Laura writes in to ask a perennial question: Is it all right to mix and match mid century eras? Readers — What do you think?
Laura writes:
Pam – I’m at my wits end re: what to do in my kitchen. Over the last 18 months, I’ve collected all the fabulous Morton cabinets I need.
I LOVE the curves on both the uppers and lowers – to me, they really evoke the cozy 50’s look that resonates with me. I also acquired a great ’54 GE combination two-door refrigerator/freezer in beautiful condition, but unfortunately it does not cool and I can’t find a repair service inside 1,000 miles. These cabinets and this fridge are a perfect combination, but with the fridge not working I had to keep looking for something comparable.
Just last weekend I snapped up a great 1957 GE brown fridge with the revolving shelves I love, but it is a much sleeker design with very straight edges. After a little more research I realized that it is one of those that blends right in with the cabinets – it’s only 24 inches deep. It works great and the features are amazing – pull out bottom freezer drawer, rotating fruit & veggie bins, butter keeper, etc…..but the style doesn’t fit with my cabinets!!! I’m really torn, because I love them both, but combining them just feels very awkward.
I’m using the brown fridge now and sold the (non-functioning) white 1954-55 GE Combination to a fellow vintage-lover with a good friend in the refrigeration business. I love the features of the mid–mod brown fridge (1957) but feel it just doesn’t fit the early- to mid-50’s era look that I long to recreate. And mostly, both the cabinets and the fridge make great individual “statements”, but combining them sort of diminishes both, if you get my drift. To really do justice to that fridge, though, I would need to trade in my Mortons and get a set with flat fronts and go for the built-in look with soffits and everything. If the Retro Gods would bring me a left-hinged early-50’s fridge with lazy-susan shelves, I’d snap it up and sell the brown fridge, but it seems those left-hinged ones are about one in a hundred, or thousands of miles away….no luck so far.
I suppose I’ll have to choose between them, but which to give up (and find more appropriate versions of), and which to keep?!?! So, the question is….is it possible to live in two different eras in the same kitchen??? If you have time to consider my conundrum, I’d really appreciate your advice…. and I’d LOVE for you to post it and draw on all that creative energy from your readers. I drool over the photos of the gorgeous vintage COORDINATED kitchens on this site. I don’t want my own kitchen to fall short if I can help it.
“I’m at my wit’s end…” Yup. That’s where Retro Renovating gets us all, at one point or another, Laura. So happy you wrote in. I love your question, because it underscores that there were numerous waves of “mid century” and “mid century modern.” Not one look, but a variety of looks that evolved over the “mid century era,” which most historians bookend from 1946-1963. In fact, your Mortons, I’d say, are quintessentially late-1940s… while your fridge is quintessential early 60s (the GE experts on this site — Patrick? — will know right away.) So, your question neatly juxtaposes “the beginning” and “the end”. Oh and Laura: 18 months to collect your cabinets? A vintage stove (Chambers?) in the pickup truck? YOU GO, GIRL!
Readers: What do you think?
Matchy matchy mid mod? Or mix and match mid mod mad? I’ll pipe in tomorrow after reading your comments — which always give me new things to think about!
J.R. says
Mixing eras is fine, and authentic. Folks of the MC era were largely Depression era survivors, not prone to throw anything away if they didn’t have to, but still they were American consumers “keeping up with the Jones”. Even otherwise modern homes and furnishings often featured a few heirloom pieces, and so too 40’s cabinets with a late 50’s fridge is -as others have said- representative of transition.
I agree to paint the refrigerator, but I do not think it is a do-it-yourself project for most folks. Ask around at auto body shops… a refrigerator and its paint is not too different really from that of an automobile (in fact most were build by subsidiary companies of auto manufactures back then). You’re gonna get some strange looks, but you will likely find a small body shop willing to do it.
I think too that finding, or having made (if you can, your fridge placement looks challenging) a rounded cabinet to fit over the top of the fridge (perhaps adding a bulkhead/ soffett as well ) will subdue the sharp contrast and give it a more “built in” look.
