I think I found Lauryn from one of her comments. I chased after her when she said something about the new countertop she’d just had installed… and crikey, it wasn’t just a countertop, she and her husband Dennis had just completed the most charming Retro Renovation of their 1939 kitchen. No — the kitchen in all these photos is not original. Almost all of it is new — with the ‘updates’ including linoleum floors, an undercounter Big Chill fridge (bye bye, dishwasher) and new cabinets put in place to solve for a variety of issues that Lauryn and Dennis had been living with for a while. What a wonderful job! Read on for their complete story — and 20 photos courtesy their friend Radim Schreiber — a professional photographer, so these are awesome photos. Oh, and there’s more: Lauryn and Dennis are a singing-songwriting duo aka Truckstop Souvenir, so we get a concert at the end. I love this story in so many ways. 
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The kitchen “before” its Retro Renovation:
And after:
Lauryn writes:
As I’m sure is the case with many of your readers, my husband Dennis and I are what you might call accidental retro-renovators. We’re a songwriting duo who left Seattle for a simpler life in Fairfield, Iowa (the coolest town in the universe), and we both had our hopes set on a lovely Craftsman, of which there are so many gorgeous specimens in Seattle. We were unable to find one, but instead fell in love with a little Minimal Traditional cottage from 1939, knowing nothing about that era nor that style of architecture. And while we have always had a penchant for older things, particularly from the 30s and 40s, we did not set out to do a retro-renovation on our charming but tiny kitchen, we just wanted it to be more user-friendly (we actually use our kitchen) and were already into the process when we came upon the whole notion of retro-renovating.
The kitchen when Lauryn and Dennis first bought the house
When we first started, one of the main issues was the breakfast nook, which while adorable, was freezing in the winter and hotter than blazes in the summer. Not to mention that it was a bit cramped for my long, tall Texan husband. Another was the space that housed the stove and the refrigerator: no room for countertops, no food prep space, the (cold) refrigerator inefficiently placed next to the (hot) stove and just enough space in between to catch all sorts of grease, dust, pet fur, and dirt but not big enough for a broom or a mop to clean it. We had limited storage, and I couldn’t stand the off-white ceramic floor tile — hard on the body, cold in the winter, and never clean. The final issue was old wood drawers that I had to brace my feet on the cabinets while sitting on the floor to open.
We talked to a few designers, all of whom had crazy ideas about knocking down interior walls, moving basement staircases (yes, really), pushing out exterior walls, and putting the stove or sink in the breakfast nook, but we didn’t like any of their ideas (and especially didn’t like the price tags that would have accompanied them). We originally thought of (gasp!) replacing the original cabinets so we could accommodate an apartment size fridge on the sink side and build new cabinets around the stove, but when, like good little homeowners we trekked off to our local Menard’s, we left the place a bit numb. Neither of us said anything on the ride home and then both of us practically burst out with “I just can’t do it” (me) and “how hard can it be to build a box?” (DH). The idea of ripping out the original cabinets was suddenly horrifying to both of us, so it was back to the drawing board.
Which was when we made a radical commitment to both our kitchen and house by doing something every realtor would be appalled at: We decided to remove the dishwasher, put in an under-the-counter refrigerator in its place, and have new cabinets, built to match the old, installed around the existing stove, resale value be damned. It was our kitchen, after all. We already had a chest freezer in the basement and who really knows what’s in the back of those behemoth refrigerators? We found a local carpenter to match the cabinets (who also sanded and evened out those pesky drawers) and got the remodel going.
In the meantime, we ripped out the breakfast nook bench. It was not an easy decision, as it was part of the original kitchen and had the original naugahyde on it. But previous owners had ripped out the back of the bench and replaced it with flimsy cushions, then painted a good chunk of the burgundy naugahyde white. And the space was drafty and uncomfortable so out it came. With the help of a friend, we insulated it, dry-walled it, and the temperature of the kitchen went up ten degrees (in an Iowa December).
But it wasn’t until we hit the countertop decision that we officially became retro-renovators. We had access to free (yes, free) granite. We looked at soapstone and quartz and butcher block and countless other surfaces but no matter how many countertops we looked at, I just kept saying, no, it’s not what our humble little kitchen wants. What it did want, I had no clue, until on the way out the door one day, my husband said, “What about those old diner style countertops?” And that was it. I jumped on the computer and found cracked ice and boomerangs and metal edging … and I knew we had found the countertop my kitchen wanted. And of course, it was how I stumbled upon your wonderful site.
And the rest unfolded over time, with me spending more hours than I care to admit looking at ads from the 30s and 40s, checking your site daily, and agonizing over the faucet and the sink and the fact that the new cabinets would not accommodate a larger vintage stove, because we didn’t even think about vintage stoves when we started.
Some of the highlights (for us) are the countertops, made by a local craftsman (in the end we did not use cracked ice, the replicas being nothing like the real deal, and choose to use a Nevamar linen-y thing)…
…the curved shelves I had him build to replicate those of the era (and to house our cookbooks, who lost their perch when we ditched the full-size refrigerator)…
…our vintage Kohler sink, which a friend had found years ago by the side of the road and had been using as a goat trough out at his farm, but which cleaned up rather nicely; our cracked ice table (the perfect size for our nook), found on a road trip at an antique mall we stopped in on a whim one day…
It took an extraordinarily long time, with me unable to make up my mind about so many things, never mind being the world’s worst procrastinator and not the best DIYer. But eventually it all came together and in hindsight, given that our duo’s name, Truckstop Souvenir, was inspired by old diners and truck stops from childhood road trips, we really couldn’t have done anything but a retro renovation. We can actually cook together without stepping on each other’s toes too much and we eat just about every meal in the little breakfast nook, which, with east, west, and southern exposure, is almost always sunny.
I will admit one thing, though: We’re still not always sure what’s in the back of our refrigerator.
