A recent surge of animosity on some other blogs aimed at knotty pine kitchens has been upsetting my karmic balance. However, the retro decorating gods have made it all better (for now) by delivering flickr friend Eartha Kitsch, who just last week finished freshening up the knotty pine kitchen in her 1956 new-old house. Today, she shares her secret to reviving the cabinets, tells about her stove quest, and shares lots of photos. That’s her with DH (dear husband).
EK writes:
Hey Pam,
Thanks for asking about the fancying up of the knotty pine kitchen in our 1956 ranch. : ) For years, my husband and I passed by this house every day, each time saying that if it ever went up for sale, we had to try to make it ours. We had no clue whatsoever about what the inside of the home looked like but of course, when we saw it in our minds, we pictured it with the original kitchen and baths and other period details still intact. When we finally did get the word that the house would be for sale, we anxiously awaited the day that we could see inside. Once inside the home, we were super excited to see that our mind’s eyes had been correct in that not only were the original baths intact – but the kitchen too…and it was so much better than we’d imagined – knotty pine from top to bottom with flagstone wall and lighted niches. We instantly fell in love and knew that we were home. We both admit now that it was the kitchen that sealed the deal. In July of last year, our dream came true and we closed on the house.
the kitchen “before”
The work in the kitchen has focused on cosmetic as well as more serious issues. Cosmetically, we set to work straight away sprucing up the woodwork in the kitchen. The walls, ceiling and cabinets are all knotty pine and they’d seen some years of dust, cooking grease and nicks and scratches. I know that there are a lot of different opinions on how to clean knotty pine but in our case, we mixed a tiny bit of Murphy’s oil soap in with hot water and gave all of the wood a wash with a slightly damp rag. Then we buffed it all with a clean cloth.
This took off so much of the grime from the years. I used a small bit of Simple Green mixed with water on some of the areas that were coated with cooking grease. The final touch was to use Old English to remove all of the scratches. A simple buffing with Old English made them look brand new. We were amazed at how well it worked and with just a small amount of the product too. A toothbrush was used on the hardware.
We removed some of the upper cabinet doors and put them in storage so that we could have more display space for a lot of the dishes and kitchen kitsch that we like to collect. The dishes added a nice splash of color to a room that is mostly wood. We found the original kitchen windows from above the sink in storage and after a good cleaning, we put them back up. It took a good deal of searching but we finally found the push bar hardware to match the rest of the windows in the house to go on them from a company called Blaine Window Hardware in Maryland that fabricates upon order. They matched perfectly.
We had an additional light put in on the ceiling because the corner at the stove was quite dark. Luckily, Home Depot still sells the fixture that matches so it looks like it has always been there.
When we moved into the house, we found that the stove didn’t work and learned more than we ever expected to know about 40″ ovens. We could either buy a new one for around a thousand bucks or search for a used one. We decided to look for a used one that would match the age of the house. That was quite the search! It took us to some very interesting places to say the least…
In the end, we found a beautiful old stove that was being sold from the sad gutting of a 50′s ranch across town. It looked showroom new inside and out and we were told that the lady who owned it never really cooked. Score! For a couple of hundred bucks, we took it home. It’s got all of the bells and whistles and some pretty snazzy lights on it too. Sometimes, I like to light it up and just look at it. Crazy but true. It’s my dream to have all vintage aqua appliances one day but we’ll see how long the current ones last for us.
We had some hardwired florescent lights removed from over the sink and a good deal of the budget was spent updating the breaker box and wiring. There were some pretty scary electrical issues in this house. There was also an unnerving issue with the kitchen switches sizzling when we flipped them. Eep! We also had some major plumbing issues in the kitchen. When we moved in, we learned that we could use neither the sink nor the dishwasher without water backing up into other places. After a lot of time and money spent with plumbers, we finally found out that the problem was inside of the wall pipes. Squirrels had been dropping walnuts into the plumbing exhaust vent pipes on our roof! (Note: We learned that it’s a good idea to cover these with strong wire mesh if you have squirrels in the area or live under trees) We had to remove our countertops and have the wall opened up to access the pipes so that the walnuts could be removed. What a mess! I love squirrels but not so much that day.
