Reader David’s 1930 Dutch colonial house — including his super cute vintage kitchen — have been a constant labor of love since he signed on the dotted line. It has taken him seven — yes, seven — years to get his picture perfect kitchen “just right”. All the details are perfect, indeed — from his vintage stove… to his red gingham curtains… to the black-and-white checkerboard floor… and more.
Hello, Pam and Kate:
I bought this house in 2004. The previous owner had lived here for only four years, but he told me that prior to that, there had been only one family who owned the house since it was built in 1930, through 2000. The house had been very neglected. There was water in the basement. There were old pitted aluminum storm windows. Many of the sash cords were cut or broken. Many window panes were cracked.
And there was this kitchen, but when I bought it there were newer appliances. I guess that the cabinets were installed sometime around 1955 or so (the metal cabinets in my kitchen are Geneva, and the name tag is still on them on the front of the sink cabinet), and the floor and countertops when I bought it were from 1955 also. There was a big hole in the cabinets where I eventually found a wall oven to fit. I am sure that in 1955, this kitchen was state-of-the-art. Slowly, over the next seven years, it became what you see in the photos.
The house is really mostly traditional, and when I bought the house I planned to redo the kitchen. But eventually I installed the floor, and then the countertops, and I saw that it was shaping up to be a retro kitchen. Later in 2004, I bought the 1952 O’Keefe & Merritt stove, and had it shipped from Burbank, California. At Sears, I bought the wall oven, which just by chance fit. A few years later, I bought the retro style refrigerator (which looks old but has modern features). The refrigerator is Northstar; I bought it at an appliance store in Torrington, CT. They told me that the actual workings inside are made by Maytag. (I have no idea if that is true.) My only disappointment with the refrigerator is that the outside is plastic, rather than the metal the old time refrigerators were made from. I also added the black and white rubber tile floor and the white Formica countertops.
I had the cafe curtains made, and bought the red rick-rack to be added along the leading edges and bottom. The “topper” curtains, typical of the 1950s, I ordered online from Country Curtains – Gingham ruffled. And I picked up a few red accessories, but tried not to go overboard.
I built a pantry closet to the right of the refrigerator (the previous owner had a stackable washer and dryer there), so I will add a photo of the pantry also.
I know that almost everyone today wants granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, but I call my kitchen reverse snobbery, since the counter tops are Formica. I like the fact that it does not look like every other kitchen across America. Now that I know from your web site that the cabinets are “chic” again, I have no plans to change it. I think it suits the house too.
Best regards,
David
David, I love how you pulled this kitchen together — that you started just wanting something different and ended up with a vintage kitchen like this. That stove was definitely worth the trouble — what a gem. Your choice of curtains is spot on, and your controlled use of color is perfection. I’m envious of your swinging kitchen door — that oval window is wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing your kitchen with us!
Gorgeous! It is so happy in your kitchen!
I love your kitchen, its beautiful. And your satisfaction at going your own way
good for you!
Beautiful job!! Love the colors!
Gorgeous charming house and the kitchen fits it to a tee. I too love the window treatments and the swinging door with the oval window! Entire room is wonderful!
David, it is a marvelous kitchen and I SO envy you that house! We built a simpler Dutch in 1992 because I always loved that very house that you have! We have been watching one just like it up in Maine, hoping some day the elderly owners decide to sell. Please elaborate on the backsplash. Is that red tile or is it the faux tile that comes in a sheet? Whatever it is, it sure looks period. I am so glad you didn’t do granite. Your kitchen is just perfect! I found and posted a bunch of links yesterday to some great appliances, cabinets and bathroom sets on the steel cabinet forum if anyone is interested. There sure is some neat stuff out there but it is always a crap shoot if it is located anywhere near where you live! So much of it shows up on the west coast and here I am on the east coast! Oh, is the sink original and if not, who makes it? Great style and perfect for that kitchen!
Janet:
Thank you and everyone for all the compliments. The backsplash was coppertone press on tiles installed by the previous owner; since they didn’t go with anything I decided to paint them red and they seem to be holding up well. (Benjamin Moore “Million Dollar Red” is the color)
David
Janet:
Almost forgot, the sink needed to be replaced; it is Elkay Lustertone, with a matte finish. I had constraints there because of the size of the metal cabinet and the dishwasher which wasn’t originally here. The negative about this sink is that the drainboard is perfectly flat, so that the water does not drain off it; a stupid design.
David
What a happy way to srart the week!
Start, srart. You guessed it, I never won a spelling bee.
Beautiful job.
What a great way to start the week off! Great looking kitchen!
I love this kitchen! The home is gorgeous! Good work!
Love the swinging door too! I had one growing up that led from the what had originally been the formal dining to the kitchen. It didn’t have a cute lil window like yours though! What a fun kitchen!
I had dreams of cafe curtains last night.
Pam:
Thank you. Speaking of curtains we have to find a source for mid century curtains, short of having a seamstress sew them up. Sometimes in fabric stores I see vintage looking material, but taking that to a seamstress would be costly. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a friend who sews.
