Welcome to my gallery of 1940s kitchens – inspiration images from vintage advertising and marketing materials.
INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the first image to launch the slide show, all images will show larger.
1940's kitchens
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I just bought a new house and I am having the hardest time remodeling the kitchen. It was a one owner home and the kitchen is straight out of the 40′s. It is fully a montgomery ward kitchen but the problem is the sink and cabinets under the sink are a bright garden yellow color while everything else is either a mist green or bright white. I have the walls primed right now but i’m having a hard time picking out the other colors for the walls and trim so it doesn’t clash with the sink. But I want to keep everything because it is such good shape. I need some help!!!
Ashley, why not go with black and yellow? If you’re wanting a more contemporary re-do, the black and white florals and geometric prints are very popular right now and thought not totaly period it could work. What parts are mist green?
The best thing: no islands! Love the breakfast nooks, peninsulas, and even the bars.
Where can I find a replacement sink for my American sink from the 1940s that is in bad shape?
Jeremy, these sinks are in great demand. Key sources are: craigslist, Re-Store/Habitat for Humanity, salvage places like deabath.com or historichouseparts.com, and you can also watch our Forum here, as eagle-eyed readers often spot them on craigslist around the nation and post them. Here are some posts that I have done on vintage porcelain drainboard kitchen sinks.
I have 15 sqms kitchen in white. cabinets are in white with cinamon edges. Walls are in white with very light vilollet and pink shades. what do you offer for the curtains?
I am looking to find a price guide for a 1940s Tracy Sink and cabinet unit. It was just removed from our apartment unit and we have the option to sell it. What do you suggest?
mj: http://retrorenovation.com/product-guides/metal-kitchen-cabinets-history-design-faq/
Here in rural central Missouri I have been fortunate enough to find several chrome tables but the chairs are almost impossible to find.I have quite a collection of tables and my family is starting to think i have gone a little nutty!!! Yesterday I found the complete set with 4 handleback chairs sturdy but the coverings in bad reapir. I have been searching the net looking for replacements for the handleback chrome chairs. All I can find are the plain straight back chair replacements.. i could use someone’s advice as to where to look..
Judy, take a look at the chairs that American Chairs has available: http://www.americanchairs.com. I have handleback chairs that I purchased with my chrome table from that store.
I love the 4th image – not just the colors and the fantastic red cracked ice countertop with metal edging, but I absolutely adore that funky border along the top. Singing vegetables! Can anything make a kitchen seem more cheery? Love it!
Thanks so much for the 40′s posting! I love it all!!!
I don’t see any images. I’m using Firefox (version 2, I think).
Hmmm, David, all I can advise is to… upgrade you FF and see if that helps.