1940s bungalow kitchen before:
1940s bungalow kitchen after:
Wow, Suzann’s 1940s bungalow style kitchen remodel is — fantastic. So bright and cheery, I know this transformation is going to excite a lot of readers. And, after five years of doing no stories at all about Ikea kitchen cabinets, here’s a second one in a row — using different cabinets than the Akurums that Jerry used. Read on for Suzann’s story and the list of resources she used to design and construct this happy space.
Suzann writes:This is a kitchen in our detached 540 sq ft in-law suite, where my mother is moving in. We’ve revamped the whole place. We wanted to make a cutesy, cheery kitchen that would align with the era of the home- 40′s bungalow style.
The cabinets are Ikea. The floor is Armstrong VCT, special order from Home Depot (same price as the ones on the shelf, but takes 2 weeks) to match our apple green Caesarstone countertop (ordered at Ikea, subbed out to a local installer). I made all the curtains from gauzy linen with lace trim to soften up all the subway tile (American Olean 2×4″ in “biscuit”).
We drove 4 hours to pick up that GE fridge in the next state. It is late 30′s-early 40′s.The previous single owner bought it during WW2 with cash rations and used it all her life. She kept in tip top condition for 80 years.
Next to that is a little vintage metal enamel table that we found on the roadside while out walking one evening, same story on the Eames chair. Together, they make a little desk area. Any other questions, just let me know! Thanks again!
Suzann, this remodel is so sweet — thank you! Your mother surely will love it, but stop calling her surely. haha. Little joke there. Things I luv in particular:
- 54o s.f. Yowza. I am telling you, there are many days now, that all I want to have to clean, heat and pay taxes on for is: 540 s.f.
- Bisquit-colored subway tile. I think this is a great way to do it… Back in the day, the whites were not so white. I adore the aged look of the bisquit.
- The door style you chose for a bungalow kitchen is the “right” one.
- Love the basketweave floor. Lofe the apple green. Love the fridge.
- But most of all, love the dumpster diving enamel table, and that you gave it a happy new home.
Resource list for Suzann’s bungalow kitchen remodel:
- Ikea kitchen cabinets – Adel door style.
- Countertops from are Apple Martini from Caesarstone.
- Kitchen sink: Ikea Domsjo.
- Armstrong VCT, ordered from Home Depot in White Out, Kickin Kiwi, and Lunar Blue
- 30 patterns from 1955 for arranging vinyl floor tiles
- American Olean Starting Line wall tile, bisquit gloss from Home Depot. Suzann notes: “It comes in a 12″x12″ sheet, but I still put a spacer in between each one to straighten them.”
- Rebuilt windows: Woodwindowmakeover.com in Tampa, Florida. Suzann says: I’d like to credit our window craftsman (Woodwindowmakeover.com); their replica sashes for all three windows in the kitchen made all the difference in keeping with the period. They sell parts, etc for old wood windows, or can rebuild the whole window sash if the wood is too far gone (like they did here).
Suzann — this is absolutely beautiful! So bright and happy! I can imagine you having morning coffee and here and watching the birds chirp outside of your window!
Love this!
(That floor is really neat!)
Uh….WoW!!! What a difference in the before and after pics! I love everything about this renovation. I also thought the design on the floor was so COOL!
Great job – hope your Mom has many happy years in her little bungalow! It’s such a happy room, now.
But…. GASP!!!! The original sink!!!! Soapstone? What happened to that fabulous piece of what-I-have-always-dreamed-of-having-someday? Do tell!
Nancy — I thought the same thing about the big original sink!!!!!!
I love that original sink, but I don’t think it’s soapstone. It looks concrete to me. I have no set tub, and my heart yearns when I see these.
I agree it is likely a concrete laundry tub. We had that in the basement of our 40s bungalow when I was a kid. Everybody on the block had them. I was given many baths in them, and also they were great for cooling off kids on a super hot day.
Yes, concrete. We’ve had one in the basement of every house we’ve owned. In one house we had to replace it with a smaller fiberglass laundry tub and my husband busted it out with a sledge hammer. They are heavy as heck.
