Reader Kate McKinnon lived with her vintage St. Charles kitchen cabinets for four years before discovering that there were two factory-installed undercabinet lights. Each with their own integral on-off switch. I totally understand how she missed them. They’re integral … your head has to get in there at an odd angle — and who would really expect this level of technology on vintage cabinets! Similarly, it took me two years to realize there was fantabulous vintage 6″ vinyl tiles – with ravishing coral streaks running through them – underneath the discount carpet in the hallway. For some reason, I had it in my head that there was plywood subfloor under that carpet. As Kate says on her blog:
All I know is that I want to stay in this universe, the one in which my St. Charles cabinets have factory-installed undercabinet lighting.
Thank you, Kate.
Thank you, Pam, what a surprise and a treat to see the corner of my kitchen on my daily read of Retro Renovation!
It was really shocking to me to find the lighting, because not only had I lived with these lovely cabinets for four years, I’ve loved them, and cleaned them, and inspected and admired them, and stuck my head inside them, and looked underneath them. I’ve done everything but crawl inside them I love them so much.
So to see such familiar and well-loved objects reveal a new exterior part that I had never managed to notice… well. It really made me wonder what else is right in front of me in life? What else am I missing?
Seeing that lighting was a real reminder not to take life at face value.
Hi, Kate – I wonder if you have had to repair wiring for your under cabinet light. Ours blew out recently and we cannot figure out how to remove the bottom shelf so as to get to the wiring… And we can’t seem to find anything online. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Steve, my shelves just lift out, but most of my bottom shelves run into the screws that hold the cabinets together side-to-side, and so I have to remove those screws before the bottom panels can pop out. They are held in with clips, in most cases.
I haven’t had to find the wiring yet- maybe when you succeed you can post the info (and a photo) back in this thread, for those of us who will surely follow in your footsteps?
You know we’re all checking under the hood, now… What a fabulous surprise!
This makes my smile so very very big. (And the Sled Dog poem is sublime!)
Hooray!
Wow! What a great find!
What an awesome experience and a wonderful find! I’m always looking for things in my house that I haven’t seen before; looking deep into the highest kitchen cabinets, looking far back into the attic when I muster up the courage to venture there, checking out the underside of a cabinet in the bathroom, that kind of thing. It’s fun! And even more so when you may a fabulous discovery!
What does it look like on the bottom of the cabinet where the light is?
From the inside, nothing is visible. The floor is smooth. You can see the underside of the exterior in the photo above- there is a recess only slightly larger than the fluorescent tube, and there is a chrome toggle off/on switch at one end of the fixture.
Very groovy!
This is a wonderful find, a gift from retro gods delivered right to your kitchen! My only suggestion would be to make sure the wiring is up to date.
Very cool. Miss Kate – in a very cool house! I sure enjoyed seeing those cabinets in person this past February! Wonder what other surprises you’ll uncover in your little corner of Tucson!!
I’m sure you can easily imagine how excited I was, just the IDEA that familiar and beloved objects hold surprise is so thrilling.
Hi Does anyone know the proper way to wire these cabinets together ? Im not sure if these can be connected with regular lamp wire or if I need a heavier duty wire. Id like all my st charles cabinet lights to be connected together and run powered from one switch of possible. thanks !
Pete, this isn’t a DIY site — please consult with a professional electrician!
We also have St Charles cabinets in our 1955 ranch. They are stamped “Yellow” but appear greenish/yellow. I stumbled upon our under cabinet light too. Can’t remember how I found it but was surprised.
There was one other house in my community that had St Charles kitchen cabinets that were mint green. Our city had a flood in 2008 and her kitchen flooded so she had to tear out her cabinets. When I heard of this, I called her to inquire about salvage and she had given them to the contractor that installed new cabinets. I then called him and he allowed me to take any parts I wanted. I took latches, stainless steel trim and 18 of the cool cabinet handles. Don’t know what I’ll use the handles for but you never know.
I am very fortunate in that I installed St. Charles cabinets in my custom house 40 years ago, and also in a vacation house 27 years ago. I LOVE the built-in under cabinet lights. However, two of the 14″ light fixtures need to be replaced. The ballast in one burned out, and the plastic receptacle for the pins on the end of the bulb broke in the other one. Does anyone know where these replacement parts can be found? I really miss the light in these two areas, but the best I have been able to come up with is to utilize a thin under-counter light fixture, and put it inside. This is makeshift, and if I can find the proper fixtures, it would be so much better. I will appreciate any leads.
Kind of off topic, but I’m in process of stripping the old wax. The best way I’ve found to strip the old wax is a solution of water/ammonia or windex. It takes about 5 rounds to get them cleaned of all wax. I then use softwater spray to neutralize them, then use #7 Megueirs, then #6. I’ve found the best way to get the great shine/look is using an auto buffer (6″ recommended). Have all the tops done. It takes a long time but it is well worth it when you see the difference it makes.
What are you stripping?
Stripping the old wax off the St Charles cabinets.
got it. Precautionary Pam just wants to put it out there: Old paint can have lead in it — be sure to consult with properly licensed professionals to ensure you are taking the correct precautions when working with old surfaces.
One more thought: I don’t think we can universally say that old cabinets all had wax on them — the shiny finish may be a shiny enamel finish — a baked on finish. So take care….
With St. Charles cabinets they are enamel baked. St Charles recommends waxing regularly. The wax on my cabinets was possibly 30+ years old and had yellowed. [Devon comments on lead issue. PAM HAS EDITED THIS - readers, consult with a properly licensed professional to determine what's in your house and how to handle.]
Devon, where have you read that St. Charles recommended waxing the cabinets?
ALSO READERS: I DO do want to emphasize: DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK on how to handle. Consult with a properly licensed professional to assess the surfaces in your house and how to handle safely.
It is inside one of my door panels and also from a link of your site here http://retrorenovation.com/2009/11/12/how-to-care-for-your-metal-kitchen-cabinets-circa-1960-instructions/
Since the original cleaner and polish is not available any longer the equivalent is Meguiars #’s 6 & 7.
THANK YOU!
Pam:
I wonder if you have had to repair wiring for your under cabinet light. Ours blew out recently and we cannot figure out how to remove the bottom shelf so as to get to the wiring… And we can’t seem to find anything online. Any help would be appreciated.
PS We want to remove the shelf before calling an electrician – since we don’t want the shelf forced out… we know there must be a way to do this.
Thanks.
No, I have not. I went to look at mine for clues to possibly help you and just discovered there is a separate a/c outlet up there too! Never knew that. I’m sure you have, but have to ask if you’ve taken the bulb out to look for any screws, etc. If there isn’t any it most likely pops out somehow as it appears to be a separate piece of metal, but not sure.
Question: Does your not work at all? Mine works but I have to jiggle maneuver the toggle just right for it to come on and stay on.