Let me know in the meantime if you have any questions on anything in the pictures. Your website was a constant source of inspiration for me as I went through this process.
Thanks again! xoxo, Lauryn
P.S. Because you are clearly a dog lover, I’m including a picture of my dog, worn out by the initial decision making process!
[And Lauryn follows up with another email]: Hey Pam, I just was going through a file full of artwork I found when I was visiting my parents and looky here, I found my first foray into Retro Design!! My husband and I had quite the chuckle over it and thought you might get a kick out of it too. I’m guessing I was probably in 3rd of 4th grade, judging by some of the other artwork from that “period” (hee hee). I have no idea whose kitchen this is … think it was just my fantasy kitchen!!.
LaurynProducts used in Lauryn and Dennis’ 1940s kitchen remodel:
- Cabinets were painted Belvedere Cream (Sherwin Williams), walls are Alabaster
- Big Chill Refrigerator (we had already picked out our under the counter unit and I got on Big Chill’s site to pine away for what we couldn’t have and lo and behold, there it was, less than a week on the site!)
- Minka Aire Acero ceiling fan (sadly, we have only one original light fixture in this house)
- Red Amaranth Marmoleum floor
- Nevamar Serene Stardom laminate countertops with aluminum trim from NY Metals
- Rejuvenation’s Rufus porcelain light
- Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpaper’s Sunnyside wallpaper from their Modernism: Post-War Era collection.
- Hickory Hardware American Diner pulls and knobs in satin nickel
- Moen Muirfield faucet in chrome
- New Hudee ring from Kohler
- Thanks again to Radim Schreiber for the wonderful photos. See more of his work at Radim Schreiber Nature Photography.
- And, read all about Lauryn Shapter, Dennis James and their band, Truckstop Souvenir.
Finally, here’s that concert I was talkin’ about… are we having fun yet?:
Absolute perfection! All that’s missing is a cherry pie on the counter
You did a wonderful job!
Wow, that is probably the most perfect kitchen I’ve seen in ages! You guys really got the details right, and the kitchen layout and features look super functional and convenient.
What a great idea to replace the dishwasher with a fridge! We did our kitchen over about a year ago and included a dishwasher because everyone told us “you NEED one!” Well, guess what? We never use it. And I resent the space it uses up. Every inch of the cabinets is in use and then this 24 inch black hole of a whole lot of nothing…
I really love your kitchen, dog, cat, and enjoyed the video too!
Use the dishwasher racks as your drying rack for dishes. You can just push it out of the way if you are working in the kitchen and it frees up more counter space that a dish drainer would take up.
LOVE it!!
What a lovely story! We have lived in our mid-century modest house for 14 years without a dishwasher. Living in Fairfield, I’m guessing you appreciate the art of meditation. I meditate 3 times a day doing dishes- and have learned to understand the gift of such simplicity.
Great life that you have!
Katy, we are the exception to the rule in that we didn’t move to Fairfield for the meditation movement, just loved the town. We’ve both since taken up the practice (when in Rome!!) and it only reinforces how much we love it here.
Wonderful job! Love the new breakfast nook! The yellow on the cabinets is just perfect.
Supe cute.
I’m wondering if you usually have dishes drying on the counter or in the sink? Obviously not for the photo shoot. I like my dishwasher because if I take a notion to handwash everything, I can still put the dishes in there to dry. I still have other dishes on the counter all the time cause there are items I prefer to handwash and I don’t like to dry dishes.
I applaud your decision to do what you want.with your house.
Thanks, Patty! We used to use the dishwasher as a drying rack, but now we have a little rack we keep under the sink. One of the issues was lack of counter space, so we try to keep it clear. We use the dishwashing time to chat about our days … I wash, he dries, and it’s quite lovely (at least most days it is!).
Oh my, this is heaven! The colors are so soothing and cheerful all at the same time. This just puts a smile on my face and I am so envious of what you have done.
My kitchen is also a galley and looks to be similar in size, but I have no eating area and that one you have is perfect.
So glad Pam found you and your wonderful kitchen.
The kitchen makeover is marvelous. What a cheery, happy, cozy place to be. Congratulations on a job well done.
The band is great! If you’re ever in eastern NC, come jam with us!
Thanks, Annie! That’s not our usual band … we usually perform as an acoustic duo or a trio. This was part of a big show we did with other musicians in town. But we would still love to jam with you if we ever make it to NC. Are you in Asheville?
No, Lauryn, we’re on the opposite side of the state from Asheville, on the coast. The acoustic music scene here is nowhere close to Asheville’s, but we manage to get some hot kitchen pickin’ going on now and then. DH was a founding member of possibly the first long-haired bluegrass bands, the New Deal String Band of the mid-1960′s.
Oh right, EASTERN North Carolina. I’m actually NOT geographically challenged, just a bit spacey sometimes … being a fiddle player, I see NC and immediately think of Asheville!
Gotcha, girl! Must be that fiddle thing. I’m married to a fiddle player who’s left handed and plays right handed. Dyslexic zen!
I’m learning new things about you today, Annie B!
Uh, oh, Pam! My fingers had better be quiet!!
Just beautiful! Gives me hope that someday I’ll get rid of the granite countertops ( installed by previous owners) and go with something as gorgeous as those counters.
And kudos for going with the small fridge–with two kids, there’s no way I’d want to do it, but it works beauitifully [pam corrected typo] for you!
An aside–my new 1953 house had a room entirely wallpapered in brown Naugahyde. Knowing that I didn’t want either of my toddler daughters growing up in a mancave, I stripped the walls (which was when I realized it was Naugahyde) and saved the wallpaper in hopes of utilizing it for a new project. Sometimes it hurts, but you have to do what works–and that wallpaper you put in is GORGEOUS!
Yike! Beautifully, I mean. How did autocorrect not find that?!
Jody, that’s the most HILARIOUS typo I’ve seen in a long time.
