Jon & Trixi are back, with an update on the continuing un-remodel of their 1962 kitchen. They have slowly been (1) peeling away circa-2005 disprovements and (2) replacing millenial flip-this-house crappola with vintage goodness, all in the service of (3) reveling in their kitchen’s innate avocadoness.
Jon writes:
Look what went in this weekend! The avocado sink!! FIFTEEN HOURS it took, but it works and doesn’t leak!
You will recall that, when we first met Jon and Trixi, Jon explained about finding the sink. Well, in case you don’t recall, here is exactly what he said:
(OH — one last thing — if any of your Minneapolis readers are wanting a pink bathroom after the Pink Bathroom article in the Star Tribune a few weeks ago, point ‘em here: City Salvage. … We got our sink for super-cheap — the guy is dying to get rid of that stuff. We haven’t bought it yet — waiting for this next pay period, but our plan is to head there on Saturday. The guy told me there wasn’t a lot of call for avocado sinks, so there wasn’t much risk of it selling before then. It had a hudee ring!! A little bent up on one corner but I have high hopes I can gently hammer it back. But we have a working vintage Frigidaire fridge — in Avocado!! Goal: all matching avocado appliances.
Over to the right of the sink, you most surely did spy a Vance Industries, hudee-rimmed, built-in trivet slash cutting board. Here’s a close up:
Jon explains:
At long last!! It looks smashing! And one of the two “mystery holes” has been filled! All that’s left in countertop land is to install our avocado sink and get a NuTone Food Center happening. And then we’re FINALLY on to the cabinets. I think we’re gonna see the hugest change once we start working on those!
My goodness, Jon & Trixi, you surely hath become king and queen of the hudees. We look forward, your royal hudee highnesses, to seeing the next installment of your kitchen adventures.
Janice says
Regarding the clearning maintenance of the hudee ring, when I intalled mine in the kitchen, I put down a seal of clear silicone to prevent all the issues that Brad mentioned. It’s now been in a year and I’ve not had one problem with crumbs or any other gunk collecting in the edges. Jon and Trixi, I highly recommend doing that and you won’t have a problem. I would imagine after a period of time, I will need to reseal it, but that’s better than using a toothbrush to clean between the ring and countertop. Your floor is to die for! Great job in staying true to the green. I have avocado countertops and love them.
pam kueber says
We installed our 1963 Kohler hudee-rimmed double sink about 5 years ago. No silicone or nothin’ like that. Never ever a problem with dust bunnies or worse. But then, someone in my house is a clean freak.
Jon Hunt says
We indeed have the bead of clear silicon in both the cutting board and the sink!! And I’ve noticed it repels crumbs like nobodies business. The key, I’m told, is to use a credit card to push the caulking under the ring — it seals it AND you can’t see it. Works like a charm.
Just another Pam says
Brilliant idea, wish I’d known about it a year ago. I should have said earlier but your sink looks beautiful!
Jon Hunt says
Oh, and Janice, I should say I *love* your kitchen!! It was part of the inspiration to keep the avocado — you showed clearly that it can be embraced and still look phenomenal.
Janice says
Thanks Jon! I’m glad I could play a part in saving some wonderful details in your kitchen. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
tulsatammy says
People thought we were crazy when we moved into our 1967 ranch in 1995 and didn’t tear out all the avocado appliances, countertop and floor (just like Jon & Trixi’s). I don’t love avocado, but I liked it. Now we live in a 1957 ranch that had the kitchen completely replaced in 1992 with 80’s-90’s country. Other people say it’s cute, but to me it’s ugly and doesn’t match the mid-century feel of the rest of the house.
Jon Hunt says
Oh, and as far as avocado stuff — we have one of those kitchens with a countertop range and a double oven in a kind of cabinet thingy to the right of it. I see those combo oven / toaster oven thingies in avocado a lot, but NEVER cooktops or double ovens or range hoods!! And I’ve been looking.
Mike says
Jon: There are range hoods in avocado green, you just have to keep looking. My parents’ 1973 ranch had an avocado green fridge, dishwasher, trash compactor, and range hood. The cooktop was white, and the double wall oven was black. Over time, the avocado appliances wore out and were replaced with black. the range hood was the last to go. It was still functional, but was sent to the the local autobody shop for a repaint – black to match everything else.
