‘Betty Crafter’ wrote me a happy email and sent me these happy photos, which reminded me that I need to start another microsite in the same vein as Save The Pink Bathrooms. Only the new blog will be called: Say Yes to the Knotty Pine. Don’t try to buy the url away from me. It’s mine all mine buwahahaha. Meanwhile, here is Betty’s “miracle” story and more photos of her gorgeous time capsule knotty pine kitchen…She writes:
We just bought the house less than a month ago so we have a long way to go, but here’s our short story so far!
My husband and I decided to move because although we lived in a pretty fab 50’s house in a great location, it didn’t have the original kitchen and bathrooms I’d always wanted. Just before our house hit the market, I saw this one online. I almost stopped breathing. I really didn’t think a house like this existed! Turquoise counters? Knotty pine paneling in half the house? A pink AND a green bathroom? Fireplace? Creek? Barn?
Crikey!
“It looks like the inside of a Spartan trailer!” I squealed.
I immediately called our realtor who refused to show it to me because: “I’m already showing that house to two clients who DON’T have homes to sell first.”
Well I was so insane for this house that the hubs and I drove there and convinced the seller to show it to us herself! Upon seeing it in person I was even more sure this was home. It’s a miracle we ended up here because we weren’t the only ones who loved this house. But luckily for us the other offers fell through just about the time we got offers on our home, and here we are!
We don’t want to change much because the house is pretty much perfect. We tore up the carpet to install green apple VCT in all the areas with the knotty pine paneling and hardwoods in the rest of the house. The turquoise stove and bar chairs came with the house – lucky us! Otherwise it’s all original.
Is it possible to be in love with a physical object? I could not love my new house any more. Also, I’ve started a blog — Betty Crafter — to chronicle our caretaker and preservation efforts if anyone’s interested… The pink bathroom has an unfortunate 80’s vanity, but I found a pink wall hung sink for $5 on the forums here that will be going in soon. Then some fresh paint inside and out and a Crestview Door and we’re done! My main concern is preserving what’s here. There are a few stains on the counters, and I’d like to find the best way to clean them and protect them from future stains. I also need to give my paneling the “Eartha Kitsch treatment” but they are in pretty decent condition as is.
Also, in one of the first shots I sent, that is a NuTone Intercom/Radio that even goes out to the barn! We even have the owner’s manual – when we moved in there was a file folder on the counter with every receipt for service and owner’s manual to everything in the house since the 70’s.
Crikey! BC, you have some mighty fine happy going on there in your little piece of time capsule paradise. I love the way you used the fabric on the kitchen chair to choose your floor color and tie in with the skylark blue Formica countertops. I also LOVE the way the peninsula eating area curves out, from the bottom (eating counter) to top (prep counter) — what a great idea from the past. Send me pics of your other projects when they are ready for prime time. And: A barn and a creek? Those, too! Tip: for cleaning countertops, our reco is Countertop Magic…
Trouble says
Man that’s kool, I love knotty pine. Alot of people hate it and think it’s the first thing to go. I feel it’s bc they are brainwashed to think it’s ugly. This isn’t “panelling” that you get at Lowes, this is finish work, if you ask me.
I’ve got my own knotty pine from a house that was getting rid of it. Just gotta install it somewhere…
eudora says
Anybody know how to finish pine panelling in the knotty pine color?
Happy Daze says
Most of the vintage knotty pine I’ve run across was finished with orange shellac. However, a more durable finish would probably be needed in a kitchen where moisture is present.
Janet says
I have three recipes that I’ve been using on fir plywood (which is quite pale).
(1) 1/2 quart Epifanes Woodfinish Varnish from Jamestown Distributors (online) plus TransTint wood dye from Woodcraft (also online): 30 drops Amber, 30 drops Red Mahogany
(2) Same as above but change TransTint to 3/8 teaspoon Amber, 3/8 teaspoon Reddish Brown, 8 drops Bright Red. Gives about the same color as #1 but these are the dyes I had on hand at the time
(3) 1 gallon Minwax Polycrylic water-based wood finish plus 1-1/4 teaspoons TransTint Golden Brown wood dye
It will take several coats to build up the color. If you try to add too much color some of the excess may not be absorbed and will be pasted. Also, a deeper-colored mixture will show brush marks and drips easier, making more work to brush it out.
I have used orange shellac and garnet shellac but I find that the color is too golden for my needs. You can coat over shellac with polyurethan; I’ve done this on a bookcase. How well it would wear in a kitchen I don’t know – no experience with that.
Nelia says
Janet, Do you think your recipes would work to match new pine or unfinished knotty pine to original knotty pine? The reason I ask, we have knotty pine cabinets in our ’54 kitchen but previous owners painted it over in the laundry room. We want to strip the paint off but we’re not sure how to go about getting the cabinets to match the originals once we strip the paint. It doesn’t have to be totally perfect as the cabinets aren’t right next to each other but we need to get close. Gabby mentioned on this thread that amber shellac works too, I’m so exited to see your post!
I love Betty’s kitchen, we need to see more knotty pine kitchens!!