We just finished painting the kitchen a light mossy green and I think that it looks great with the pine details. I love old Western and woodsy memorabilia so it’s all seemed to fall together so sweetly.
One entire wall of the kitchen is a flagstone wall with niches that light up and I’ve enjoyed decorating those.
Along that wall is a long countertop and cabinet that according to the original blueprints, used to be a breakfast bar.
It’s great as a bar and buffet at parties. We hope to one day replace the ceramic tile flooring with a checkerboard pattern in VCT tiles but I think that will be several years down the line, probably after some other rooms have been tackled. On a side note, the Sellers of the house told us that when they bought the house, they were about to put down that very tile in the kitchen but their realtor told them that nobody wanted that style anymore and that it would be a horrible idea. Huh! I think that just goes to show that we should always do what makes US happy when decorating our houses and not worry about what “other people” like. I hope that we are in this house a long, long time but if for some reason we aren’t, I hope that the next folks down the line will also appreciate this knotty pine kitchen and keep it going. It’s easy to see that it’s got many more decades of service and charm left in it.
Thanks again, Pam!
Sincerely,
Eartha
Thank you, EK, for a wonderful, wonderful story. I also really appreciate your trials and tribulations regarding the electrical, plumbing and vent pipe issues — these are all the kinds of things prospective homeowners need to be very aware of, along with safety and environmental issues related to vintage homes. It’s good to budget for just these kinds of surprises — so that you can get to that good feeling of security that all your home’s basic maintenance issues are intact. Decorating is the icing on the cake. Your kitchen is just gorgeous — proof that knotty pine can definitely be worth preserving and maintaining.
The story was very inspiring. Undertaking this kind of renovation is obviously not for the faint of heart. Thank you for sharing the pictures. The color combination is dreamy……..!
Hi Kelly,
I love the natural wood kitchen. I too have natural wood cabinets but not knotty pine. I do have knotty pine bookcases surrounding my picture window in my livingroom and love the look!! If I ever finish off my basement I’d love to do knotty pine walls. I also grew up in a home that had knotty pine and it always reminds me of the great times I had with my parents in that home.
Kudo’s to you and your hubby, John aka AtomicHipster
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomichipster/sets/72157608796551050/
What a gorgeous kitchen! And I love the color selection. You are inspiring me to add that color to my upstairs knotty pine master bedroom. I have all the same black hardware on my closet door and built-in drawers. And that stove is to die for…..
I’m Maria, and I usually don’t like knotty pine kitchens. But THIS one?? It’s the ceiling that changed my mind completely. There’s nothing I don’t love about this kitchen. I’m sooooo glad they were able to save it!
Kelly and Mark are the perfect owners for this house! If anyone else had bought it it would have been a travesty!
What a dream house! Congratulations on the purchase and on completing all the renovations. Amazing how knotty pine can look coolonial or ultra mod depending on your choice of enhancements. That flagstone wall in the kitchen is a knockout! Love the “Aquaria” platter above that fabulous stove!
Oy. This kitchen cuts straight to the heart! Sometimes I just shouldn’t look…
Love your house Eartha K .. I agree about doing what you like, not what the next owner is going to like .. the little details are fun, from the yellow dial phone to the Tennessee state planter in the niche, and your gravy boat display has inspired me to pull out my sugar bowl/creamer collection and put them on my window shelves. Your home shows a lot of personality and love.
What a beautiful kitchen! The wood plus aqua is perfect. And that stone wall is awesome.
Thanks for the tips on how to reclaim the knotty pine wood….I have a knotty pine dilemma of my own and this might just help.
Yay Mr. and Mrs. Kitsch!!!!! An inspiring story if I’ve ever heard one!
Just lovely…Congratulations.