Love the non-granite, non-marble, non-stainless remodel. I have almost exactly the same (original) countertops, in a beige-ier color, and I love them. Glad to know what they’re called. I also love my butter yellow sink and harvest gold stove. Some day I’d like to replace the non-original, 80′s country raised cabinet doors back to slab (even though you see them in all the “before” pics). Thanks for the great pics.
Just perfect. Colors, material choices and layout couldn’t be nicer. One question. I don’t see a kitchen exhaust fan. Pam did a piece on the NuTone fans. One might be nice in the space. Love everything.
I would love to have a NuTone above the stove, but that wall backs up to the basement stairs and there is no place to vent it to. So far it hasn’t been an issue and I’ve actually never had an exhaust fan in any place I’ve lived yet, so I’m used to it.
I was going to ask about an exhaust fan, too. Do you find that you don’t need one?
Our kitchen currently doesn’t have a working vent hood or fan and I have wanted to add one. In my research, though, I’ve learned that most stove hoods installed in houses about this age, most aren’t vented to the outside and just kind of move the smoke and odors around rather than sucking them out anywhere.
*Love* love love your kitchen, by the way. You guys have inspired me to try to keep our existing cabinets and maybe have a carpenter just add some in the same style.
Recommendation: Check your local building codes regarding this question, readers. Pammy’s usual: Consult with a properly licensed professional.
What a beautiful kitchen! Red is my favorite color, but I often think it looks too harsh in kitchens because it is often paired with white and black. Your color palette is both soothing and cheerful! It looks like a lovely place to cook and eat. And props to you for making the choices you want in your kitchen instead of focusing on resale. I hope I am that brave with my renovation choices
Absolutely lovely work.
What a cute and wonderful kitchen remodel! I love the breakfast nook!
Your dog is also adorable!
Doesn’t Henry match the kitchen beautifully? He’s an old guy, but a good one (and much more cooperative than our cat!).
There is absolutely nothing about this kitchen that does not make me absurdly happy. What amazing colors! It looks like the kind of room that you would always want to hang out in together.
Oh, it is lovely! I’d sing in that kitchen all the live long day! Can you tell me about the flooring? Did you go with the sheet or snap in? What do you think of it now that it is installed? One other thing that I wonder if anyone has an idea/opinion about is if you can cut a formica counter top that is already installed? We re-did our counters a couple years ago with the Vivvarr which is no longer available. We allowed for overhang for counter stools, and now I wish I would have done regular depth to give us more room in our dining room. Think it is possible to re-cut the formica? I know the edge wouldn’t be laminate, but what if we used the metal edging to cover the cut? Anyone think this is a possibility (rather than having to re-counter the entire kitchen?)
Kersten, I’ve sent Formica your question and will plan to do a story when they answer. Can you send me a pic? or a couple?
You bet! I’ll send you lots of pics to ponder! You know I’ve been putting off this kitchen deal for years! I don’t even care if one part of the kitchen has the metal edging and the other part doesn’t. I just don’t want to spend $$$ unnecessarily.
It is possible to modify the already-laminated countertops. You could even re-do the edge in laminate if you are careful. I would use a router to do the cutting, with a straight fluted bit. Clamp a fence (a piece of plywood with a good straight edge) to the top as a guide. The straight cut is easy. Then, if you want to undercut it by 1/16″ to get the top to overlap the edge band, come back again from the underside, with the router bit stopped short of the top sheet and remove the additional 1/16″. Then you slip the edge band up under the top sheet – using contact cement to adhere it. Route off the bottom edge to finish it, and you’re done. If the laminate is no longer available, you will have to see if you can salvage a piece from the portion of the top you cut off (the fence-routed edge should be perfect for butting up to the top). You should be able to separate the laminate from the substrate and clean it using methyl ethyl ketone. If you aren’t feeling up to it, or don’t have the tools, I would guess most cabinet makers (I used to be one) would be willing to give it a try.
Thank you, Joel! Do you think it’s possible to do this as is in the kitchen, or do I need to try to remove that large piece of countertop before starting? I fear trying to remove it will mess with the other pieces where it is glued. I’d love to be able to leave it on the cabinet and do the cutting right in the kitchen.
Hey Kersten — my husband re-laminated our countertop and he did a great job!
He did it all in place, just cemented the new stuff over the old. Used a laminate trimmer he got from a cheap tool place. He did a beautiful job. He did have to stop with the tool and trim some parts by hand so he wouldn’t mess up the wall, cabinet, etc.
If you are really handy with tools, I bet you can do it.
Kersten,
That largely depends on maneuvering space for the router. If the counter projects so that you can get at the current and revised front edge from both top and bottom, and all the way along its length from side to side with a router (which will be 3 – 6″ in dia. depending on the type used), then you should be good leaving it in place. If not, you will have to pry it up. If one side or the other butts into a wall or other cabinet at right angles for instance, you will not be able to get the cutter on the router all the way through. If you have to remove it to work, pull out any drawers or other obstructions and look underneath. It may be held down to the cabinet base with only screws, and will come off easily. Or not. Even if you have to pry it off and some plywood or lumber splinters in the process, it will all be hidden once you re-mount it. Just keep the substrate (probably plywood) from cracking or bending all the way through. Keep the surface with the laminate intact. The back side you can hide. If it is part of a larger top in the shape of an ‘L’ or something like that, removal gets trickier.
Thanks, Kersten! We did the sheet flooring and we love it … much nicer on the feet than the tile that was there before. I would not recommend installing it yourself unless you really know what you’re doing, as it’s a little more finicky than vinyl flooring. And definitely get someone who has experience with it!
Sooo cute! What a darling home!
Love the redo!! The wallpaper is so beautiful at the end of your kitchen! It looks like you have happy geranium blooming all around! Really makes for a happy, soothing spot!
Great job!
From one Iowa girl to another (transplanted) Iowa girl….just lovely! Love everything you did. It is timeless!
