We’re now — often painfully — accustomed to house flippers whose first step is to strip charming original features to create a ‘blank slate’ that they believe will appeal to today’s potential buyers. But reader Bill, who fixes up and resells old homes in Memphis, Tennessee, recently took the opposite strategy — with immediate success.
He recently completed the remodel of a vintage cottage style home, drawing his inspiration from the one remaining bit of character in the home’s empty kitchen — a model A Vent-A-Hood. After some research, Bill transformed the space into a fun 1950s style kitchen space using white thermofoil-door cabinets, red laminate countertops with chrome edging, a checkerboard VCT floor and vintage Tappan stove.
Bill writes:
I renovate old houses for a living in Midtown Memphis, primarily Victorian cottages and Craftsman bungalows circa 1910-1930. My latest project was a 3 bedroom, 1 bath (actually no bath at the time) frame cottage. I made the middle bedroom into a master closet and 1 1/2 “Jack and Jill” bathrooms. I added a ventless fireplace off Craigslist, new plumbing, etc.
But the star of this show is the kitchen. When I bought it it was a mess with no style whatsoever, but what it did have was a circa 1950 model “A” Vent-A-Hood — a 42″ white canopy with chrome trim and backsplash. The motor sounded like it wanted to work but the “squirrel cage” was clogged with decades of grease, food, lint, and who knows what. Just a few years ago, I would probably have pulled it out and set it on the curb for scrap, but I’ve begun to appreciate old appliances, sinks, etc. more, in part due to Retro Renovation. So I decided to design the kitchen around this great old hood. (Incidentally, Vent-A-Hood makes a modern version of this hood priced over $1,000!)
The next piece of the puzzle was, of course, a vintage range. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for a Chambers for several years, looked at a few, but never pulled the trigger. Of course, when I really needed one they were nowhere to be found. But on Craigslist, I did find a circa-1953 Tappan DeLuxe not three miles from the house that was in decent cosmetic and good working condition for $100. I bought it, took it home to my garage and cleaned it up, did some rewiring, freed up the frozen clock gears, and plugged it in. The clock works – and keeps good time! This is not the place for a range renovation story, but I would recommend to anyone with or contemplating a Tappan, to check out the blog called TappanTalk.
- See our story 28 places to buy restored vintage stoves
With the perfect appliances all set to go, I then set out to make sure they were in a good place, so to speak. I scoured Craigslist for metal cabinets but could not find enough in the right dimensions. What I ended up doing was getting white KraftMaid Thermofoil flush door, full overlay with 30″ wall cabinets. They look uncannily like metal. KraftMaid wanted $400 for wall and base curved bookshelves so I just made my own and had paint matched to the exact cabinet color. I also wanted authentic boomerang pulls but, as you may know, they are hard to find and expensive – about $25 each. Although there are reproductions out there, I found some readily available (not boomerang) curved chrome pulls from Amerock from Home Depot. Under $2 apiece. (footnote – a few months later I bought a large set of Youngstown cabinets for less that the 22 pulls alone are worth!)
For the countertops I went with red Formica “self edge” laminate and added 1 1/4″ stainless steel edging from New York Metals. [Pam notes, in looking at this story later, I think this edging is actually New York Metals’ Aluminum edging [not stainless steel] — the aluminum comes in this size, profile and with holes, with the stainless steel does not.] If you do this, make sure the fabricator makes the slabs 1 1/4″ thick, which is not the usual size. After installing the edging I think I now know why you see so many curves in these old kitchens — the edging is easily bent around curves but is a pain to miter for corners. I used a Dremel tool with 1″ cutoff wheels, but it is hard to keep it straight and get clean joints. I opened the wall into the dining room and installed a breakfast bar that looks more like an old time drug store counter.
I would have loved to have a cast iron sink with drainboards but could not find one at the right time, so I just went with a white porcelain over steel double sink. The faucet is a chrome “Classic Series” Delta. Rounding out the retro look are mint green walls, black and white checked VCT floor, “atomic age” ceiling fixtures, and a white GE Artistry Series dishwasher.
The house sold immediately — because of the kitchen. I’ve done some nice kitchens in other houses but, other than one in Craftsman style, they have not been as stylistically coherent as this one. I’m not going to be doing 1910 kitchens and most of the ones I find in my houses are not worth saving, so I’m beginning to think that what’s appropriate for these old houses is to do the kitchen in any period of their lives. After all, the kitchen in a 100-year-old house may have already been redone several times.