Oh, this really brings back memories. Back in my ‘previous life’ (1972) I had a knotty pine kitchen with eating area … walls, cabinets … 3/4 inch plank with black hardware. The house was built in ’52, or so, and had a broken down white metal sink. The prior owners had carelessly sawed off the peninsula to make more room in the eating area. Eventually we had a wooden sink base built and installed a new peninsula. It was so beautiful, and I really hated to leave it to people who weren’t as impressed as I was. Your kitchen is a true delight, and brings back warm, fuzzy memories!
OK, I think you singlehandedly cured me of my loathing for knotty pine kitchens. (I lean toward 1930′s kitchens myself, but I can be re-trained.)
Removing the cabinet doors to create more display space was inspired. One reason I’ve never cared for knotty pine is that it absorbs light like nobody’s business, and the dishes on display go a long way to addressing that. Along with the light colors elsewhere … very, very nice. I clearly need to reconsider what can be done with knotty pine.
It heartens me when people work WITH a house, instead of gutting it and making it look like every other house on the block. Your kitchen is gorgeous, and the stone wall is magnificent. With careful thought and research, these kitchens are just as, or even more beautiful than the granite monstrosities designers have pushed down our throats. Congratulations on your home – just from the kitchen I can tell it’s gorgeous.
Wow, I am so glad you found this house and saved this kitchen! We would love to see the photos of the rest of the house too.
I’m really impressed by all of the work y’all have put into your wonderful kitchen. And I agree with Barbara about working with a house instead of gutting. Your stove is stunning and I particularly like your vent hood. Is it original to the stove, to the house or a completely separate find? Also, I totally covet your flagstone wall with the lighted niches! I’ve never seen anything like it. Thanks so much for sharing!
gorgeous!
Kelly and her DH did a great job with the knotty pine cabinets. They look fabulous! And the green paint does go so nicely with them. Will look forward to seeing the rest of the house…..
Spectacular kitchen and renovation. The stone wall & niches are outstanding. Annie B, right you are. You don’t have to choose Bonanza or Jetsons — you can have both. The look can be more inviting than strict modern. Our friends recently added a family room to their restored ’50s ranch, and the interior is all NEW knotty pine and rough stone. They also used salvaged planks to panel their basement rumpus room. So, knotty pine lives!
I’ve been thinking about your kitchen plumbing dilemma…I had the same thing only I also inherited the last load of dirty dishes in the washer (in 2″ of water) from 3 years earlier….along with the old lady’s refrigerator full of what was food in 1997.
The problem turned out to be a bad waste pipe that the 84 year old husband had spent his last decade of life wrapping in black electical tape. Miles of it. Undetectable.
My point is: A home inspection is well worth the money. Not to change the potential in a home; but to alert new owners of any pressing needs vs. what you can fix over the next five years. Like electrical….only this year are we able to make coffee and toast (from opposite sides of the room) at the same time.
It is great to find an untouched MCM home….just remember the operative word is UNTOUCHED. A good home inspection prior to purchase makes a BIG difference.
I feel inspired! Thinking of changing the paint color in my knotty pine kitchen so something along the lines of the mossy green pictured here, or something a touch more towards turquoise. Anyone have any ideas of colors I should look into?
ooooooo the stone wall and the lovely ceilings are truly amazing!
Wow! What a beautiful job on the cabinets Kelly!. We have the exact same ones in our kitchen (and on the ceiling in the dining room portion, not to mention in our living room too) – with a terrible stain job. Thankfully the interiors are beautiful, but I have yet to attack the outsides. So thank you for the cleaning tips, perhaps I’ll be able to make them as lovely as yours.
I’m blown away! That is a gorgeous kitchen – you did an amazing job. Seriously blown away…
Eartha Kitsch! My hero! If any of you didn’t notice, you can follow Pam’s link at the beginning of the article to Kelly’s Flickr photostream, where you will see more pictures of their amazing house and some of the funniest cat, squirrel, and “Jack” stories you could hope for. Kelly is an inspired writer, and her photostream never fails to entertain and inspire.
YAY! Eartha is the best!! :O)
Oh Kelly, your kitchen is SO gorgeous! The knotty pine is just beautiful and glowing, and I adore flagstone, those niches are the best! I love the way you decorated it too!! Great job to you and Hubby!!