Lauryn & Dennis – your kitchen and nook turned out wonderful, and really, even the “before” version wasn’t too bad to look at, although I can understand after living with something for awhile, looks aren’t everything!
This is really my favorite era with painted wood cabinets in a 1930′s color palette. Generally a very happy and homey look! Thank you so much for sharing, and thanks to Pam for showcasing your kitchen.
Enjoy – I do hope you are going to frame and hang your artwork!
What a great job! My house “was” a late 40s-style as well before previous well-meaning owners turned it into a hodge-podge of 70s, 80s, 90s that I’m slowly attempting to undo.
I just love seeing new work, that’s reflective of the 40s, and that is so well executed. It looks like a time-capsul original and that’s perfect!
Thank you all so much for the very sweet comments. We’re so honored to be on the blog and so incredibly indebted to Pam and the whole retrorenovation community for all the inspiration!
wow! what a fantastic kitchen! commented on FB, but then had to see the rest of the photos, and i love everything about this kitchen! And your music to boot! wonderful post!
Wow Lauryn! Love this! Our house is in a suburb of Atlanta — 1934. Has much the same “flavor” as yours does. I love what you did! So funny that you have the same color scheme in your childhood drawing — you are consistent!
Funny — I have the same cat tiles and had them over my stove!
You did a great job on the kitchen — I especially love the nook!
Absolute perfection. That breakfast nook wallpaper may be the prettiest wallpaper that I’ve ever seen anywhere. And the yellow/red/grey combo in the kitchen is amazing. That yellow on the cabinets is the perfect shade. All of the little details add up to the most lovely space.
And hell to the yeah with doing what YOU want to do. We had an experience with a long line of contractors in our old house who came up with THE craziest (and most expensive) ideas when all we wanted was somewhere to put a dishwasher.
Checking this site today my first thought is, “That’s my kitchen!!” I have white cabinets and yellow walls, but the layout of my kitchen is almost identical to yours (my house was built in 1940). I love what you’ve done with your kitchen and will have it in mind when I eventually get around to making over mine. How did you make your curtains? I really like how they really let the light in and would like to do something like that in my breakfast nook, since that is the only source of light I have in the kitchen (the window above the sink isn’t really a window, it’s walled in).
Amanda, the curtains were pretty straightforward, which is good because I rarely sew anymore. Here’s a link I used to get me started, though I don’t think I made them quite as wide as they tell you (didn’t want too much fabric bunched up). I took the wallpaper sample to the fabric store to find the right red trim and hand-stitched that along the hem. http://www.womansday.com/home/craft-ideas/diy-home-decor-cafe-curtains-107373
Absolutely beautiful! So cheerful. Love the yellow.
I also love those black and white tiles hanging over the stove! I read and reread but didn’t see any mention of where you came across those? Maybe it’s there and I just missed it.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this beautiful remodel, and enjoy your kitchen.
Hi Carole. No, you didn’t miss it … those tiles were a gift from my father years and years ago. I think he may have gotten them at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s store, but I’m not sure you can still get them. They have moved from kitchen to kitchen with me but now seem to have found their home!
Makes my heart SING! Your sweet curtains = LOVE. (Especially the red detail )- reminds me of my Mama – who, btw, lived in Dubuque for some time in the 30s!:)
This is absolutely one of the nicest kitchen projects I’ve ever seen…and I’ve seen a lot. I love it because you’ve been so sympathetic to the era and architecture of your home, while also carefully considering your own needs. Just reading your story has made my day, thank you!
I live in Vancouver BC but spent 9 months in Cedar Rapids Iowa in 1996. Almost every weekend was spent exploring the small farming towns and antique stores. It was a fantastic experience.
Love times a thousand!! And kudos for removing your dishwasher if you didn’t use it. We never used ours when we had a condo, and now we have a 50s ranch that doesn’t have one. When we eventually renovate the kitchen (already had my eye on those Bradbury & Bradbury wallpapers for under our chair rail in the dining area!), it will not include a dishwasher. There’s just no room for it without losing precious space from our original built-in wood cabinets. We have a double bowl sink now (not original), and put a dish rack in one side, so it doesn’t take up extra counter space. We’ll eventually either get a drainboard single bowl sink or stick with a double bowl, depending on how we decide over time we like it.
I love all the little details you put into this. Every element looks great together, and it looks really liveable and fun! Such a fab makeover.
That’s a terrific recreation. It reminds me of the kitchen we had as a child, right down to the home made curtains with the ric-rac and the cracked ice table. I feel like I could walk in and know in which cabinet you keep the tunafish. Great job and thanks for sharing!
Dear future kitchen renovators – I’m seeing lots of comments about ditching dishwashers, which is always a personal choice, of course.
If you are like me, I do like having a dishwasher, but dang….I don’t really like having a 24″ dishwasher as sometimes they just take too long to fill, and being in California with our water issues, I feel extra guilty if I run it and it’s only 1/2 full.
My mom has had an 18″ dishwasher ever since I was a teenager, and when she redid her current kitchen, she put in another. My sister also put one in her kitchen. There used to be only 1 or 2 models available, but now it looks like there are quite a few makes/models available now. My mom is a whiz at loading hers and can get just as much in her 18″ as I generally do in my 24″.
Thought I would bring this up since 18″ dishwashers are rarely seen in appliance stores, but they do exist, and my mom’s works really well, and it is a viable option vs. going sans altogether.
Google images linked below:
https://www.google.com/search?q=18%22+dishwashers&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=LPI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=PAz7T5WkMYXY2QXIw-D8Bg&ved=0CEoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=873
Great ideas here, T3, thank yoU!
Great idea! We had one in my apartment in Germany (most efficient kitchen ever) and I thought it was fantastic!
Did someone really say, “…props to you for making the choices you want in your kitchen instead of focusing on resale”?
