Tips to using the slide show: Click on the first thumbnail… the image will enlarge… move forward or back using arrows below the caption… you can start or stop at any image.
Can I describe the history of kitchens from 1946 to 1966 in the captions of 24 photos? Here is a cheerful cliffs-notes attempt that includes: Modular sink bases for thrifty farmhouse homemakers… The importance of sanitary kitchens… A short history of steel kitchen cabinets… The ubiquitous knotty pine… The brief popularity of pickled wood… Remembering 40″ stoves… Wishing for appliance centers… Wishing for drainboard sinks… Lingering over Mondrian kitchens… Celebrating coppertone… and more. Honestly, I can’t say which of these kitchens is “my favorite”. They each reflect a particular point in history, so in many cases it’s impossible to judge any one “better” than the next.
Katie says
According to my grandmother, who lived in California in the ’60s, a lot of people had pink or yellow, or turquoise kitchens, with matching appliances. She describes it as being a California thing, so its possible that some of this was regional, or at least more likely to show up in areas with lots of new housing.
Grandma also had a neighbor, during this period, who had redone her kitchen cabinets with a faux-finish where the ‘knotty pine’ pattern was white on a pale pink background. to match the pink walls, pink and white tile and pink appliances.
My kitchen was originally painted pink, I don’t know for certain what the original cabinets looked like because the kitchen was redone sometime in the early 1970’s. Based on my neighbor who has the original cabinets in her kitchen, and pantry and linen closet doors, my guess is that they were blonde wood with flying V pulls.The ’70’s re-do featured dark cabinets, avacado green linoleum, and brown walls. /
Ranger Smith says
Katie – You may be correct in this theory. Our home in the Los Angeles area was built in 1961 and originally had turquoise stove top, hood & ovens. Very spiffy. I remember others with pink and yellow kitchens.
Valencia Bathe says
Another bright, cheery start to my day! Thanks so much!
Alice says
I love your selection of images of kitchens Pam…they always make me feel happy! I have been meaning to draw your attention to a movie that is in the “free on demand” category on Verizon Fios right now (don’t know if eveyrone in the country can get that). It’s called “Divorce American Style” starring Dick van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds, filmed in mid 1960’s and there is some great home interior (and even some office interior) eye-candy in the movie (including a Mondrian kitchen). (Plus a rather humorous approach to dealing with divorce and alimony)
pam kueber says
Thanks, Alice — I’ll check it out. Hey: Good to hear from you!!!
Jen says
We just caught this movie on TCM the other night! I was just drooling over the house, it’s fantastic. The kitchen really was incredible!
A friend and I saw “The Help” over the weekend, and I don’t know what had me more in a head-spinning tizzy: the cars, the homes & decor or the clothes.
Paul says
Great images, Pam! Re: your comment on stoves in #4, I know there were “gas on gas” stoves that included heaters, but I think that the tradition of 40″ ranges comes more from the work surface and storage that these stoves provided. More often than not, the extra room provided a storage cabinet for pots and pans. The extra space atop the stove served as a work surface and a heat-resistant place to move pots and pans, when counters most likely would have been linoleum and not heat-friendly.
Up to the 50s, it was possible to find stoves even in a 60″ configuration, usually marketed to people with lots of money who did large-scale entertaining. In gas stoves, those big sizes accommodated multiple ovens or broilers, which was important, since broilers were not part of the main oven.
Quite often, features would increase with price. A 40″ range at the bottom of the line might have one storage drawer on the side and perhaps one on the bottom. Next up might feature two drawers on the bottom and one on the side. A step from there might give you a deep well cooker and the side door being a warming drawer. I have a 1956 GE range with two ovens. It’s the top-of-the-line “Liberator” and the second oven is a very welcome feature, as is that work space next to the burners.
pam kueber says
Thank you for the additional commentary, Paul. You could well be right!
TappanTrailerTami says
Love # 2, # 3, and # 10. I think if I was replicating one of those, it would probably be # 3, but not in red, white, and blue. More like 30’s cream, black, blood red, and jadite green 🙂
Thanks for the photo show!
Tami
duki says
Yes, thank you Pam. They are all lovely… it’s always nice to dream!
Chris says
Thanks for sharing! I love each one of these!!
Marty says
Is the lady or teenage girl or whoever in #20 painting a still life of those yellow flowers?
Just another Pam says
Just looking at the photos again and I think the “lady’ in the pink dress, number 20, is actually a teenage girl. Hard to imagine today, I know, but I do remember being a clone of her’s for a few years then the beat went on ;o).
Jane / MulchMaid says
Great survey. I love the march through the years approach. You’re ready for the lecture circuit with this group.
You mentioned Modernfold Doors in #12: I have seen them in older kitchens. In fact, a friend of ours has one in his 1946 kitchen and though I don’t think it was original equipment, it has definitely been there a long time!