The sink is concrete and don’t worry- it went to a good home! The craftsman who transformed the casement windows (woodwindowmakeover.com) got it, and he is using it.
Hi Suzann! Everyone is LOVING your kitchen!!!
HA! like all of you, my thought also was, “hey, I need that double bowl big-ass sink!” I loathe the fiberglass/plastic ones.
Looks great. Those drawer fronts look pretty good for the period you are trying to re-create.
Spectacular! What an outstanding transformation. So much personality, style, and fun in that kitchen. Congrats.
Wow that is an awesome transformation…..and that 1941/1942 GE Fridge is gorgeous
It is always so impressive to see you put a date on those appliances, Patrick!!!
Thanks Pam….it is not hard to do when you are always scouring ebay for vintage appliance manuals and looking at ads in vintage home magazines of the era….I also happen top have the manual for the 1942 version already in my files as well….
Thanks for pinning down the year!
My pleasure Suzann I see the owners manual for this fridge on Ebay every once in a while……..just thought you might like to know that in case you would want to find the manual for it
That is one of the most stunning “before” and “after” shots I’ve ever seen. I LOVE what you did with this kitchen and I LOVE the apple green. Absolutely fantastic!
This is so great! Everything about it is perfect – and what a nice place it will be to spend time in.
GORGEOUS! I love the apple green, it’s such a happy pop of color- and the subway tile- just the right combination of vintage with modern supplies. What a great place to make cookies
!
Absolutely inspirational. You give me hope.
Your mom will love this darling place. Wonderful period restoration, and, I love the green.
Cheerful and charming personified. Great job!
I adore this from top to bottom! The colors are just perfect, I love the basket weave pattern on the floor, and the fridge is insane. And the tile adds just the right touch of texture. Please show what you do with the rest of the place!
Suzann you efforts certainly paid off in a big way! I love what you did & that that sweet vintage refridgerator is still running like a top ~ what a find that was. I am sure your mom will enjoy every minute she spends in this sweet labor of love!
lovely. the story behind that fridge is wonderful!
and i love the windows. from what i can tell, i think i like the general layout as well – a place that size works so well when it’s just a few rooms of decent size (as compared to, say, a separate tiny galley kitchen, etc.)
Wow, what an amazing transformation. It all looks great, but one touch I really like is how you kept a tall storage cabinet next to the back door. That’s one thing about the old kitchen that did make sense, because the swing of the back door limits how that space can be used. I like how you lined up the top of the tall cabinet with the top of the window frame and the door frame. That sort of attention to detail is what makes this new kitchen have a craftsman era feel to it.
It looks like you had to move the electric box and a water heater. Where did you place them?
What a treat for your mother. Hope we can see the rest of the place sometime, so we can see how she is living big in such a small space.
Thank you! To answer your q: “It looks like you had to move the electric box and a water heater. Where did you place them?”, We got a space saving instant water heater and installed it in the attic, and the breaker panel is in the kitchen, on the opposite wall (not pictured). I painted it the wall color. But, I think in the “before” pic, you are seeing the well bladder and a sprinkler control box. We moved the bladder outside and removed the sprinkler box since the sprinkler system needs to be revamped (not even close to our priority list!)
Wow — this is really impressive! L0ve the apple green, and that floor is striking!
Holy Moly! What a transformation! Great job!
I LOVE the floor!
Oh my gosh! Gorgeous!!! I love the floor and the countertops.
One of the best transformations you have blogged about yet! Beautiful and period correct. Great work guys!
Kitchen stories always make me excited, since I am clueless how to begin mine. That first pic- holy moly. If you can do what you did, I can certainly do mine. The weaving in the floor is bold and perfect! Love it! The swing out window is so sweet! Thanks for including the background story of the fridge – it hits where it needs to…
I agree with others— we need a link to more pics of the whole house! 540 sq. feet – it must be adorable!! And- was the whole house in need of repair? wow! Great work!