I’d buy the place for that kitchen, hands down! And that fridge! Awesome! Which begs the question, where was your old one?
Dig it, dig it, dig it!
It’s really lovely! Hooray for doing what makes you happy and not going with the trends! I am also in the middle of putting in a kitchen and I hate decisions, but I don’t want a dishwasher, much to everyone’s horror. I ordered a dishmaster and can’t wait to use it! Good job!!!
You hit every note perfectly (kitchen design AND music)! Proof there is life after dishwashers. When can we see the rest of your home?
I pretty much second everything everyone else said. Wonderful in every way. Normally I would be sad to see a built-in banquette go, but the way your dinette set and wallpaper go together is absolutely fabulous! Well done.
I’m assuming that you didn’t get a before picture of the fridge/stove area?
Trust me, it was really hard to remove part of the original kitchen. But it was unbelievably drafty, in poor shape, and not comfortable, and in the end we’re glad we did.
I do have a before photo of the stove/fridge area, but have no idea how to post it. Pam, do you still have that shot?
This is so beautiful! I especially love the color of your cabinets and that snappy backsplash.
Bravo Lauryn and Dennis! Superb job! Your kitchen is Beautiful! I love! Kudos to you both!
Beautiful. You choice of colors and materials is incredibly good, just perfect. I don’t think I have ever seen a retro kitchen done better. Totally professional and so well balanced. Red is particularly difficult to work with, and you mastered it. You should consider a career in kitchen design.
Your layout is gorgeous too, but for me, I could never live without my dishwasher as I h-a-t-e doing dishes and I’m very lazy. I probably would have kept a dishwasher and put a full sized refrigerator where your pantry closet is now. I don’t have a pantry closet in my little kitchen but I have tons storage closets nearby for things I don’t use often/bulk stuff. Sort of beside the point though – it’s your house, and it obviously works well for you.
I wish we could have used that space!! That door is actually to the basement, so no way to use that space for a refrigerator. I’m not always super happy to wash the dishes, but I’ve always hated the noise of a dishwasher (even the so-called quite ones) so I’m okay with it. Besides, I get to look at my pretty faucet while I do them!
Ah. Well in that case, you made some brave decisions that I think are working very well.
This kitchen reminds me so much of my grandma’s. I can’t think of a happier, more cheerful place! Absolutely LOVE this!!
I LOVE that kitchen so much, I want to take it out and get it pregnant!
I agree with everyone – this is just beautiful. I would really love to copy the cabinet color and the countertops. Does anybody have thoughts on whether they would work nearly so well in a 1950 modest colonial? My cabinets are the same slab style, currently painted white, and counters are 80s white formica. I have a new Marmoleum black & white check kitchen floor, which I love, but the red seems important here. The other color I’m thinking of for the cabinets is sort of a lightish greyish blue, maybe Stratford Blue from Pam’s favorite SW Suburban Modern collection. Any and all thoughts welcome!
I think that 1950 colors did not differ much from 1939 colors. I think it’d be just find to do yellow with black and white. Then add one more color as a principle accents — golly, pretty much any color would work — and are good to go!
Oh, I love this kitchen!! Absolutely adorable! I like the idea of putting a below-counter fridge and freeing up some of that space. Great retro-renovation!
What a charming, charming kitchen! And I think the undercounter fridge is a great idea! When I was looking at houses last year I looked at so many “little grandma houses” that obviously weren’t built when refrigerators, or at least not big ones, were around. I saw houses where the refrigerator was in the dining room or the back porch – and one where it was kind of precariously perched in the stairway that led down to the back door. Yours is a much better choice!
This is so beautiful! Excellent color choices.
Did you have to take out the awful stone tiles to put in the linoleum? We have them, too — and yes, they hurt my feet and back and always look dirty.
Yup, had to pull out the tile AND the old underlayment. It was a dirty and very physical job, but there was something cathartic about it too. I felt a bit guilty over destroying perfectly functional tile, but my friend with the goat farm — where my sink came from — took the remnants and used it as fill at the farm where the road was washed out. A different kind of landfill, I guess!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this kitchen! And thank you for posting the paint colors and all else. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with my 1950 little kitchen. This is just the. Ticket!
Could you share the the make/model of the fan? Does it give off sufficient light? I am looking for something similar for my kitchen and am having trouble finding a fan with a bright enough light for the kitchen.
Millie, it’s a Minka Aire Acero and it rocks, I just love it. Great light and fabulous air movement and one of my favorite things in the kitchen.
As I was reading, I was hoping you would mention the paint color on your cabinets…Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing so! That is the color of yellow I want mine…exactly. Nothing “screams”, nothing is competing with anything else!
Everything is calm, comfortable, cozy, and coordinated! Thanks a million for sharing you guys! Love it!!
Hey, no microwave either!?
When I redid my kitchen, seveal people thought I was making a mistake by not including a garbage disposal. I don’t miss one at all. And I can’t believe not having one would ever be a deal breaker if I sell my house.
Also, a really good kitchen designer – not the clerk at the big box store who learned the kitchen software last week — can come up with lots of good ways to configure / select cabinets to make them really workable and maximize counter space. You will know when you’ve really found one. Check out the local, independent stores. Also, someone who actually uses their kitchen will probably have better ideas. My gal came up with all kinds of ideas — then she helped me paint the kitchen!
I really appreciate your photos. Your kitchen is in some ways surprisingly similar to the remodeling plan I have in my head. I want to do our kitchen in a late ’30s style so your kitchen is quite an inspiration.
I’m going to have to build cabinets, and they’ll be very much in the style you have, though I’m toying with the idea of soffits. (My wife is short, she’ll never use those upper cabinets)
I had thought of using the cream color of your cabinets on the wall, with the cabinets in white. I had not considered the inverse – it’s a bit surprising to see, but really beautiful. I may borrow the idea. I’m using Benjamin Moore’s online color viewer to decide on colors, so now I’ll have to swap colors around.