Nelia
Janet says
Yes, I think you can come very close, enough to be believable. I came up with my recipes to get the pale plywood to be similar in color to our log walls, which are naturally sun-darkened.
Scale the recipes down to small batches and try them on scrap pieces of wood that are similar in color to the stripped cabinet wood. This may take a while, especially if you use real varnish instead of water-based because it takes a couple of days for a coat to dry.
If you think the finish color is veering off in a direction that you don’t want, add whatever TransTint color you think will alter it. Or start over with another mixture. You may have to invest in several bottles of dye, and they aren’t cheap. I wish I could tell you exactly what to mix up but I can’t. Still, maybe this is better than starting from scratch as I did.
I gave up on using regular stain on the plywood because I never could find a color that worked, and it always looked like “stain” instead of “sun-darkening”. However, if you run into a situation that requires stain because nothing else will solve the problem, go to permachink.com, a log home supplies place, and order sample bottles of their Lifeline Ultra-2 colors. Using various colors applied with paper towels, I was able to disguise some places on the logs where the sun-darkening got sanded off, leaving whitish blotches.
What else can I help you with?
Janet says
PS: you can use TransTint dyes in shellac, too. Your local big-box store will probably just have the pre-mixed orange shellac. Woodcraft carries dried shellac flakes in additional colors. You dissolve the flakes in denatured alcohol. I liked the effect I got from garnet shellac better than orange shellac, but it’s personal preference of course.
I very nearly did the plywood with shellac but eventually decided to use real varnish for water-resistant reasons. Even the backsplash is going to be plywood. If it’s good enough for yachts, it ought to be good enough for a kitchen.
nelia says
This is a HUGE help! Thank you Janet. We thought it would be possible to somehow get close to the original cabinets we have but we had no idea how to get there. This will give us a place to start. Thanks so much!!
megan says
I love watching Mad Men because Betty and Don’s (old/former?) kitchen is completely done in knotty pine. Check it out, it’s super cool, just like BC’s!!
pam kueber says
Yes, Megan, one of the earliest stories I did on the blog was how to recreate Betty Draper’s kitchen: https://retrorenovation.com/2008/08/18/recreate-don-betty-drapers-50s-mad-men-kitchen/
It’s Betty day!
Jeanne says
Ah yes….this is the post that led me to find (google) Retro Renovation on one fateful day. 🙂
pam kueber says
🙂
eudora says
As long as it doesn’t include recreating her bad attitude…sheesh!
robyn says
Beautiful fun happy kitchen! Somebody did everything right years ago and then kept it nice! Can’t wait to hear more about your home and looking forward to following your journey.
Also, would love a section, thread, blog thingy about knotty pine. I don’t have knotty pine, but I have beautiful real wood paneling that does present some challenges to decorate around. Would love to know what others do with this.
pam kueber says
Robyn, we have cherry paneling in the basement family room — I kept the decor very warm — antique red and gold and black and green — https://retrorenovation.com/2011/02/26/our-1951mid-century-modern-basement-man-cave/
Here’s a more modern, 70s idea: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/03/21/design-a-1970s-family-room-using-vintage-new-and-reproduction-items/
I think the key is picking up the warm red in the paneling.
Melanie says
Oh, all that knotty pine brings back such good childhood memories. Love it! And that green VCT just makes the room. You are luckky to have found such a beautiful home that was so obviously loved and cared for by the original owners. Enjoy it! Can’t wait to see more pics.
Jon Hunt says
I am so, so jealous! I want to see a hundred and twenty more pictures. Throw up some pics of the bathrooms and the other rooms. Your collection of knick-knacks and whatsits is amazing, too.
Em says
How cute is she and her new kitchen?! I agree with the previous comments and would like to add that I love the way she accessorized her kitchen (e.g., great refrigerator ware, wonderful counter top appliances, etc). Great choices with the VCT and looking forward to seeing the change to a time-period appropriate bathroom sink, etc.
Jenny says
I love, love, love knotty pine! We have a whole room of it in our basement “rumpus room”. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Congratulations on your new home!!!
Olivia says
Love that kitchen! And, I love knotty pine. My house has one wall of it in the living room. So help me, some day I will have a peninsula with a low bar for seating just like that. I much prefer sitting in a normal chair height rather than on a high stool.
Jana (Berniecat) says
Oh, oh, oh… It was meant to be! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story and your even more wonderful kitchen. I can’t wait to see pics of the pink bathroom! I really like the choice of the green apple VCT for the floor– its perfect. Another great detail – I like the way the cabinet handles are angled– really adds visual interest. Your pictures say it all — you love the house that you are in!
dcgrl says
Well my, isn’t that sweet? Where is this paradise? love it.
My poor neighbor’s house has been sitting on the market for over a year and I’m afraid he’s about to give the order to paint his knotty pine kitchen. I keep telling him that the right people will see it and love it. Anyone looking for a 1950s cape in Durham, NC? Hoping someone like Betty Crafter will move in next door!
Sheana says
I wish! That area is beautiful, but I’m a New England girl at heart! <3