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!
vegebrarian says
Beautiful kitchen! Now I’m dreaming of locations for a pantry of my own!
Gwen says
Wow! Would love to hear more about your floor, as I’m looking to make the same change to my 1940 cottage.
David Alexander says
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
Janet in CT says
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.
David Alexander says
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
lynda says
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.
Jay says
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.
Touble says
Yeah, he nailed it. Looks good!
Chris says
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!
richard schumacher says
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
Brian T says
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?
David Alexander says
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
Morgen says
Oh, my! What a great kitchen! Thanks for pointing out the swinging door, now I want one too!
Marta says
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.
Kate says
What a way to go Marta…haha!
Ranger Smith says
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?
David Alexander says
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
SANDY says
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…..