I’m a big believer in multiple colors and you have four strong ones going on -The white walls, the cream cabinets, the red floor, and the grayish counters and the wallpaper that is predominantly gray. It all comes together very very well. It doesn’t look busy at all, in fact it’s very calm and soothing while also managing to be cheerful.
I think you guys did better than any designer ever would have. It’s beautiful.
P.S. I don’t think the stove looks out of place at all. Seems to blend right in, even though it’s modern.
What an incredible kitchen! You have helped me make a decision as to the color of my cabinets which are exactly like yours. I am in total awe of what you have done and my hat goes off to you an your husband.
Your results are so charming, so appealing and so fresh, that you have made me rethink our plans to gut-renovate our own kitchen in the next 2-3 years.
We have similar cupboards that are in excellent condition (could do with a better quality repainting) and laminate faux-marble countertops that are also in great shape. The 1970s vinyl floor needs to be replaced (it’s cracked and peeling in places), and I think a linoleum like what you used would be perfect.
You may just have saved us thousands of dollars, Lauryn and Dennis. Thanks!
Fresh is really the right word. Clean too. It is all so perfect for the space and the house. Gutsy move on the refrigerator in the cabinet. Our previous homeowners had the same quandary. They stuffed a refrigerator into the pantry. We still can’t figure out where to put the refrigerator.
I think the idea to use that wall sconce to light the stove is really brilliant. something like that is definitely going in my kitchen now.
I was wondering what is the name of the pattern on the wallpaper you have in the breakfast nook?
It’s Bradbury & Bradbury’s Sunnyside: http://www.bradbury.com/postwar.html. Ooops, mentioned in the story but missed the resource list at the end. I’ll add it now!
Thanks, Pam … I realized I forgot to put it in my list and it’s definitely one of the best parts of the kitchen. Trip, this particular pattern is called “Sunnyside”. (Fitting, huh?)
Oh, can you come do my kitchen? We live in a cute little 1949 ranch, with a kitchen that needs just such a happy touch. We have beige tiles, too, and I’d love to replace them for your lovely red linoleum.
Perfect
You two did a terrific job on your kitchen . It has a very warm and inviting feel about it.
Such a happy kitchen! It looks like the ideal place to have hot coffee and pie on a chilly day. (Or iced tea and pie on a hot day.) Really great job.
Hi, thank you for confirming for me that my decision to “refresh” vs “update” the kitchen in my 1940s ranch house is the right one! I have been looking at exactly the Nevamar “lineny” laminates, and wonder if you think the one you chose is too dark, or just right? I have samples of all of them and the Serene Stardom seems dark to me. Also, do you like your stove? I too wish I could shoehorn one of the cool vintage 36″ or 40″ stoves into my “refresh,” but I can’t; anything bigger than 30″ will require a complete rehaul. Love what you did! So cheerful and charming!
We don’t find the Serene Stardom too dark at all, in fact it’s pretty much perfect. I think a lot depends, though, on other factors. Our kitchen gets a LOT of natural light (thank you, breakfast nook), plus we have a lot of light colors with the pale yellow cabinets, white walls, white appliances. If you have a lot of dark colors, or your kitchen doesn’t get much natural light, it might be too dark. Or it might just be too dark for your tastes … go with what you think works best for YOU and your space!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head; that color would work great in my kitchen if I had lots of natural light, but I don’t, unfortunately. The kitchen used to have one outside wall and a window, but the original owners added a 3-season room, so while I still have a window, it gets its light from the 3-season room, not directly from outside. I’ve been thinking of adding a skylight though… but meanwhile, maybe I will consider the lighter Nevamar linen-y countertop; they make one called “Vanish Vava” that’s pale with turquoise that might work in my dark kitchen… thanks for the response, Lauryn, and again, love love LOVE your kitchen re-do. (Enjoyed the video, too; you two look like you’re having a lot of fun on stage together!)
Jenny, and others with stoves you don’t love,
You can make a contemporary or already existing stove work fine – as did Lauryn and her husband and it doesn’t look out of place at all. Lauryn’s stove falls to the background and allows the other charming elements of the kitchen to come through.
We are working on a 70s inspired lounge for the livingroom to provide extra seating and to hide the tv. Will share with this fine community once it’s complete. It’s been an investment so we are doing it in phases – first the slump block (complete), next the bench (kick off in about a month) and last the cabinet (for the future).
Best wishes, everyone.
This is so great! Love the kitchen. It reminds me so much of the kitchens in our neighborhood when I was little. The lady across the street had a red marble linoleum floor. We all had cafe curtains, and my Dad built a set of curved shelves for the end of our cupboards. The houses were built in 1946, and my memories start around 1949 – 50.
Love the music and the artwork, too. If you ever have some time, Lauryn, you might try your hand at visual arts, you clearly have talent from a young age.
Once again, I am so grateful for all the lovely comments. It’s a bit nerve-wracking putting your kitchen out there for all the world to see, so thank you all!
Regarding the small fridge/no dishwasher, having a bigger refrigerator (though I can’t imagine going back to a full-size) and a dishwasher would be fabulous and there were other configurations we considered that would have allowed that. All of them, however, had some kind of compromise and since prep space around the stove, more storage, and preserving the original cabinets were way more important to us than a dishwasher, this one was the best compromise for us.
Before we took the leap, we cleaned out our full-size refrigerator of all the duplicate/expired/never used condiments and science experiments shoved in the back and lived for awhile trying to approximate the space we would get with an under the counter model. We realized that we hardly ever buy prepared food and that a small space was plenty for weekly produce, dairy, pet food, and condiments and we could make it work. We also have dramatically reduced food waste by eating what’s in there before we buy more!!
When we first made the switch, I panicked and bought a dorm refrigerator for 50 bucks off Craigslist to put in the basement in case of overflow, but it’s not really necessary. All it ever really houses is a six-pack or two.