Love the stove, it looks perfect in the kitchen, we have a 40 inch spot for a stove too, and the stove, Hubby just needs to get working on fixing it.
How could anyone not like knotty pine???!!! ;O)
P.S. Eartha, so has Pip tried to jump into those niches? haha
This makes me smile because Kelly bought her ranch house around the same time I bought mine. She and The Mister are very passionate about and dedicated to it and boy does it show! Whatta kitchen!!
Love it! And of course, adore the vintage stove
Great job! I especially love the UFO stove – what a find! You’ve inspired me to get working on my kitchen. And I’ve never thought about removing a few cabinet doors to display my colorful kitchen stuff… might work. Thanks!
Gorgeous! Fantastic! Fabulous!
I really love the ceiling & wow!the mossy green paint really brings it ALL together. Great job!
How could you knot love it?
The cabinets, the stone wall…so fun. LOVE! Thanks for sharing.
Really looks great and you’re lucky you have a stone wall to break up all the wood. The bedford stone wall is so rich; that is my fav part of your kitchen!! Smart to put in extra lighting becuase knotty pine really steals the light and puts an amber glow on to everything.
Wow! I love the hinges! Seems these days everyone wants to hide them. Also, the paint color is perfect. What is it – do tell us. You’ve hit the nail on the head for me. Love, love, love, your taste.
Absoutely beautiful!
I can’t believe the original kitchen windows were still being stored even though they had been replaced! LOVE it!
I think we have the same widow hardware in our house, and every window salesperson that wants to replace our windows to more energy efficient ones keeps telling me “there’s no way you’ll get those types of windows anymore.” None of them know that I won’t take no for an answer. I want the original look. And, until we figure that out, the plastic will continue to go up each winter! Kelly, the metal arm swings out and pushes the window out at an angle, right? I must write down the name of the company that made them for you! VERY cool!
I absolutely hoot each time I read your blog! Thank you!
This is absolutely breathtaking! What is the counter material, if I may ask?
Thanks, Tikimama for the hint about the link to Kelly’s Flickr photo stream. Duh, I totally missed it! But what a hoot checking out all the pix, notes, and comments. Great!! =)
That kitchen looks beautiful. I love that stove!
I grew up in a farm house that had that very same knotty pine in the living room. Two walls were covered it in, one that was simply wall covering, the other that housed built-in cupboards under the stairs. It brings back memories for me.
What a great kitchen. I can almost smell the morning coffee brewing, and I really like the yellow dial telephone.
Love your kitschen! I have the same hardware –and some of the same dishes too. And I’d die to have your stove/oven!! There is hope for me for when my black appliances die!
Awesome kitchen! One of the few other places I’ve seen the Andersen “push bar” windows. Used to have one in my old kitchen!
Bravo! What a cool setup. The details make it sing. My parents home has knotty pine cabinets in the kitchen and Breakfast Room (an update done sometime in the late 50′s or 60′s, along with some other great mid century Bath decor; and yes, they have a much nicer home than I do). Gives me inspiration, though, for my early 60′s tract ranch home which needs a major Kitchen (and Bath) redo (the previous owner did unspeakable things that I still fume about but must learn to live with for now). Where can I find that cute yellow book rack on the counter? Hooray for vintage!
I like the green with the wood, the stove is aces, and the hard work getting the grime off of the pine — much kudos — it’s tedious muscle aching work. Congratulations that you were able to get the house you’ve dreamed of owning!
Fabulous kitchen!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments on our kitchen and thanks to you, Pam for featuring it for us. It’s been great fun!
Here’s some answers to the questions that some of you asked:
The stove hood came with the house and we love the crazy light effect that it gives. It does kind of go with the “UFO” stove too.
Pip, the kitten hasn’t gotten to the niches yet but she HAS climbed the wall like a baby squirrel when she was a kitten..up..up…up…she went!
The window hardware is indeed the push-bar type that swings out and then pushes back. The ones that we had made turned out great.
The counter top came with the house. It’s an ultra-shiny laminate.
