Here’s a timeless question: Readers Kate and Tom ask how to approach a Retro Renovation of their 1960s kitchen — which was updated by previous owners in another decade’s style — but, with an eye toward being thrifty and toward resale some day. What is your advice? Note: I’ll let readers comment for a while, then, I will follow up with my thoughts and what I learn from you!
Update: My followup story with my ideas is here.
Kate and Tom write (edited from two emails for flow):
Hiya,
This truly is a great resource! I’m pondering ways to re-vintage our 1960s house, which we bought a couple years ago from a couple who had done painstaking renovations of their own (not the original owners) in the 1990s. The house has their flesh-toned fingerprints all over it, and he was a master woodworker, so it’s a very professional 1990s vibe that we have to contend.
We have both lived in older homes that looked more true to their era, and we long for that midcentury look which seems to match the house’s soul. Here is a photo of the kitchen. We just added paint color but dislike hardware, granite, backsplash.
I’m still just in the visioning stages of trying to picture some remodeling, and need some input about our granite countertops/stainless steel/wood cabinets (cherry? oak) with their wrought iron pulls….Worried about resale value, and expenses just to create an aesthetic when what we’ve got functions well and is “up to date.”
What are your thoughts? How can we accentuate more of that 1960s vibe in a way that won’t detract from potential resale value?
–Kate and Tom in Minneapolis
Readers, what do you think?
How should Kate and Tom approach a Retro Renovation — also with an eye toward resale and unnecessary expenditures?
Joe says
I took my new house’s kitchen and dining room back to the ’50s. The dining room is a replica of a diner–“Joe’s Diner.” I figure I don’t have to keep updating like everyone else. Instead, I downdated! If it looks old, that’s because it’s supposed to. My front entry/sun room is done in ’70s style. We call it “Joes Disco.” My home is aver y happy, peaceful and colorful place.
The guy who installed the tile in the kitchen remarked “I hope you never plan on selling this place.” He disliked everything that much. Too bad for him. He was also a miserable and fearful person. I am thankful that my house has no vestige of his negative energy.
Which leads to my thought on this. I am decorating for ME, not for some future, mythical, unknown buyer. My taste is good and as such, most people love my house, but if someone looking to buy it doesn’t agree, I say “too bad for hm or her.” Move on to the next house. People tell me my house should be in a magazine, and the guy who cleaned my carpet said it looks like something you’d see in “Better Homes and Gardens.” So there!
And another thing: People who do work for us need to keep their negative opinions to themselves, and just do the work they were hired to do.
Karin says
Joe your comments are a welcome ray of sunshine. I inherited a 1956 midcentury modest bungalow with my sister. I would like to keep most of its original features, upgrade where necessary like electrical etc., and stage it in a midcentury style. Most real estate agents don’t get the midcentury thing and have suggested upgrades that are geared to the buyers.
terri says
Backsplash, floor, hardware.
For resale people want flexibility. They, too can change these three things to their liking without going broke.
Gerry Davis says
Please do not use tiles on the counter tops; they are notorious for germs and no matter how much you bleach or scrub, they are horrible. My brother-in-law inherited his parents house and his wife hates them. NOW. i love retro, but not all over the house. We are building a new smaller home and I am doing the kitchen in retro; I have Vintage Fiesta dishes, also canisters, and other things. Also, our children found a retro table/chairs with top gray and chairs were orange from not being protected from the sun, so we had them reupholstered in the original red. Beautiful. We have granite in our present home and I hate it, so we went to Quartz with a very light gray and white pattern. (we are on the marsh). I just wanted this one area retro as it reminds me of the early years of our marriage. So, if you have to work around what you have purchased, just look for retro decorations, but can tell you they are hard to find. I am hoping this kitchen will make a statement and yes, we have ordered all white appliances; we do not like stainless, reminds us of a hospital, too sterile and shows all fingerprints. Good Luck, but please take your time and do not make rash decisions of which you may later regret.