I guess the bottom line is to think realistically about what you need. There are only two of us, which means less food to have to store and fewer dishes to wash. Everybody’s situation is different, but that is the spirit of this blog — Love the House You’re In — and so we just made the house we’re in work for us.
That was a really smart way to test the fridge space issue, Lauryn. We have a full-size refrigerator and yet we still have a dorm fridge in the basement for beer and overflow from holidays and parties. My husband is from Europe where small fridges are the norm. He still can’t get used to having so much refrigerator space. He’s used to eating perishables up every day and chilling watermelons in a sink full of cold water. I think I could learn a lesson from you guys.
Once again, congrats on doing such a marvelous kitchen! It’s making me want to replace the wainscoting behind our kitchen table with some of that awesome wallpaper!
Pam, could you possibly add the “before” shot of the stove/refrigerator wall? Lauryn says she has one.
Lynn, there’s a picture of the stove/fridge “before” here: http://www.thekitchn.com/lauryns-bright-cheerful-retro-kitchen-small-cool-kitchens-2012-174212
I absolutely love this comment. So many people feel they need a big kitchen (or a bigger house) because they don’t think to see what they really need. We recently pared down to one of each dish per person, and put the extra dishes for guests in an inaccessible cupboard above the refrigerator. Not only do we need less cupboard space, but we our dirty dishes absolutely can’t get out of control. I think if more people in small families did this, they wouldn’t feel the need for a dishwasher, or a super-sized kitchen, or a super-sized house. Our 1000 square feet of house is plenty. It actually could be smaller.
I am really digging this under-the-counter fridge idea. My husband and I are currently house hunting. There is an older home that I kind of love a little, but the kitchen is a bit cramped with the fridge just sticking out of a wall. There is a dishwasher that we’d never use, so maybe an under-the-counter fridge would be the perfect solution! We’d have a chest freezer anyway, and we’re used to having a small fridge as it is right now (we’re living in a camper while we house hunt!) so I know we could handle it. Thanks so much for the brain food!
We just put in new countertops last weekend. Our cabinets, and sink already look like yours. Thank goodness you’ve now stopped me before I ripped those out too! I was wondering where you got your ceiling fan? Thanks for the great article and pictures. What a beautiful kitchen!
Lovely job. Will be an inspiration when I finally get dh on board with reno-ing our 1940s kitchen
What an inspirational remodel! So sunny and bright and clean. I could be very very happy in a kitchen like that…
I’m going to have “Jackson” going through my head for the rest of the day now — not a bad thing!
WOW. Fantastic! Your eye for functional simplicity and color coordination would put many interior decorators to shame. Also, I think your Formica pattern was a great period choice. Cracked ice was very popular, but Formica came in many patterns, including linen.
You had me at “Big Chill”….. sigh….
Nice work guys… It looks fresh and fun. I love the Ceiling fan, dishwasher, cabinet pulls and wallpaper!
Excellent job! Just love it. I had those same 2 cat tiles hanging behind our stove when we lived upstairs from my parents’ place. In fact, their tenants still have the same ORANGE countertops and corner sink that we did back then, and that was before we got the retro bug.
Makes me want to go sunny up our current space a bit!
Oh, btw, really enjoyed “Jackson” also. Thanks for sharing that!
I am so impressed!! so happy you went with all the decisions you made, great not to see yet another cookie cutter kitchen,. loved each step, wallpaper, frigde, everything!! Best to you
Love it. And so glad to see I’m not the only fan of this site who prefers sweet little 30s/40s kitchens to the bigger and brassier 50s/60s styles. Thanks for posting this and congratulations on a job well done.
seriously. perfect. i also used a carpenter to build additional cabinets to match the originals and make the kitchen work better for us. it turned out great! https://picasaweb.google.com/thesmallviking/2011KitchenDoorFacelift?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Love it, Jen!
I really loved this renovation because it seems really do-able. I know I’ll never have a budget to do a crazy, over the top renovation of a kitchen, so I like seeing more toned-down renovations. You didn’t rip out walls, hunt down costly cabinets that needed custom refurbishing, you didn’t buy one of those $5000 retro-inspired stoves like Rachel Ray has….you worked with what was there, and you did it tastefully and in a way that isn’t overwhelming for those of us with smaller budgets. Thanks!
Thanks, Jamie. It wasn’t exactly cheap, but we did look for ways to save some money. I looked at the Big Chill stoves too, but they really didn’t seem to be that much different than my Kenmore, except for the digital clock. Modest homes should mean modest remodels!
To all of you lovely retrorenovation readers, I was inspired by Laura’s Last Ditch Vintage Appliances to enter my kitchen in Apartment Therapy’s Small Cool Kitchen contest. There is not much Retro-Representation in the contest (though there are some admittedly very cool kitchens in there!), and though our kitchen is doing fairly well, we just got bumped out of third place (boo hoo). If anyone feels inspired to vote, here’s the link: http://www.thekitchn.com/lauryns-bright-cheerful-retro-kitchen-small-cool-kitchens-2012-174212. Hey, it’s worth a look just to see what other folks are doing with their kitchens!
Fantastic job! Love the breakfast nook. Your stove, though new, looks retro. Check out a couple of photos of the kitchen floor & vintage stove in my 1941 Burbank cottage: search “Suzanne’s kitchen.” Enjoyed your concert–you two are multi-talented!
I voted! Love your kitchen–you’re so lucky to have the original cabinets to work with. I wish I knew what our original kitchen looked like, the sink is currently in the corner, which seems odd to me, but it’s such a small kitchen, there isn’t much else to do with it. Argh.
How amazing is it that that is almost exactly like my kitchen in NJ, except you do have a wider kitchen (ours backs up to the staircase so no expansion possible). Not much has been done to change mine so I can tell you that in trying to bring it back to the original, you made the right call on the over-the-sink light, flooring, and the countertop.
