quite a bit in older homes around Buffalo, but usually they are stained much, much darker. I really like the stain that y’all used — it’s in keeping with the kitchen’s light and airy feeling.
I love this kitchen! It looks so original. the lovely white appliances with the aqua countertops are a perfect combination. I’m lovin the tiki, too! I’m going on ebay to find one for myself…
Yeah, what about the dishwasher? My house is so retro *I’m* the dishwasher! LOL
(srsly, I would love a dishwasher… where they placed it is giving me ideas!)
Thanks, Everyone! We love our kitchen. It’s definitely a conversation starter for guests!
To answer some questions: The mixer is actually a Hamilton Beach. It was a gift from a friend after she saw our new kitchen. The mixer belonged to her mother and dozens of years later is still going strong! It was missing a screw, but we were able to find a broken Hamilton Beach mixer on ebay and salvage the part.
The Dishwasher is a “Big Chill” and is made by Kitchen-Aid.
A funny thing about the dishwasher and keeping the original cabinets–we didn’t realize that modern counter-height is actually higher than ones from the 50’s so there was concern that the dishwasher wouldn’t fit. The guys who installed it got creative and made it work, but if you are installing a new dishwasher into an old house, be sure to check on this first.
Ooh–a couple more things;
-The banding around the countertop is holding up well. No scratches or anything yet.
-Wow–didn’t realize that light was Deco! I got it from the “Modern Section” at an antique place. How funny.
Another tip–notice that there is no microwave? It’s hiding in the pantry. We had an outlet installed in there.
Retrocat, that mixer WAS my mother’s mixer! We gifted it to Bronwyn and Greg. All my childhood birthday cakes were made with that mixer.
Love it! I like the diagonal b/w tile floor and pistachio color on the walls; we used that same combo in our kitchen – though we painted our polyurethaned plywood cabinets, a decision I sometimes regret whenever I see Betty Draper’s kitchen. It’s great you mixed it up with the deco light fixture; it’s never good to be too dogmatic; a little eclecticism shows your own personal touch. Looks cozy and sweet.
What a nice kitchen. Great blend of new and old. I love how the sink cabinet has those recessed doors. Is the wood around the doors curved? It’s just the right amount of flair in the otherwise simple cabinets. The floor — is it new or old? It looks really good with everything else.
so charming! what is the flooring material? awesome color combination.
Sumac Sue–The wood around the doors IS curved. One of my favorite things about the house, actually.
Sherri and S.S.–The flooring is ceramic. We believe the last owner put that in around 2002 or so.
So much in this kitchen’s “bones” reminds me of ours–great work, Bronwyn and Greg! I especially like the way you used the blue and white in the sink/backsplash/counter area–very neat-looking. The wood cabinets are identical to the ones in my grandparent’s farmhouse–brought back happy memories.
I have the exact same color checkerboard flooring, the first floor my husband ever laid, in linoleum…he did a great job, and I love it.
Enjoy your hard work
Can you tell me what you used to clean the cabinets? Were they refinished? Please do tell! I’m going to have a kitchen with beautiful old cabinets that I want to keep during a remodel and want to make sure I clean them properly and bring back their natural beauty.
THANKS!
Bronwyns, beautiful kitchen! We are also in love with Turquoise. Would you be willing to part with the brand and recipe of that paint?! I’ve had disappointing results with my latest attempts at color matching and that appears to be perfect! Thanks!!!
Eldemilla–We actually didn’t do much cleaning. The cabinets had to be re-sanded when some of the tile was removed so you are looking at re-sanded and re-varnished cabinets.
Loumeigs–we matched the color that the last owner put in. We have a paint swatch that says “Hummingbird– 1A48-4″. I believe the brand was “Behr” (from Home Deport) though I’m not positive on that. We just took the swatch to a green living store and had them scan it and they created the formula for their non-VOC/less toxic paint brand (American Pride). Hope that helps!