Allie says
Laura–I love your cabinets and I love your fridge, but not together! BUT finding the perfect retro-renovation kitchen can take it’s toll and it sounds like you need a rest. So just live with the not perfect fridge and the right one will come around. 🙂 PS I have an 18″x24″ section of what looks like your exact color countertop w/ back splash if you need it. We live in NJ…
Olivia says
I vote you keep the cabinets for sure and make due with the fridge until you can find one that fits with the cabinets. If you can’t find a vintage fridge that will work, save your pennies for a new retro model.
Urbanitra says
ditto
Jason says
Exactly – if you heart the look of those cabinets then keep the fridge until you find a replacement, original or new retro look.
Keep the brown fridge for a spare in garage, basement, etc becasue it’s cool too!
Lynne says
Oh, my gosh! Do NOT paint that fridge! I went down that road-once. I painted a range hood and a fridge. I did everything I was supposed to. I cleaned, I gently sanded, I primed, I wiped, I prayed, I used the correct appliance paint. Took me DAYS, and the end result was WORSE than the original finish.
I implore you…don’t paint that fridge!
lauramoon says
Turns out the brown IS paint….the original is white and I’m slowly stripping it away with citrus gel remover. Whoever painted it sprayed right over the GE emblem, so clearly the paint HAS to go.
Lauryn says
I’d say keep the fridge until you see how it looks with the brown paint removed. If it matches better, then you can keep it, otherwise you can use it until you find the one you want. I would not, however, get rid of the cabinets. They are fabulous and it took you so long to find them. I imagine finding one refrigerator would be a easier than finding another set of matching cabinets, even if it takes awhile before it walks into your life.
If you know any real estate agents (especially if you’re friendly with them!), you can let them know you are looking for an older refrigerator; that way if any houses on the market have older fridges that might work for your kitchen, they can let you know. A lot of times people buying or selling a house will automatically get rid of a refrigerator that’s old and might be really grateful for someone to take it off their hands.
Dianne says
I absolutely love the cabinets, but they are downplayed with that fridge sitting next to them. I would say the fridge has to go. The cabinets far outshine it! Love the countertop!!
50sgal says
I think I would keep the fridge but paint it as well. However, I would paint it a color you feel is more ’50/60s’, say a robins egg blue or a lovely butter yellow. Later in the 1950’s you see the square lines of fridges showing up. In fact in some of my 56 magazines they have many ‘new’ looks that are very straight. The brown is the only thing making it seem as if it isn’t ‘part of the look’.
That is my 2 cents. Good finds, by the way.
John Quirk says
I’d say you answered your own question when you said it felt awkward. Part of that is probably the difference in color. I agree with earlier posters that painting the fridge the same color as the cabinets will help it blend in. I’d say give that a try first. Keep the cabinets for sure.
Good luck, John
Lynne says
If it were me…. I would keep the fridge, and continue to look just as hard for the one you really want.
I would also keep trying to find someone to fix the white one. Call the mom and pop appliance places. Sometimes the retired guys still know their way around these old appliances. When you call places, ask if they know someone.
As an example, when we moved into our our rural Illinois farmhouse we found that the phone lines in that area had been installed in the 50’s. The young man who came out to hook up our new phones, didn’t have a clue as to how to go about it. He said he’d never seen equipment like it. So, the phone company sent out one of their “retirees” who had us set up in no time flat.
I figure if you can come up with fabulous cabinets the way you have, you’ll find exactly the fridge you want, no doubt about it.
Amy Hill says
You don’t replace the whole kitchen, just the non-working appliance when it wears out, just as Bill said, marking a visual transition thru time.
Old decorator trick – make everything the same color & it will blend different styles together better.
I’d keep those cabinets first before I changed styles. It must have been a lot of work to get all the ones you needed.
We want to see pictures of the finished room! Good Luck!
BungalowBILL says
I say it’s just fine to mix eras. It shows the natural progression and life of a home. I do see your point about the 57 not quite matching. Maybe if the color was the same as the cabinets it would meld better. I understand your sadness at the loss of the 54. I have the exact one in the basement. I love the bottle holders, built in egg holder and revolving shelves. Alas, mine too doesn’t cool. I hear the compressor working but I think it needs a shot of freon