Hot item! Just yesterday, Cody sent in this great kitchen from craigslist — Burlington, Vermont. He wrote:
Hi Pam I just ran across this on Craigslist and thought it was quite a find! It’s a time capsule kitchen and they are selling the pieces off (sad) … it looks to be in great shape. Thought you may like to share it with your readers and maybe find a good home for this kitchen!
The ad is now gone, but we captured the info originally provided by the seller:
1950 VINTAGE KITCHEN: We purchased a home that had one prior owner and no children. The kitchen is in unbelievable nearly perfect condition. The home was built custom and the best products available at the time were used. The home was placed in service in October of 1950 and remains in its original condition. We are enlarging and cannot use the kitchen. If you are interested in the entire kitchen we will discount, from $8500 to $7500. We will sell off piece meal on a first come first serve basis.
Cabinetry by Youngstown: Includes upper and lower cabinets with 2 lazy susans, two bread boxes, broom closet, over refrigerator cabinets and half round end shelf. Counter top, Melonite wall panels, recessed over sink light with stainless steel trim, and decorative fluorescent ceiling light with crystal decoration. $1,800.
Like-new Westinghouse stove with 4 burners and surface work area, large warming drawer and two pot storage drawers, timer, surface light and manual. $3,500.
Like-new Westinghouse refrigerator: features a “frost free” freezer compartment, butter storage, egg trays, interior lighting, and manual The E on Westinghouse is missing, but we are trying to order from a restoration company. $2,400.
Westinghouse dishwasher and sink base combination: The dishwasher has not been used in 40 years and we do not know if it runs. Single bay porcelain sink with drainboard on top of dishwasher. Cabinet storage under sink and manual for dishwasher $800.
Custom white Youngstown cabinets
Custom lazy susan & built ins throughout
Like-new Westinghouse stove with warming drawer
“Frost Free” Westinghouse refrigerator
Pam adds: Wow. Gorgeous kitchen… I’m in serious love with that stove. And, I love this listing because it seems to be a great example of how a modest-sized, U-shaped kitchen was put together. Also, this color combo seems to be a particular classic for the period — the pistachio green countertop, the kelly green floor, the white cabinets. I am pretty sure that the kitchen original to my 1951 house was this color scheme — we found kelly green tiles underneath the 70s vinyl sheet… and we had this pistachio green countertop (linen design) in two of the bathrooms. Finally — note the small scale of the fridge — replicate with a Smeg … or seek out vintage…. Thank you, Matt, for getting this post up pronto.
magnarama says
Yeah, it’s a pretty kitchen all together like that, but come onnnn … $3500 and $2400 for that stove and fridge? What are they smoking? They must be hoping some Hollywood set designer will whisk it all away….
carole says
My in-laws used to have a stove just like that! Isn’t that fridge sweet.
I understand remodeling, I really do, but if I bought a house that had that pristine of a vintage kitchen, I really don’t think I’d have the heart to tear it out. In fact, I’d probably buy the house for the pristine vintage kitchen. lol
nina462 says
I get dibs on the stove & fridge & edge shelving on the countertop. If I didn’t already have my own vintage kitchen, I’d want this one. Delish!!
Patrick Coffey says
that is the same stove and fridge the Ricardos had in their apratment on I Love Lucy….to bad these people are asking outrageous price for this kitchen though…
SusieQT says
You are right- because Westinghouse was the sponsor of I Love Lucy. Lucy and Ricky appeared in many of their commercials as well. I have the same stove, but the Commander (double oven) model.
barry says
just bought 1950 westinghouse stove wondered if you know were i can get parts thanks so much
pam kueber says
See the FAQ for Appliances.
SusieQT says
hi barry, the great thing about these old stoves is that they are well made and easy for a layman to figure out. Most of the repairs we have done were fairly straightforward and just involved replacing wires and elements. If you need larger parts, like doors or handles, you’d probably have to find a donor stove, but if you need wiring, just take a sample of the old wire to any electrical supply house and they should be able to get you hooked up.
Shane Walp says
Whoever’s running that ad isn’t bashfull about the pricing are they? Lol
That’s a great color scheme for the early ’50s. I had a ’52 Chevy that was “spring green” and “emerald green”. Maybe I can talk Nikki into going with that on the floors/countertops! But where would yÓu find that light green formica?
The Youngstown set that I purchased came complete with stainless backsplash, rounded front edging and stainless formica panel dividers all perfect. Prob is it’s gray cracked ice. Doesn’t look too bad but I may rather have the light green
denise says
Yeah, I thought “Wow” when I saw the asking prices, too.
I found a Vita-Mix (looking for parts for mine) on CL yesterday and the guy was asking $1800. I realize they’ve become popular but you can buy a new one for about $750 and a stainless older one like mine for $100-300 on ebay. My thought was “Wow!” just like I thought that with this.
But you never know, this guy might end up laughing himself to the bank!
Tikimama says
Why do these things never show up in my neck o’ the woods?? It seems like steel cabinets were a rarity in California, or everyone tore them out long ago. If I had the moolah, I’d be buyin’ and shippin’ this whole kitchen!
Glen Johnson says
I’m going to be selling my mother’s Youngstown metal cabinets. They’re in good condition but the insides need a little TLC – a little rusty. The outsides are in good condition but they have been repainted several times, so not original finishes. Still has the Youngstown Kitchen label in front! I’m located in Northern California. Let me know if anyone is interested!
pam kueber says
Hi Glen, you can post these on our buy/sell Forum — https://retrorenovation.com/forums
I will give you a day or two then delete these comments — I work to keep buying/selling off the blog proper, or else it gets crazy.
Marcela says
Aw! it’s too early to drool over a kitchen! what a jewel
Amy Hill says
I wish I was close enough to buy the fridge! I didn’t know they made “frost free” back then.
Sweet little kitchen with all the bells & whistles. Someone will get a real treasure!
denise says
I’m glad that even though they can’t (don’t want to) re-use these items, they at least appreciate the goodness of it enough to save them.
Guy H. says
Wow, I really love the look of that kitchen. So clean! I hope someone buys it all and keeps it together.