The yellow book rack came from an estate sale but I know I’ve seen them around…maybe used as file holders too?
The paint is a color that we custom mixed ourselves from paint that we had around the house. We then got Sherwin Williams to mix up a batch from our sample. We’ve done this in pretty much every room of our house and it’s a great way to get just the right color if you have lots of paint laying around. I’d be happy to share the code off of the can if anyone wants it – just send me an email over on Flickr if you want it.
Thanks again, everyone!
Jen – I just had Sherwin Williams match up the original color of light turquoise. This is the color that was on the walls in ’54. Its awesome! And its so authentic it was scaring me to be painting it. You won’t find it in any paint samples.
Another good color to consider is Tarpon Springs Green from Sears Easy Living
colors, i bought a cheaper brand but based it on the chip for martha’s “vintage map” its a beautiful pale turquoise. I painted my cabinet insides with it (white kitchen)
What a fabulous kitchen! I could kill for a flagstone wall like that one – how lucky!
What struck me about this kitchen is that it makes a big difference what kind of finish is on knotty pine. I love that satin-soft finish on this kitchen. I grew up in a house that was almost 100% knotty pine (surprisingly, the kitchen was NOT). While it had a certain charm to it, it didn’t hold a candle to the knotty pine pictured here. Why? I think it is because our house featured lacquered pine, which is shiny. Makes a huge difference.
I wonder what the ratio of oil to lacquer-finished pine is out there? A nice oil finish is just so appealing, and blends more readily with other textures. Also, the combination of pine and stone helps a LOT! What a great job they did on this kitchen, it looks wonderful from top to bottom!
I LOVE knotty pine! But it’s usually in the basements, I’ve never seen a kitchen that was all knotty pine, love it, love it!
Thank you for sharing the details of your remodeling. We are getting ready to fix our knotty pine kitchen the way we like it. This is a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31108567@N06/sets/72157621971263328/
We are changing the counter tops (no granite!) and taking out the upper peninsula cabinets to let in more light and open the kitchen up to the eating area. Also, we are replacing the floor (not original).
Anyway, thanks for sharing your tips about the Old English. I can’t wait to try it!
I love your stone wall and your color choices. Great kitchen!
Hi all,
Does anyone know what kind of stand mixer that is? I LOVE it.
Morgan,
It’s the artisan series kitchen-aid mixer in mint or kiwi. very easy to fin, but maybe not in that color. they run about $250.
Hey Morgan,
Thanks! Lindsey is right that it’s the KitchenAid artisan series mixer. The color is Pistachio and looks a lot prettier in person than the photos online at retailer sites show. It’s a nice mint green in person.
Eartha Kitsch, our style always makes me feel so very happy! All that hard work paid off big time in fabulosity! On a side note, my boyfriend’s mama has a KitchenAid Pistachio mixer from the many many decades ago…and it is in MINT MINT MINT condition. It’s so dang fabulous.
Thank you for posting this entertaining and delightful look at our favorite domestic goddess Eartha Mae Kitsch! She’s done such a terrific job, this should be an inspiration to those lucky enough to have inherited one of these original pine kitchens!!!
What a great story and photos! Thanks for featuring Eartha Kitsch!
You may have just converted me to knotty pine fandom. I’ve always hated them, but not after seeing how great your kitchen looks. Wow!
It is the most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen… hooray for knotty pine, Eartha Kitsch and DH! (But no hoorays for squirrels and plumbing issues.)
Great article!
I am the person who, along with my hubby, sold this house to Eartha Kitsch and DH. We are so glad we did, and not because of the issues they found (I promise we didn’t have those plumbing issues and we never messed with the electrical stuff!). So sorry about all that! No, I’m so glad because we really loved that house but were never able to really put in the money and work it would take to restore it like it deserved to be. We were it’s caretakers for a few happy years, and it was our daughter’s first house. I’m so glad to see these pics, Kelly. I knew you all would give [it] the love and care it deserves!
It’s absolutely breathtaking! So that’s why that was happening, the squirrels and the walnuts! This is just the most gorgeous, wonderful kitchen I have ever seen, in my entire life.