Thank you! Yes, the whole little house needed repair. When we bought the place last Fall, this had been a jam room garage with a bedroom and bathroom attached to the side and a utility/laundry room on the back (now this kitchen). We gutted, engineered, and transformed the whole place. I will gladly share more pics as the rooms become photo-ready. I may have shared the kitchen a tad early, but didn’t expect it to be featured!
Oh goodness. I love that a Jam Room Garage turned into Mother’s Quarters! Perhaps the bathroom wallpaper will need to feature bongo drums and guitars!
Ditto what everyone else has said! It’s gorgeous. Is there a stove in the kitchen? I just LOVE seeing all the color interpretations that everyone has done with the flooring patterns! That is my favorite part!
The “before” picture looks waaaaayyy too familiar!
The “after” is gorgeous! How happy and cheery! Good job!
So I have an invasive question: Suzann, can I find you some wallpaper for the walls above the subway tile? That would take this kitchen OVER THE TOP. Maybe I can get a sponsor to donate it??? Are you game? Or are you *done* haha?
Pam — If Suzann feels that you are being invasive, I just want you to know that I, personally, would not feel “invaded” in the least if you wanted to find ME some wallpaper. Or a great old stove. Or a fabulous double drainboard sink. Really. Feel free!
If you could find me some money, I would be especially excited!
If you do find Suzann some wallpaper, be sure to share it with “the gang!”
haha
Bring on the wallpaper! I would totally consider it, especially if it is donated! The only thing that might prevent me is if mom insists “no”, cause she likes the wall color. I was *this close* to changing it to a light blue, just lighter than the blue on the floor.
Fantastic! I am in awe!
I absolutely LOVE it!
I’m wondering, though….
Where’s the faucet? And the stove?
Sadly, there is NO stove. The city of Tampa forbid me to put any built in stove or cooktops in here because it is a detached apartment in a single family property. Something in the code says: an oven/stove = 2nd kitchen = separate residence = multi-family property. Before the remodel, I asked mom what appliances she wanted. She actually said “just a toaster oven and microwave”. I planned to put in the oven anyway, but the City wouldn’t issue the permit. Anyway, I don’t think I have enough amps in the breaker at this point anyway.
Wow Suzann, what a great transformation, while keeping the basic “bones” intact! Love the pop of color, yet simplistic cabinets, and oh-so-vintage subway tiles.
As for the appliance (stove) dilemma: After tons of research, I kind of think stoves are passe’ if you will. There are now do-it-all microwave ovens that act as a microwave, toaster oven, and broiler all in one!
Then there is the Cuisinart “Griddler” which has pretty rave reviews on Amazon – it can act as a griddle, sandwich maker, panini maker, and with the waffle plates, a waffle iron. Oh, and per reviews on Amazon, it cooks bacon and steaks great with NO splatter! All in one appliance…I just love multi-tasking appliances. I plan on getting one of these as I broil meat a lot, and just don’t have the heart to mess up my 1950 Tappan broiler, which in the bottom of the stove, underneath the oven cavity. Ok, truth be told, the messing up is ok, I just don’t want to bend down there to check meat, and clean it all up again!
Finally, I just totally envision a Westinghouse Roaster Oven and Stand in beautiful bungalow kitchen – great for roasting, baking, and slow cooking. And certainly a staple of many 40′s through 60′s kitchens. I have one, and my mom has had one for as long as I can remember. Thanksgiving turkeys are always cooked in the roaster oven at our homes and come out fabulous.
Between those three items, I think a stove is completely unneeded!
I think you are probably right, T3. But oh, our vintage stoves are sooooooo pretttttttty
Breville Smart Oven
http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW
It is definitely not the cheapest toaster over or “counter top oven” out there, but it is …perfect. It cooks/bakes/broils everything better than any full sized oven I have ever encountered.
I got mine when I went looking for a countertop oven to bake/roast smaller 1-2 person meals quickly, my 1950s stove is beautiful, but it takes a LOOOOOONG time to heat up to temperature, and is huge, wasting a lot of energy to cook a small side dish, or a meal for 1 or 2.
