Welcome to my gallery of 1950s kitchens, bathrooms and more — inspiration images from vintage advertising and marketing materials.
INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the first image to launch the slide show, all images will show larger.
1950′s kitchens, bathrooms & more
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I have a 1955 double bowl stainless steel sink with drainboards to each side. It;s about 5′ long. I love it but it doesn’t fit into my kitchen renovation layout. Any suggestions as to how to sell it and send it on to a new retro home?
Melanie: Craigslist.
Is there a way to coat the formica of a kitchen table? It’s in great shape, but a little dull…thanks
Hi Barb – there is a recommendation on how to revive laminate in the FAQs: http://retrorenovation.com/category/faqs/
My bathroom was done in 1950 in light turquoise ceramic tile 4-3/8″ square and needs some of the tiles replaced. I have not been able to locate this tile color anywhere. If anyone has any to sell or where I might buy it, please contact me asap.
Thank you.
Cindy, have you tried B&W. They are on the Bathroom page. Also you can use the Search box. Good luck.
Cindy – I just remembered, I have rescheduled this post for this week while I’m away, as it is such an important one. So you probably can’t see it right now. Try: B&W Tile in California — http://bwtile.com
Ahhhhh, the eye candy. I love looking at these pictures!
melanie lefevre,
my parents have one in their kitchen and I told them if they were looking to ever get rid of it that i was interested in it but theirs is all in one with the cabinets and the drawer….I am still waiting for it…maybe i could help with yours
I am getting ready to list a 1950′s house. It has slanted kitchen cabinets that have opaque rippled glass sliding doors. I can’t find anything out about these. Anyone have any ideas? They’re dark wood with wonderful formica counters with a boomerange design. I’m afraid that someone will buy the house and rip all this wonderful stuff out, so I need some ammunition. Thanks!
Stephany
can you send me a photo, stephany? retrorenovation at gmail dot com. any logos on the cabinetry?
Hi, Pam,
I’ll get a key from the owner and get some photos and send them over.
Thanks,
Stephany
Pam,
Not sure where to post this q. In my quest to retain the beauty of the wood cabinets from the 50s, I want to make sure I clean them properly. They don’t have pulls or knobs and have a pretty good amount of grease, grime on them where they were used most. What’s a product that will retain beauty, clean and not give me carpel tunnel?
amandam
Amanda, I don’t know the answer to this one. Maybe another reader can chime in. When I was at the home show in Eugene, there was a company that claimed it had a process that essentially did micro-derma-abrasion of wood cabinets. Looked pretty snappy….No matter what you do, be cognizant of environmental and safety issues.
Does anyone know who make Nutone? (stove from the 50′s)
Wendy, I have never heard of Nutone making stoves. They did make numerous other electric kitchen accessories – such as range top hoods like these (and many more styles): http://retrorenovation.com/2008/01/25/classic-ge-50s-clockand-nutone-exhaust-fan-todays-ebay-picks/
Hi! 1950′s Bathroom: I’m looking for 4.25 x 4.25 light orange bathroom replacement tiles – any ideas? Kelly
I have a house that is definitely from the 50′s with both bathrooms having ceramic tile on walls, floors, shower stall, around the bath tub. The small bathroom has (I think) Cotton Candy Pink Ceramic Tile. I broke one of the ceramic towel brackets so need a new one. Any ideas??
Sharon, go to the Bathrooms Fast & Easy page – center column, to box, for all resources. As I recall we have two places to check for porcelain ceramic towel bars.
What a riot! While perusing your website looking for links to sites that may offer replacement parts for my 1958 Hotpoint Customline double oven, I found a photo of my Armstrong “Pebblestone” floor (see # 39 & 59) in the kitchen photos gallery. It’s still so cool!
Hi Eileen, I think I posted the image more for the kitchen than for the floor. The pebblestone is great looking. Be sure to know that there may be asbestos in these old floors, check with a pro regarding these materials.
I am looking for vinal flooring that looks likes those in the 30-50′s any suggestions
Hi Joanne, look at all the suggestions on my Fast & Easy Flooring page – it’s in the center column.
How do I remove old metal wall cabinets in my kitchen? The cabinets were there when I bought this house in 2006. The house was built in 1940 and upgraded in 1965. I need to remove the ones above my refrigerator as I’m replacing it with a taller refrigerator.
Hi there. Just discovered this site and absolutely love it! We’re redoing a cottage on the river and going with a mid-century theme.Mom gave us a 1950 Sears, Roebuck and Co gas stove that still works great but I can’t find any model # on. Any suggestions on where to find info, original ad, etc? Also got a working 1949 Crosley Shelvador fridge and a Youngstown Kitchen – all free! It’s becoming an obsession now. Thanks again for sharing this site.
i have a whole kitchen of G.E metal pink cabinets,stove top,and double ovens all are pink .Need to find out value and sell please
Hi Pamela – no buying and selling on the main blog — head on over to the Forum: http://retrorenovation.com/forum
As for value, I have a post on this — Look under Browse by Categories/Kitchens/Steel Kitchen Cabinets…or use the Search box.
Good luck.
Help! Pink ceramic tile walls but blue tub, sink, toilet and floor. I don’t really want to replace anything, but, I do need suggestions on how to decorate. My first impression was that Dr. Seuss exploded in there……..
Thanks!
Kathy,
If everything is in good condition and you want to keep it, then you can bring it all together with white walls. Hang artwork and accessories that bring those have those colors and it will bring it together .Search the fabric stores or vintage linens and make a curtain that tie it in. Try to get stripes or an organized pattern in those colors so its not too much of an explosion..Its out there!Good Luck!