Pam, thank you for this great feature, about Eartha Kitsch’s knotty pine kitchen. Priceless.
Eartha Kitsch and DH ~~
Thank you for saving this fantastic kitchen! It looks so loved and so cool. I’d love to see more of your house for inspiration. And thanks to Pam for posting this story. This site is a revelation to me, an actual vintage person learning a new appreciation for styles I’ve taken for granted for decades. My karma has been leading me here for several years however, with my own collection of mid-century cool and the books and mags of the era that are the best things ever to read! Glad to land here at last. I love it all!
I love your photos so much I wanna cry. When looking to purchase our first home, I told my husband I wanted the Brady Bunch house or a sprawling (preferably) one-owner sprawling rancher with as much knotty pine as we could find. Unfortunately, months went by and nothing. Very hard to find knotty pine thanks to those “sell this house” type shows where they paint everything and hope to sell quickly.
We ended up with the house I have now. Suitable for our needs but no character. Thank you for saving a knotty pine kitchen!!!
Thank you for publishing your photos. We just purchased a cottage with a very similar kitchen. My husband is so excited about the knotty pine, me, not so much but now that I see yours, I’m all for it!
Thank you for the tips on how to clean unfinished knotty pine cabinets! My father and grandfather made the cabinets and drawers when the house was built in 1950, and I’ve been struggling with what to do to clean them. Those who scoff at my mid-century family heirloom woodwork suggested sanding to the original pale color or priming, filling and painting. No!!! You have inspired me to try your magic formulas.
The only thing remaining is what neutral colors to choose for the laminate countertops–e.g. light or dark. Right now, they are the original blue linoleum with chrome edge strips, but the lino is so chewed up and ruined [especially around the sink] that it has to go. I’m on the fence about whether to go with black or something lighter as I have a new glossy black stove. Any ideas? Authentic 50′s popping color isn’t my aim with the counters…just something that doesn’t call attention to itself. It’s all about my cabinets. Thanks!
Silent Cal, check out these two posts for countertop ideas:
http://retrorenovation.com/2009/04/05/knotty-pine-kitchens-a-look-that-is-due-for-a-comeback/
http://retrorenovation.com/2008/08/18/recreate-don-betty-drapers-50s-mad-men-kitchen/
I am looking at houses in Fort Worth, Texas, and find myself forgiving a lot if they have knotty pine kitchen, for instance, one trapped between two freeways?
I guess it is the northwoods, 1950′s born Wisconsin girl in me.
I shudder whenever I see a good 1940′s/50′s home with a 2000 era kitchen stuck in it.
Can you tell me what color is on the walls?
I just closed on a one owner ranch with some truly amazing original features (turquoise boomerang counters? Yes please!) My new house is dripping in knotty pine, so I’ve been scouring the internets for information and inspiration. I will be attacking my new cabinets tonight with Murphy’s and Old English! Thanks so much for featuring this drool-worthy kitchen and for the helpful hints!
Welcome and congratulations, Andee! Send me some photos (use Contact button to establish contact…)
Pam
It’s so nice to see someone with taste of their own.
To not follow the crowd and have the exact same thing as everyone else seems to be out of fashion right now.
Refreshing!
I WISH I would have discovered/come across/stumbled upon your site BEFORE my Renovation. My Mom has my old 40′s stove and I demo’d the bottom knotty pine cabinets. I still have some top one’s, but I painted them white. Ugggh!! Oh well, I will enjoy the one’s I see on your blogs and for those I know that still have a kitchen like this, I will personally help them lovingly restore them to their former glory. Great Job!!!
Can you tell us what color the paint is that she used on her kitchen walls.
Such a beautiful kitchen! I too have a 1950′s home. My kitchen still has the original boomerang countertops but the notty pine cabinets have been painted an eggshell color. At one time the kitchen had turquoise green ceiling and window trim with the notty pine but, it had all been painted eggshell – ceiling, walls, cabinets…. I have thought about stripping the cabinets but, it seems like a huge ordeal. After seeing your kitchen….it just might be worth the effort!
