Comments on: Pam’s Kitchen

By: billgbuds

billgbuds — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:13:09 +0000

Just purchased my first home built and it was built in 1949. Pam, those are my steel cabinets right down to the original glass inserts on each side of the kitchen windows. Cannot believe the glass is still in one piece after 58 years. Large white sink with slotted tops on each side for drying and the slotted piece beneath the sink labeled Geneva. Even have the tall floor to ceiling cabinet. Countertops are original too however they desperately need replacement. The white cabinets are in excellent condition however they need a little paint around some of the edges of the cabinets where they are worn. I am interested in restoring them. Bathroom cabinet is an original too. I read the post about powder coating the cabinets. I was able to look inside of the doors because the handle was removed and I could see something that looked like cardboard in the doors. Do you think these original steel cabinets could be painted like the ones on your pictures? I know the painting topic has already been covered in depth however a quick response with your advice on restoring these Geneva cabinets would be appreciated. What method of painting would you suggest? Should the cabinets be removed before painting? Any what not to do advice would be appreciated as well. Pam your kitchen looks terrific! I can supply some pictures if it would help.

By: 50sPam

50sPam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:46:57 +0000

Hi Anita. See the Cabinet Hardware Category - and you’ll find every single recommendation that I and readers have made in this area.

By: anita

anita — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:59:41 +0000

Hi - I’m brand new to this website & love it! I live in a new construction (5 years old) home in central Calif. Been working on the kitchen/dining/family room areas to be 1950s but never fully came together due to constant travel with work - just quit my job (yay!) and am back at it & having a great time. My project for today is to find retro cabinet pulls for my kitchen (too many to try to find enough vintage ones, I’d never find enough & just make myself crazy trying….)

Went to the Concourse d’ Elegance at Stanford U this last Sunday and saw gorgeous vintage travel trailers from 1940s-1960s. Would love to see more pics of some. Got to see the retro Boomerang fabric that Pam used on her valance in one of the trailers, but it was in pink, love it!
Great space here!
Anita

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:35:24 +0000

Sharper, please send along images of your trailer to Pam - she’s right, we ALL want vintage trailers! I’m tracking down a beautiful Airstream at the moment.

By: 50sPam

50sPam — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:23:59 +0000

Hi sharper –

The atomic barkcloth in my kitchen valance comes from melinamade.com. It’s a great match to the aqua Formica boomerang laminate - which I also used. What do you think? Please make it into pinch pleats, sir!!! No rod pockets!

And, send me a pic of your trailer. We want to see! We all want vintage trailers, too — to go with our vintage houses! Pam

By: sharper

sharper — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:37:12 +0000

Hi all,
That kitchen is great!
I’ve got a project of a teardrop trailer, with the same feel as that kitchen, and trying to find 50’s and 60’s furnishings for the kitchen and sleeping compartment.

What I need specifically is some aqua or turquoise fabric with boomerangs on it, to match or coordinate with the same turquoise with boomerang vinyl I have on the countertop. I don’t need much, just enough for the two tiny windows on the doors, and perhaps some for throw pillows. I’ve looked everywhere that I can think of, been through hundreds of sites from google searches, but can’t find what I want. There is ONE fabric that is aqua with boomerangs, but it doesn’t have the right “feel” to it. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

By: 50sPam

50sPam — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:12:30 +0000

Alice - The Colbert Report (re-run on Comedy Central at 8 p.m.) is over so I’m back at the blog:

1. Re wall-mounted dishwashers: I don’t have the answer to this one. I do know someone who “raised” their dishwasher in their circa 2002 country kitchen - but I was under the impression that there was simply cabinetry, like a drawer, underneath. On the other hand, I have seen a number of vintage kitchens with ovens that were higher up (as in the link, below); never a dishwasher, though, although now I will keep my eyes out.

2. My countertop is laminate - Formica’s Skylark/boomerang laminate in aqua. The steel edging is mounted over it. See my post today on edging!

3. Regarding coppertone edging - I have never seen it. But, coppertone was very very popular throughout 50s kitchens. Even, on cabinetry. See this post for coppertone to the max: http://retrorenovation.com/2008/02/29/50s-kitchen-american-brand-coppertone-and-wood-combo/

To see a couple of other posts regarding coppertone - search “Copper” or “Coppertone” in the Search box. Finally, I will add that the are some ‘bronze’ stoves and fridges today - I kinda like them. They have a very retro feel to me.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:45:33 +0000

Wow. Just… wow.

By: Alice

Alice — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:26:43 +0000

I apologize for the type-o’s!

By: Alice

Alice — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:26:10 +0000

Thanks for the quick response Pam! Hoping that you won’t regret turning around your answers so quickly, I have two more for you:
I’ve noticed in some 1950’s advertisements a wall-mounted dishwasher…which to me makes a lot more sense than our modern version that you have to bend over to empty. Are you aware of any modern wall-mounted versions?

Question two: I can’t tell from these photos what you main countertop surface is…did you use laminate and then put on the steel edgin?

Okay, three questions: Were copper accents ever used? (i.e. copper edging)