I am happy everyone has enjoyed the photos.
David
Very impressive!
I remember being hit in the face with a swinging door like that more than one time growing up! I love LOVE LOVE this kitchen.
“The house is really mostly traditional, and when I bought the house I planned to redo the kitchen. But eventually I installed the floor, and then the countertops, and I saw that it was shaping up to be a retro kitchen.” –
David, thank you for sharing your story…your words (copied above) capture exactly what makes the kitchen so special…..keep up the excellent work! “
David
You know how much I love your house and the kitchen. You have done a great job. Why I am not surprised .You are a very talented With unique vision
Mike Selim
oh dear, this is my dream kitchen. i love white and red in a kitchen, and this does it so well.
the amount of white really ties the 50s-retro vibe from the red accents, metal cabinets and appliances back to the “traditional” 30s era of the house, when white kitchens were hugely popular for their ability to be kept clean.
OY VEY! His kitchen is almost as delicious as his plum tart.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Oh Goodness! The Perfect Kitchen! Love
Great job David! Outside looks picture-perfect too. Smart choice you made to stay vintage with this kitchen. I wonder if it perhaps you got that wonderful stove from Sav-On appliacnes in Burbank?
Ranger Smith:
Yes, I believe the stove was from Sav-On Appliances in Burbank. I had an awful lot of back and forth to get the thermostat for the oven, but it is all right now. It was not in as good shape as the photos on their web site, so a couple years ago I sent it to Georgia to be refurbished, which was somewhat of a disappointment, but now I have invested so much in this stove I have learned to love it. It actually works very well. Most home cooks do not need restaurant ranges for regular cooking; I believe this was dreamed up to sell those ranges to unsuspecting consumers. Thanks for the compliments.
David
David, what a beautiful kitchen….we use to live in
Torrington… i assume your house is there. We moved to Florida in 1970….a big mistake. We could never find a home like yours in this state. Thanks for sharing…..
LOVE THIS KITCHEN! I could die happy in it, preferably keeling over while rolling out a pie crust on that perfect baking counter to the left of the stove.
What a way to go Marta…haha!
Oh, my! What a great kitchen! Thanks for pointing out the swinging door, now I want one too!
I have that clock, but in green, and I made white curtains with red rickrack for my last kitchen, so this kitchen is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing. In addition to the design choices, I’m impressed by how clean and shiny the floor looks! Check out that hard, brilliant reflection in front of the oven. I’m guessing that part of the credit is due to the totally flat surface (as opposed to so many modern floor coverings that tend to be pebbly or otherwise textured), but seriously, what products produce that kind of hard sheen?
Brian T.
Thank you for the compliments. The floor is a 12 x 12 rubber tile, the industrial type, that is often used in schools. I didn’t realize (and didn’t ask the tile man) that it has no finish on it, so more upkeep is required. Once a year I have someone come in with a polisher, and he strips the old polish off and applies 3 coats of new. Not so bad as it is only once a year. The rest of the time it just requires sweeping or vacuuming, and occasional mopping. I have a cat so there are always balls of fur here.
David
I love the kitchen too. It gives me the same feeling as grandma’s on the farm. You don’t get a room like this in today’s “open concept” floor plans. You can have red in your kitchen and not have to wonder how to make it flow into the family room and dining area. Love it.
rick
David — did you want to marry me? I’m not a wonderful cook or housekeeper, but I could be inspired to perfection in that kitchen. I am having heart palpitations.
Oh wait — shoot — I forgot. I’m already married. Never mind that idea.
Seriously, I LOVE the kitchen. So fun and cheery!!!!! Our home was built in 1934.
I love all the midcentury stuff on RR — but I do backflips when I get to see stuff from “my” period.
Wheeeeeeeeeeee! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, he nailed it. Looks good!
Great kitchen, wonderful job. The kitchen compliments the house. Reminds me of that kitchen scene at the end of Woman of The Year when K. Hepburn is trying to cook breakfast for S. Tracy.
Wow! Would love to hear more about your floor, as I’m looking to make the same change to my 1940 cottage.
Gwen:
Please see my reply above to Brian T. regarding the floor. Frankly, if I were installing the floor again, I would try to find something similar that already has a flat, shiny finish.
Hope this helps.
David
David, I don’t see the reply you mentioned to Brian T. And what is a flat, shiney finish? I thought it was either flat or shiney but not both so now I am confused.
Janet:
The comment from Brian is among the comments. He mentioned that today most tiles are textured or pebbled, etc., but mine are flat, referring the the surface (not textured). The shiny refers to the polish and shine. So they are flat surfaced tiles, with polish to create a high shine (although this dulls over time as it is used and walked on).
I hope this clears up your confusion.
David
I think there is something about a waxed floor that just adds to the look of the kitchen. Some finishes are shiny to start, then they wear out, and you can’t do much to correct the problem. I like waxed wood floors too. Most people don’t even know what they are.