I came across your site because I was googling knotty pine for an article that I was researching. Anyway, strolling through your pics, I realized I have the EXACT same stove you do. It’s a vintage GE electric that was in our home when we bought it. It has always worked great and I love the look of it so I have never replaced it. Hope you have enjoyed your stove as well~!
I just found this site and am totally thrilled…Our home was built in 1926 but was “updated” in 1952 with knotty pine in the kitchen, breakfast room, one wall in living room..and in our bedroom, we have real beadboard on top and knotty pine on lower walls. I have always wanted to paint it all but never did….now I know how to clean well and make it look new again and I am so excited…I love my bungalow and now everything will look as I envision it did in early years…thank you so much for the blog, the pictures, the comments, and the encouragements….
You’re welcome — and welcome! Your bungalow sounds just lovely… perfect!
At first glance, I thought these were pictures of my kitchen, right down to the hardware and corner shelves on either side of the sink! Found this page doing a search for how to refurbish knotty pine cabinets. Definitely having second thoughts now. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad I found this site tonight! I just started cleaning our knotty pine walls in our log cabin that was built in the early 60′s, at least that’s the story. We have ceilings and walls, as well as a full kitchen of knotty pine. I started cleaning with the spray on Murphy’s Oil Soap, but was wondering what else to use to brighten them, and Old English seems to be my answer. We also have log walls which I started cleaning with the Murphy’s as well. I’m tired tonight! We have the same stove, in a lovely harvest gold! Still works fine and I love having the extra space on top for plating the food. Nice big oven too.
We too have a retro kitchen and are seeking some strap hinges to repair our missing ones.
We didn’t quite have the luck you did with murphy’s oil soap and old english, but it gives us hope.
has any one seen a knotty pine kictchen with a black and white checkerboard floor? I want to put this in my k pine kitchen with black granite countertops.
I bet SOMEBODY in this group knows what I’m talking about. We have a 1955 era kitchen with knotty pine cabinets. What do you call the board that is on the cabinet in front of the sink. Ours has intentional “slits” in it, for decoration or venting or who knows what. Help, please.
THANKS YOU!
Wilma
Hmmm… I don’t know what this is called. We see it on all varieties of wood and metal cabinets. I am pretty durn sure it’s intended for ventilation. I’d call it the … sink ventilation panel. But, I’ll look in some catalogs and see if there was an “official” name for this.
Thank you so much, Pam!
So happy to see this site. We have an older house with pine cabinets in kitchen exactly like kitchen pictured above, and pine paneling in many rooms. Our house is on the market, we are hoping to move to warmer climate. Our problem has been that real estate agent wants us to paint over pine but I love the Pine and feel we should keep it and if someone else wants to paint it they can. So frustrating when they want to change your house before it is sold. I will be using the above advice to clean and refurbish the pine. Thanks.
Hi, Eartha! Your kitchen looks a lot like mine (except no lovely stone wall with niches), and I’m happy to hear that you had some of the same electrical issues in your house that we had. Where I live, you wouldn’t have had the water drainage issues, because in order to get a mortgage you have to have a home inspector test out the plumbing, well, etc. and make sure they work. Our inspector looked on the roof to be sure the vent holes were free of squirrel nests and covered, However, he didn’t know some of what was behind the walls electrically.
I, too, chose to add green to the knotty pine. It just seems to go, doesn’t it? And we added more lighting, too.
Your stove is cool–looks like one I had in my former 1939 house that was redecorated and got new appliances in the 1950s.
Also love your vintage melmac and pyrex dishes–so cool displayed in the narrow cabinets with the doors removed. Makes you wonder if they originally were open shelves.
Most of all, what I appreciate about you and DH is that you are making the home what you want, getting the things done that you want to live with. To double heck with the realtors that say, “Oh, when you sell, buyers are going to want stainless steel and granite countertops.” By the time we need to leave our houses, who knows what will be the latest style? I heard it’s going to be knotty pine!
Keep enjoying life in the retro lane!