All the fabulous reviews in the cookware cooking-geek forum at Chowhound (where I also hang out online) convinced me to splurge on it, and I could not be happier with the purchase… it is the bomb! (Tip: use one of those 20% off coupons Bend Bath & Beyond sends out every month or so for the best price on it)
Oh, and the sink faucet goes in today.
What a STAGGERINGLY AWESOME tranformation!! Wow!! The final result is so gorgeous. Great colors, great textures — magnificent!
This is the best total transformation I think I have ever seen. The first picture looks to me like a total “tear it down.”
Great job, Suzann.
Beyond amazing! I love it. All your choices are beautiful! I have a 1956 kitchen in Delaware if you are bored.
PS – totally agree with Pam on the door. I mean it’s all amazing. The door without the fake 9 light divider looks so much more period. I have only done one door in my house, which was a door I added in place of an old window at the back of the garage and it’s the fake 9 light kind, which isn’t mid century to me and my back doors are a half lite – with three panes and horizontal not vertical raised panels.
Anyway – it was cheap and in stock and I’m ok with it – but your choice definately takes the steel door to a much more mid century appropriate look in my book!! I’m not giving up my front and back doors anytime soon, but it’s nice to see a good looking option.
Oh my gosh I want to play house in this kitchen. I think I especially love the fridge. When my grandparents updated their kitchen in the 70s, they moved a fridge awfully like this one down to their basement. It did finally conk out on Grandma, but only last year. (She’s about to turn 95, still living in her own home. Sure hope I’m built to last like her.)
But the floor is really high on my list, too. Thanks for sharing such a great renovation.
Wow! Walking into that “before” kitchen, I would have absolutely no idea where to start. Great work!
Thanks! The fact that it was a blank slate gave us a lot of freedom without feeling obliged to save and design around something that was already in place.
Super perfect. You should send your pictures in to a magazine for publishing. Or maybe Ikea or Armstrong or Caesarstone would like the pictures for an ad! Creative and colorful–you did a great job.
This looks so so cute and functional and just happy. I can’t believe they were able to make this happen on a budget. Beautiful.
Beautiful kitchen remodel, Suzann! We love how you created your own unique VCT floor!
It’s not a unique pattern, but the colors make it (possibly) one-of-a-kind. My brilliant husband picked the color combo and I think it’s hands down the best part. I was leaning towards pink as an accent color instead of blue for a white, pink, and green floor, like a strawberry or watermelon. I picked out the pattern, so I let him have the fun picking the colors, it’s only fair!
I was thinking about accent colors yesterday, too. You could also go with something like emerald green, I think… could be interesting.
That was one of my color studies…a monochromatic scheme with different shades of green. We used Illustrator and Photoshop to make the different color studies. That helps tremendously!
Choosing colors (for floors, walls) is what holds me back the most from getting going on our kitchen. Sounds like I need to learn Illustrator and Photoshop. Yikes– any tips?
If I have to learn yet another computer program, my head will explode. I do this on photoshop – which I already know and is easy… Still, there is NO SUBSTITUTE for getting actual samples in your hot little hands and agonizing endlessly over them and of course, using the process to torture DH mercilessly.
Tips? Lynda.com has excellent tutorials for every program under the sun.
Photoshop is easy, and it’s fine. I used Illustrator to make my CAD plans to scale (ps can be used), and then I colored them in. Then, I used photoshop’s “perspective transform” tool to create 3D rooms to see how all the walls look adjacent to one another, etc.
You absolutely captured the 40s, it feels just like the kitchens of all our neighbors when I was a little kid. The block was built in 1946 and so new and up to date. I would feel so at home in there.
Thanks! I just love how people had no fear of using color back then. I think that’s key in making a vintage kitchen feel vintage.
Pam, Could you add one more resource to our list? This was huge. I’d like to credit our window craftsman (Woodwindowmakeover.com); their replica sashes for all three windows in the kitchen made all the difference in keeping with the period. They sell parts, etc for old wood windows, or can rebuild the whole window sash if the wood is too far gone (like they did here).