Beautiful kitchen! Now I’m dreaming of locations for a pantry of my own!
Love with a capital “L”. My favorite kitchen color – RED! and I really love the appliances, please tell me where you got them? as I hope to have some like that some day!
you’re kitchen and home would make a great B&B.
It’s lovely, and so cheerful!
love it!
i’ve never liked stainless steel appliances – too industrial/institutional looking.
read it’s losing popularity
Just so perfect! You have a great eye and lots of energy and patience. Enjoy your wonderful space. Most people are not creative enough to see the potential you saw in your old kitchen. I bet you will inspire others with your design sense. Nice of you to share.
I have a similar looking floor , but in blue & white, in my 1948 Cape Cod in Glendale, CA – it’s not original, but it is easy to install. My guess is it’s not actually rubber – it’s VCT, which stands for vinyl composite tile, and is often mistakenly called linoleum. The pros: Cheap. No seams, unlike Marmoleoum. DIY-friendly. Comes in tons of colors. The cons: It can crack, especially when installed over a wooden subfloor. Industrial applications (its intended use) are primarily over concrete. Installing in multiple layers (i.e. not removing old flooring) can add to cracking. Shows light *and* dark dirt, b/c it’s both light and dark.
All that said, when I have to replace my floor next year, I am still sticking with black & white checkerboard VCT to go with my white metal Mullins cabinet, blue Formica counter tops, and chrome counter trim.
Alison:
Yes, I think the tiles are probably what you describe as there are 2 or 3 tiles which have developed hairline cracks. I have enought leftover tile to replace them, but I suspect it is the sub floor as you say. As another reader commented, this type of floor shows dirt easily (and cat hairs!)
Thanks for your compliments.
David
David, would you share the name of the company that makes your rubber floor tiles? We’ve been searching for the right black & white checkerboard floor for years! Rubber floor tiles have never even come up in conversation at the various tile and flooring shops we frequent.
Are they interlocking floor tiles? Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen, it’s perfect!
Excellent kitchen, David – lots to love in there. Red and white is always a winner, and I love your stove, curtains, cabinets and all.
As for the swinging door (*swoon*), I’d love it if Pam did a thread on 20′s – 50′s homes vs. 60′s and 70′s, when more “open” floor plans started arriving. What do people prefer? The swinging door made me think of that, because earlier homes had lots of wall space typically, and very specific separate rooms, ie, less open. I like those better….the more open, then the less walls to hang stuff on and place furniture against – I’d probably have to get rid of a lot of furniture and wall decorations in a more open floor plan.
Anyway….love that swinging door!
Love this!!! OMGsh Im drooling, fantastic job! Congrats, good for you!!!
Adorable! My kinda kitchen. To me, red gingham is ultra cheerful…I have some hanging over a window, too. This kitchen reminds me of the old ’30s-’40s movies I love to watch…could be why I am drawn the most to that era.
Just read TTT’s post…I’m always thinking about how very old kitchens were rooms off by themselves and now they are right there in your face with the open concept. I get the heebies-jeebies looking at magazines with redesigned homes that feel like one big warehouse and no walls and separation and the gawd-awful boxy high ceilings of hollow-ness…wasted space. Give me cozy and nooks and crannies and walls.
TammyCA (from TTT, Tami in CA also!) – totally agree with you. Gotta have my walls, and my mom is that way also, especially about kitchens being their own separate less open space. She is an excellent housekeeper, but there were days once in a great while, where dishes were in the sink, and she didn’t want anyone seeing it from the living room!
Beautiful kitchen. Reminds me of my great-aunt’s. I always wanted a red & white kitchen. I love the curtains and the swinging door. You did a fantastic job. Thank you for sharing with us.
I wonder if my hubby would flip if I asked him to put a round window in my kitchen pocket door?
David, I love your pantry! It looks just like mine from my 1952 house, with shelves just like yours. The previous homeowners even installed a spice rack on the back of the door just like yours, and I keep my collection of tea in it. When I saw your photograph for a split second I thought I was looking at my own house
I absolutely love it
I also have a black and white kitchen floor that never looks clean
The white shows EVERYTHING and the black shows every bit of lint from the far corners of the universe.
I dream of the day when I can have a new (old) kitchen in my 1951 ranch.
Thanks for sharing your lovely home.
Love the kitchen and the house! I know what you mean taking so long I am going on 8 years dealing with my kitchen and by Jan. 1 I will have finally completed it!
Thank you for sharing your kitchen and home with us.
It’s so fresh and inviting. I’m a fan of your checkered floor. We had one like it, but my husband took it 2 steps further. On the outer perimeter, he outlined the floor in black, and in the middle, he placed little white tiles in the shape of diamonds. I loved that kichen.
Thank you again for sharing.
Cindy
This is a wonderfully redone retro kitchen…it’s the heart of your home I am sure. Great job! I especially like it being one of a kind…why be like everyone else? Bravo!
Is this–perhaps–a Sears home?