Jon Hunt says
Hey, thanks for the kind words, folks!!
Polarprincess: the small holes are where the remodelers had screwed down the wonderboard, which is a kind of drywall stuff that they laid down before putting down the layer of marble tiles. It basically acted as a “cover up the hole where the cutting board and Nutone Food Center was” layer. Unfortch, they were pretty diligent in screwing down the stuff, so we were left with a ton of holes. THANKFULLY, there’s this stuff — http://www.kampelent.com/seamfil.php — which still exists, and does a marvelous job of covering up the holes, at least from a distance.
PS: for Minneapolitans — we actually got the sink at Bauer Brothers, which is just across the river from City Salvage. They have a scary ton of colored bathroom stuff, including purple (!) and blue (!) and yellow!
Kersten says
Hey you two! This is awesome! I’m only a couple hours from Minneapolis (and lived there until about 5 years ago – now in LaCrosse.) I recently saw one of those all-in- one oven and upper toaster oven units in our local Habitat store in avocado green! It made me smile and although the head dude has been really unaccommodating about accepting 50’s-60’s stuff, that thing was GONE when I went in the next day to check on it! (Maybe he’ll start listening to me and take more of this great stuff!!) I will surely keep my eyes peeled for more avocado for you. I’m polarprincess on the forum, so feel free to shoot me an e-mail with what you’re looking for. I have a massive brown hood vent that I probably won’t be using in our kitchen remodel (saved it from a neighboring house.) I think that house had avocado too, so if you should think you might want a massive brown hood, I’ve got one for you! Hey- can you enlighten me about the small holes that are in front of the sink in the formica? Was that from the previous sink? It’s fun to watch your progress! Keep the updates coming, we’re all cheering for you!
Ann-Marie Meyers (Skylark) says
Kersten,
I asked at the La Crosse, ReStore, and they said when they get in the vintage stuff it never lasts longer than a day, so I don’t know why they won’t accept more.
Guess we are stuck Craigslist and going to the Minnyapple for our stuff.
BlueJay says
Avocado is a totally under appreciated color! That sink is awesome!
Jerry says
I agree, BlueJay.
I keep hoping against hope, keeping my fingers crossed, that someday, avocado green will once again grace our homes.
candy 45013 says
We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen. We have the same sink and the cutting board. The counter top is the same color green and white marble design. I’m putting it on craigs list today.
We had the original 1962 green stove, microwave and dishwasher that still worked like they were new. I gave away on craigs list a couple months ago. I didn’t think anyone would want them to use, sadly I believe they were scrappers.
Amy Jeannette says
I love avocado! Hey it is a neutral – and goes so well with so many other vibrant colors.
brad says
oh man…i had one of those built in cutting boards once …
im afraid i cant share the enthusiasm for those metal rings around the board and sink … they are a real catchall for food crud, crumbs, grease and general nastiness … be prepared to clean scrupulously 🙂
Just another Pam says
I have to second that emotion, Brad. This is the first one I ever removed and wow to call it a science experiment under there would be kind and the lady who owned this house was a clean and tidy soul. Mine was in the bathroom so I shudder to think what she found under the one in the kitchen when she removed it.
clampers says
Hey I’m in Minneapolis! Thanks for the City Salvage link. Diggin’ the avocado–I’m looking for avocado and burnt orange for my ’68 rambler too.
Can’t wait to see more pics, especially of the cabinets.
Jana (Berniecat) says
Hi Jon and Trixi,
Thanks for the updates on your progress! I have never seen the Vance Industries built in cutting board/trivet before — (yup, learn something new every day when I log on and tune in…). I really, really like the “treasure” of the original flooring that you uncovered – (avocado is one of my favorite colors). The new sink matches perfectly and I love the hudees! They can sometimes be a pain to put in (I know, it took me 3 hours with a friend to put in my first bathroom sink) but they are so worth it!!! It looks great! Can’t wait to hear more and am anxiously awaiting the next update! All hail to the King and Queen of the Hudees!