We used the same cabinets to redo our kitchen and I am very happy with them!
Me too! I’ve got an Adel White kitchen and it’s perfect for my 1950 brick bungalow. And great job on the space planning!
OMG, when I first looked at the post it was scrolled down a little and it looked like the after shot went with the caption for the before. I had a little moment of panic that anyone had destroyed such a stunning kitchen before I scrolled up and realized it was the after shot. Well done! Utterly fantastic.
As far as outfitting makeshift kitchens go, we did one during our remodel and the things I’d add to the toaster oven and microwave are an electric kettle for boiling water and a hotplate. We got a two-burner hotplate at Ace Hardware for about $30, I think. We still use the electric teakettle every day. I love it.
I don’t want readers getting palpitations. I fixed where I placed the Before: and After:
Better?
That is better, Pam, but it was really my fault, not yours. I haven’t even seen HGTV in months, but I was having a flashback/panic attack for a moment there thinking someone tore out yet another gorgeous vintage room. thanks!
Wow! The before and after shots are worthy of any DIY program. I’m sure this kitchen brings back memories for lots of folks. All that’s missing is a chrome toaster, a few pieces of Pyrex, Fiesta ware and some ivy or philodendron plants. Please share more photos when decorated. great job! Nothing like a liitle retro porno to brighten the day!
What a cool kitchen! The “ice box” is awesome. This is really a great transformation.
Suzann,
Gorgeous kitchen. The countertop is amazing. I love the green. A suggestion if your mom needs a cooktop. My friend has a similar restriction with her mom’s attached mom suite. She got an electro magnetic cooktop. It is electric, remain cool to touch (a great safety feature) and only heats when the pan/pot is placed on it. The come in 1 and 2 ‘burner’ sizes. Not cheap. I think she payed in the $300 range for hers. But her mom loves it. She also has a convention/micro oven combo and her mom does all kinds of cooking and baking for the grands.
…that would be an induction cooktop or burner
Those burners are listed on Overstock.com for $80-200. Pretty nifty!
Suzann, I absolutely LOVE your kitchen. It blends three of my all-time favorite things: green, a 1940s kitchen, and IKEA!!! And boy, those GE fridges were built to last. Beautiful!
Love the renovation but I have one question. Where is the faucet for the sink?
This is an inspiration. We recently completed a kitchen in Denver for a couple who had a 1960′s GE fridge. They replaced it with a new Samsung, which has a far less retro look, but I guess its a lot more efficient.
Nice job.
Love it all! The green is just gorgeous, and the fridge is amazing.
Exquisite!
If I lived near you I’d bring you a beautiful red geranium instead of the usual blue ribbon!
Suzann,
This remodel is inspiring and gives me a bit of hope for my future tiny 1940′s home remodel project. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m really curious to see how the rest of your remodel turns out. Any chance you’ll share those photos?
Cheers!
Dee Bee — be careful! This story was dangerous for me! I have a 1934 house and know that we can’t fix the kitchen for many, many years. This story made me start itching to do a few little changes. The next thing I knew, I was taking doors off of cabinets, buying vintage 1930s wallpaper, and bidding on catalogs of home products from the 30s for reference.
Danger, danger!!!!!
Hi Dee Bee!
Here is how the rest turned out…
Bedroom and bath: https://plus.google.com/photos/103625227221320906000/albums/5710895877734192897
Living room: https://plus.google.com/photos/103625227221320906000/albums/5710898441134252497
Dining room: https://plus.google.com/photos/103625227221320906000/albums/5710910892528483713
Suzann,
I’m not sure how I missed your reply to my request! I was just going through my pinboard and wanted to re-vist your kitchen remodel. Thanks so much for quickly responding to my request for pictures of the rest of your remodel. The rest of the granny unit is adorable! It gives me hope for our future renovation.
Dee Bee
wow… just amazing!