? Love this so much. Practical. Adorable. True to you.
Except for the curtains in the breakfast nook, I really didn’t see anything wrong with the “before” kitchen. The new one is lighter & brighter, however.
Really? You didn’t see anything wrong with a fake malachite Formica counter and beige ceramic tile floor, in a 1940s cottage? And did the two-tone (dark green and white) cabinets work for you? The former kitchen was a hodge-podge of cheap, builder-grade materials from different decades; the latter is a charming, unified blend of 1940s kitsch (and I mean that in a good way).
Joe, while we were definitely not “in love” with the before kitchen, we never really thought it was awful. The remodel was entirely inspired by a need to make a small kitchen more functional and more efficient for two cooks. And since we were going to make changes to its functionality, we took the opportunity to spruce it up and make it a much happier, sunnier place as well.
That kitchen is PERFECT! I love the creamy yellow cabinets, the red floor, the wallpaper, EVERYTHING!
Thank you for sharing your kitchen with us.
I love what you did to renovate the old one.
Cindy
You two are adorable; your kitchen is more than adorable and Dennis appears to be a martini guy — also retro (and very 1930′s)! We have a 1936 house and love that vintage.
Your kitchen is one any friend would love to hang out in to have coffee and chat, can some pickles or crabapple jelly — or share a martini in a vintage glass. Cheers!
P.S. just watched your great vid and am wondering where you perform? Your band is GOOD! So enjoyable what is shared on RR’s site!
Thanks, Diane! Yes, we love our martinis … especially from a vintage, martini glass. And part of the reason for the remodel was to make the kitchen more user friendly for canning, a skill I’m slowly attempting to acquire!
Regarding our band, that was us singing with a bunch of local musicians who all came together for a tribute to classic country music. Our band is actually an acoustic trio and though we occasionally venture out to the mountains of Colorado and the coasts, it’s hard to leave our sweet house to be on the road for weeks at a time, so we mostly have been performing in the Midwest these past few years.
This is my favorite story of the year.
Thank you, Chris!
We just bought a 1928 tudor with the same exact kitchen and have been looking everywhere on what the design should be… Till we saw this, PERFECT! Thank you so!
Thank you, Chuck! You have to send pictures to Pam when you do your kitchen. I would love to see how it turns out!!
Love what you did with the kitchen. I have a 1930′s house, and a previous owner gutted the kitchen and replaced with cheap cabinetry. Once the original is gone, it never comes back. Thank you for respecting the original design. Your kitchen has much character and looks beautiful.
Wow…my head is swimming with ideas. Our house was built in the ’30′s so we are putting things back as original as possible. Lots of trips to antique and flea markets has worked in adding furnishing but now for the big stuff which means redoing the kitchen. Our previous home was built in 1898 and it took 30 years for us to get it done. I can’t believe we are moving to another era but it is exciting and just another adventure for us. (Just for the record…we just celebrated our 50th anniversary.) What must we be thinking? But, good health and lots of energy spurs us on. Your photos are a good start. Wish us luck! Thanks for posting.
Your kitchen is so beautiful, and I can’t stop looking at the pics. I am a lover of retro, and your project is an absolute inspiration to get going on my own. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
I have a house built in 1937 with the original cabinets. I was wondering how deep is your counter top on the base cabinets? Mine is very shallow.
Hi Deborah. Our countertops/cabinets were all the standard depth used today. To be honest, I’m not sure I would call our base cabinets “cabinets”, as they really seem to be a front with a few shelves and some doors and drawers! They were actually in pretty rough shape and as I was painting them, I was wondering if I should have replaced them, but I was so charmed by the cut-out under the sink and after I was finally done, the flaws were really not visible. If you want a standard depth counter, don’t discount replacing the base cabinets, particularly if you can find a local craftsperson who can keep them simple and replicate the look. I’m so happy that’s the path we took with the cabinets we had made to match the originals … unless you looked really closely at their condition, you’d never know they were built 70+ years apart!
Hi Lauryn,
Love your kitchen! I am in the Seattle area and rebuilding my kitchen.
There does not seem to be an exhaust fan of any kind over your stove. Has this been an issue or presented any problems since completing your kitchen? Perhaps the kind of cooking you do does not require one? I have been considering leaving the fan out in my renovation also…
Richard
Richard
Hi Richard. Thanks for the compliments and hello to Seattle for us! We originally were going to put in an exhaust fan, but the area behind the stove wall is the staircase down to the basement, so without ridiculous amounts of construction contortions, we would not have been able to vent it to the outside. Every thing I read and every person I spoke with who had one of the non-ducted fans said they were mostly useless but liked having the light there … so we just put in a light (which we love!). That said, we cook a lot and occasionally do the kind of cooking that would benefit from a fan, which is where the ceiling fan and an open window come in to play! Not necessarily ideal, but it works, and I figure, in 70+ years of cooking, there’s never been an exhaust fan in this kitchen (and in all my years of cooking and all the places I’ve lived as an adult I’ve never had one). So if you can make it work, go for it, but we couldn’t and it rarely seems to be an issue for us (and certainly not one we can’t work around when it is an issue). Happy remodeling and good luck to you!
Lauryn, you guys did a great job! As someone above said, it makes me happy to look at it. I found this site because my mother needs a new kitchen floor and the choices in vinyl are not even close to our usual and beloved red brick. I love your red floor. I just helped my mom get new cabinets, appliances, counter, etc. We had what was called a “country kitchen”, I think. One piece metal cabinets with appliances built in and a beautiful stainless top. Installed in ’64, GE. Stove and oven still worked, but not real well. It was blue. I couldn’t believe my mother wanted cherry cabinets, it all seem so wrong. I wish I’d seen you kitchen before, but it’s prolly for the best, time-wise. Her kitchen is really nice, but yours is…lovely. This was fun, thanks to computer gods for letting me ramble!