Hi…LOVing this site! What a blast! I have a huge kitchen problem. Original wood cabinets but ohhhh, they just look terrible and I want to paint them a light yellow to coordinate with the yellow (yes..yellow!) original ’56 cooktop. I’ll leave the walls white, but the countertops are red…faded, dull and listless red. Is there CPR available for that?
Also, I have a too, too cute bathroom with pink tile floor and tub, blue ceramic wall tiles and counter tops. I simply googled pink and blue bathrooms and got tons of great decorating ideas. Embrace the pink and blue!
Hi Anne, head over the FAQs for countertop magic: http://retrorenovation.com/tag/faq/
And be sure to see all my pink bathroom posts: http://retrorenovation.com/category/categories/by-room/bathrooms/pink-pink-bathrooms/ … and of course, SaveThePinkBathrooms.com
Pam,
Amazing slide show. I tried to pick one or two as my favorites, but was unable.
These are fantastic!! I got a lot of ideas!
I am in awe of this site…have been for quite some time. Thank you, and what a great slide show!
Thank you, Mary, that’s nice of you to say! Makes my day for sure. It’s been a long week!
Great slide show. My kitchen cabinets look just like a number of these. Wish I could find some more to line the other wall….
So spectacular! I’ve had a love affair with the ’50s for as long as I can remember.
Oh Pam, how lovely these are!
Hey Pam! I have scanned your site for information regarding fireplaces. I just had a vent-free gas fireplace installed and I painted it white to match the rest of my woodwork. From the pictures I have found, either they didn’t have mantels or didn’t put much on them. Am I correct in my observations? I want to keep my home as period as possible. So, what’s period?
I don’t know for sure vintage-vantage… would have to do more research. What year is your house? What style?
Was built in ’52. Traditional bones, but modern furniture.
My home is a 1950 ranch and both fireplaces never had mantels. My parents home that was built the same year had mantels but was a colonial. I think the “modern” ranch of the day usually did not have them.
We recently purchased a 1950′s ranch and I’m loving your site for ideas for my pink tile kitchen and mint bath! Any chance on being able to get some of your images in high resolution? If so how? Thanks for the ideas!!
Sorry, Michelle, I am super busy with the blog. Not in a mode to provide hi res images… If you save them to your computer, though, they often are larger than shows on your screen…. Welcome — and good luck!
I rent a wonderful house that has a 1961 yellow stainless steel GE Kitchen. The dishwasher is no longer original, but the floor, wallpaper, formica, sink (white), cabinets, and stove top all are. THE PROBLEM is that the control box on the stove is pooped out (we’re down to one little burner) and the owner is getting ready to replace the entire stove top with a new GE one. Anyone have any thoughts on where I can find that part so we can just replace the little box with buttons and keep the fabulous yellow? The landlord is open to a retro-feel repair, but I think if I did the legwork I could somehow avoid white replacements!
THANKS ANYONE for thoughts!
In my excitement over this blog and my stove, I forgot to say that this is a *wonderful* resource. The work you’ve put in here is astonishing and the steel kitchens and retro bathrooms of the world are all lucky to have you as their advocate!
Thank you!
Hi, emats, It sounds like you have a beautiful kitchen. See this story overall and then be sure to see reader Patrick Coffey’s comments with more resources: http://retrorenovation.com/2010/01/02/where-to-turn-to-get-your-vintage-appliances-fixed/ … Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!
I’m getting a 1950′s Western Holly Stove! It will be delivered on Saturday! This is the same stove I grew up with and my first baked item will be bread! We are adding another stove to the garage, which by the way houses 9 restored gas pumps and a 1952 GMC pickup. I’m trying to do the stove area like the 1950′s…any ideas? I know I want a clock and a phone there, I’ve seen some at antique stores. I’ve looked through numerous photos and from what I can see, there doesn’t look like much hung on the kitchen walls in the 50′s…I would appreciate any suggestions.
Wow – congratulations! Send me some kitchen pics, maybe I can do a story, I’ll take a look… retrorenovation [at] gmail [dot] com
Hi Pam,
Finally got my Western Holly stove today! Will post pictures early next week for you! It is a beauty, better than I remember!
I have an original GE 1950′s kitchen in my house and I was wondering if there is anyone in the market to buy the single unit set containing: cabinets, sink,dishwasher, oven, stovetop, cutting board, all with stainless steel counter tops and stainless steel hood. If you know of any collectors or people who are remodeling their own kitchens please let them know.
Thanks!
Menashe: Head over to our Forum, which is super focused on buying/selling vintage steel kitchen cabinets: http://retrorenovation.com/forums
I have a pink 1950′s St Charles kitchen and wish to update it to an aqua blue with glass countertops. Wonderful, post with great ideas – love to see the 1950′s.
Surprisingly, I LOVE the metal cabinets – they clean easily, hold everything and fit well in our vintage home. The stove/oven work great and except for the outdated countertops and backsplash and the builder’s grade modern fridge, I love this kitchen and wish to rehab it and update it.
I have a 1940 or 1950 Caloric Wall Oven and Counter top stove. I am getting my kitchen remodeled and looking to sell it very quickly. Any ideas?
nachristopher, this is covered in the FAQs, currently located in the center sidebar.
I havea “Universal” gas range my parent purchased in 1952. I desperately need the range burner pans for this specific range.
I am not finding much information on “universal” could they have been made by another company?