But I’c like to know more about the countertops, lol, they look pricy
i’d love to put something like that in my ’53 youngstown kitchen
Click the link and find a local supplier for a sq ft price. It’s comparable to the price of granite and marble.
Suzann, you need this for the kitchen
[link gone]
Why, yes. Yes, I do!
yikes, the ‘before’ picture scared me a bit! but it looks awesome, you did a great job!!! love the floor and the subway tile. what all did they do to the windows?
Thanks! The window sashes were rebuilt because they were rotted after years of neglect. We also added 1×4 trim, which was not there before.
Suzann-you rock! this kitchen rocks! A question: how did you finish the VCT…floor wax or commercial acrylic finish? I just installed Mannington Colorpoint VCT and can’t decide. Thanks for any advice…
Why, thank you! I didn’t put a finish on it. I followed the manufacturer directions on the box and didn’t see anything about a finish. Maybe I need to look again!
wow we wow…this is amazing,,,love, love love.
I’m so glad I have “permission” to use IKEA in my retro kitchen renovation plans. My original thought was strictly IKEA but since finding retrorenovation now believe a combination is possible!
Just came across this great remodel and wondered if by any chance the floor was inspired by my kitchen remodel?? If so, I would love to feature this on my blog, or at least link to this feature.
http://wannaredo.com/blog/?p=20
Either way, great work!
Hi Amanda, Yes, a pic of yours was one of the many in my inspiration file, even though I already knew which pattern I wanted! Yours was one of the few that I ran across when looking for examples of the basketweave. I always like to see how others use color and I thought you did a great job with it. There is a nod to the 20′s with the crisp black/white contrast, but still has a contemporary look in the accent color, repeated in the wall. I wanted a bright and soft color combo, and I really like the directional texture in the tiles, whereas you used solid. It is lovely. Kudos!
Thanks, Suzann I really like the colors you used. That yellowish green is my favorite color right now. My tiles have a little texture to them, but you’re right, yours have a lot more. Awesome redo!!
Hello, I have a fridge just like the one in your remodel. We are trying to figure out a value on it. Do you have any idea what your client paid for it? Our is is great shape with all the parts but was painted. Thank you. Alice
My client? ha, that’s me!
I think we paid about $375, but would have paid more. I thought we got a STEAL. First, this one is all original and in very good to excellent condition. Second, shopping around on Craigslist, I would find nice ones going for $100, but have had to pass them up because they weren’t the right size, or they were just too far away. (We drove 4 hours each way, but no way will I make an overnight trip out of it.) If yours has been painted, that is a turn-off to a buyer, unless it has been done professionally, in which case, it’s a turn on!
In my shopping experience, asking $100-200 for a fixer upper (needs to be repainted professionally, needs a new door seal, etc) or up to $500 for one in very good condition (looks great inside and out, original paint, but it’s not fully restored- like mine), or $1000-2000 for professionally restored, right off the showroom floor.
What a stunning transformation, with such a nightmare to begin with! Love your fridge, & your flooring pattern. I did my 1941 kitchen in red, white & black in a diagonal pattern. (See it under “flooring”). Congrats from one Suzz to another on a job well done!
–Suzanne
OMG! what a wonderful job you did. I too love that yellow green color, it is called chartreuse.
I ADORE this! I may have just talked my hubby into it when we get back on our feet and continue with the remodeling.
wow great, cheery and bright…but what happened to the soap stone sink in the 1st picture?
Hi there! Thanks for your comment. The sink went to the guy who did the windows. He is using it as a utility sink. It is concrete, not soapstone. We would have used it elsewhere if he didn’t give us credit toward our bill.
That floor is AMAZING. I want that.
this is, by far, my fav of all fav’s! love the clean, simple colors & lines of the space. beautifully executed!
Suzann,
I would love to know the exact specifications on the Ikea cabinets. Especially the wall mounted units with the glass doors. How incredible! I want these exact cabinets but do not live near an Ikea so I must order them. Please let me know when you have the time. I love this kitchen!!
Christie, Ikea’s catalogs are all online.