Wayne says
I’m kind of late to the party, but here’s my 2 cents. When I remodeled my 1961 kitchen, I was trying to take it back from the 80’s remodel the previous owners did. I wanted the mid century look without necessarily using period appropriate materials. I love the retro patterns found in formica, but wanted a solid surface countertop. I used quartz because there are several patterns that resemble terazzo. I am not planning to sell my house, but it would help for resale. And after 6 years, I have no regrets going with quartz.
Dr. JJL says
We purchased a nice 1960 house in a desirable neighborhood that needed basics-like windows (all broken), heat, pipes, insulation, doors… Not to mention asbestos tile under dirty white carpet and an awful 90’s kitchen (whitewashed maple (think pink) cabinet doors with red handles on melamine cabinets). Having grown up in nice 1200 sq ft post WWII houses in “silicon” (Santa Clara) valley we appreciate the good form and function of that era. But if Corian had been available rather than Formica, be sure our parents would have put it in. So we replaced what had to be to make the house inhabitable and are trying to keep the 60’s look with accents and buying art and furniture from thrift stores. I agree with removing and saving the granite (it is not food-safe). Put in a solid surface that makes sense to you, and do the 4.25 inch tile backsplash. Replace cabinet doors with plank style. If the floor is floating, replace with something era-appropriate looking – and water resistant. My mom chose a neutral beige-pinkish speckled tile for her countertop with coordinating but contrasting full height backsplash in 1956, so bright colors are not necessary to be era-correct. I picked a Corian for my counters that is almost the same colors. Again, it has to make sense for your lifestyle. We’ve waited 6 years to do master shower (had to demo yellow speckled tile because all the plumbing (on slab) was corroded through) but found tile guy who floated walls the old way and used quarter round correctly. Again, had to meet current code (can’t use the chrome soap holders with the little handles anymore in CA) but went with matte white and chrome. My best advise: go slow and weigh each expenditure; save for retirement.
Pam Kueber says
Yes: Save for retirement.
I am not an expert on whether granite is food-safe or not: Readers, do you own research…consult with pros.
Janet Senatore says
I’d put in tile countertops, 4″ square tiles, in a pastel color. Electric cooktops were popular, as were wall ovens.
Jean says
Granite is definitely not 60s deco. We live in a 1963 home. We have white tile countertops which I love!! Paint, rugs and retro drawer and cabinet pulls would be good. Wish I could send a picture of our Kitchen.
Jean says
I would get rid of the granite!! We live in a 1963 built home. We have white tile countertops which i love. I know that granite is the current rage but not for a 60s home. Rugs and paint and retro cabinet and drawer pulls.
Jennifer says
If you truly don’t like your granite counters and you plan to be there for more than 5 years, I would look at having them gently removed and stored in your basement or garage or crawl space and putting in the counter you want. Wilsonart has some great new linen look laminates in gorgeous colors, we are about to install their Cucumber Juice color in our 1957 house. A future owner can always have the granite reinstalled if they want it and you will have the kitchen you want now. I’ve lived in many old houses where previous owners have made changes but kept the originals on the property (pocket doors, trim pieces, pass-throughs, light fixtures, medicine cabinets, even hardware) I’m always grateful to have the option of reinstalling. You never know what a future buyer would really want (I’d take the laminate over granite in a vintage house any day) In fact, when we were looking at the house we own now, our realtor apologized for the original pink bathroom (which we LOVE) and showed off the second remodeled bathroom (which we HATED, ripped out and redid as a vintage blue bathroom). You never know what future owners will want or what will be in style in a few years.
You could also wallpaper your soffit with a vintage pattern, change your hardware out, add vintage look lighting and a round rug. 4×4 tiles installed in a grid rather than a brick pattern make a perfect vintage backsplash and are not too expensive. We have also found many color 4x4s at ReStore for low money, but you have to keep visiting until you find the right ones. Add vintage counter accessories you like (old canister sets come in many styles and give a lot of bang for the buck).
Remember, in the end, it’s your house, you should having the pleasure of making it look like what you want to live in.