Bill, you did a fantastic job on the kitchen. We’re so glad that you found someone who appreciated your hard work so quickly, too. And, we are so glad you found Retro Renovation helpful in your search for materials and that you chose to go against the ‘beige and granite’ trend. Kudos to you for a job well done, and thanks so much for sharing your story here with all of us!
kim says
This looks great. I wish more flippers in my mid-century neighborhood would get the memo and do appropriate flips. Kudos to this gentleman for a job well done. Super adorable kitchen.
Debbie says
I’ve been wanting a classic 1940’s red countertop for years. I haven’t been able to find a true red so I had finally decided to go with blue. I was planning to place the order later in the week, and now I see THIS. Back to the drawing board—again! If I don’t stop finding great new ideas on your website, I think my contractor is going to fire ME.
pam kueber says
Are you using our category Kitchen Help/Countertops — we have lots of research on this topic. Also use the Search box and Kitchens / Readers and their Kitchens.
See the story for example: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/03/01/a-tale-of-two-red-countertops/
pam kueber says
P.S. the Mother of Pearl red is about as classic 1940s as you can get…
Deb Cerrone says
Debbie, We just finished building our red counter top kitchen. We used red Armstrong linoleum and stainless steel trim from NY Metals. Everyone who sees it loves it. Let me know if you want to see some pics My email is cerronedeb@gmail.com
Scott says
I was able to find the color of my dreams, Formica Stop Red, by using a tip I picked up right here on Retro Renovation! The tip is skip the Residential Colors selection and go for the Professional Section, that’s where the fun colors are hidden.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, Scott. Yup: Go for the Commercial Sections when looking for laminate — flooring, too!
Laurie Louise says
Another nice one is Formica’s Red Ellipse.
http://www.formica.com/en/us/products/compact/details?di=NA_US_CMPCT_01913
Scott says
Bill has excellent taste, but I’m prejudiced as I’ve recently had a red Formica kitchen countertop installed myself. 🙂
Crazy as it sounds, red works as a neutral for me.
Laurie Louise says
I agree, Scott. If red is not a neutral, then I don’t know what is! We just did Abet Laminati 1240 SEI. It’s red with a little broken paisley pattern that has a boomerang-y feel. We love it!
http://abetlaminati.com/products-page/laminate/patterns1/serigrafia-20004/
pam kueber says
Very nice — authentic Memphis style!!
Laurie Louise says
Thanks, Pam!
Janice says
What a fabulous kitchen and bravo to you, Bill, for going against the grain of every other flipper to do something unique. The amount of effort and time you put into sourcing all the right materials is commendable. Did you do the bathroom in the same era? If so, I would love to see it because I sure love the kitchen!
Rick S says
Pam,
I think you should have Honorary Degrees for Retro Renovation.
This is such a fun flip to read about. The kitchen goes with the house better than any beige with black granite.
rick
Tammy says
I love the idea of some kind of Retro Rnovation award, kudo or certificate.
Retro Newbie says
I agree. I think some kind of retro recognition is in order. As a mattter of fact, I have practically stopped looking at HGTV because the old homes are being forced to wear clothes that don’t fit their style. For instance, they just destroyed a bathroom that had wood panels a clawfoot tub and period flooring! Enough already!!
Mandrake says
Awesome! Can we make this an ongoing series? Maybe call it BackFlippers?
Dawn says
Um. That is a fabulous idea and you need to sell a series to HGTV immediately called Back Flippers! LOVE IT! I love the Property Brothers but am so tired of people saying the want character, but open concept and bland everything!
Jill says
Fantastic! I would love to do this kind of house flipping!
Roundhouse Sarah says
So glad to hear that it was instantly appreciated. We are told beige is safe and sells fast but with a market over saturated in beige flips it’s understandable that color would really get buyers motivated. There will always be people out there that do not want what the majority is after. My friend was selling his Victorian home that he had painted inside and out in wild loud colors. He was told he would have to tone it down to sell it but the opposite was true. The buyer declared upon walking in that it was ‘the one’ simply because every room was painted a different color and was so unlike the rest of the homes he had seen. And same with my family’s 1960s time capsule rental. After 2 tours with people scrunching their noses at pastel bathrooms with foil wallpaper the third group fell in love with all the wacky retro goodness. It only took a week and a simple craigslist ad and they’ve been renting ever since.
virginia says
OMG — How much do I LOVE this kitchen?
Let me count the ways — Bravissimo! A work of art. LOVE.
MrsT says
This is awesome. A flipper who respects the history/era of the home? Wow. This article made me so happy!
lynda says
Well done. Colors are very pretty and all the choices are just perfect for this kitchen. You were educated well by Retro Renovation!