Retro kitchens

Here are some basic recommendations for retro kitchen products with a mid century feel. Important: We all care very much about managing environmental and safety issues properly, so when undertaking your restoration project, be sure to familiarize yourself with and use recommended best practices. For example, the EPA hosts a website on lead in the home and a website on asbestos in the home. Consult professionals regarding these materials, and also about the proper disposal of debris, etc.

See the photos below – but keep going, there are more finds below.

Refrigerator options:

Current-day ovens and cooktops:

Window treatments:

Be sure to see my related Pages on:

And Photo Galleries, too!:

1946-american-standard-kitchen-crop11940’s kitchens:
1940s kitchens were generally sweet, simple and often, patriotic. Click here for the complete gallery.

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nancykitcheninspiration111950’s kitchens:
1950s kitchens were more exuberant in their colors and more complex in their details. Click here for the complete gallery.

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1961-hotpoint-pink-and-dark-coral-kitchen1960’s kitchens:
Yes, in the 60s we celebrated harvest gold, avocado green, and flower power into our kitchens. Click here for the complete gallery.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

David S. August 12, 2009 at 12:11 am

Hi Pam I need help finding parts/handles to a Dismaster 51 or 52b. Any ideas Thanks

pam kueber August 12, 2009 at 1:11 am

David, contact the folks who still make Dishmasters: http://dishmaster-faucet.com

Barbara August 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm

I’m remodeling my kitchen and am installing an original five foot, double drain board cast iron sink. This must weight between 200 and 300 pounds. I will need to build a support for the sink, as the cabinets won’t be able to bear the weight.

Any ideas/suggestions on how to build a support for this?

Thank you,

Barbara

pam kueber August 29, 2009 at 6:09 pm

Hey Barbara, this is not really a DIY site — are you working with a contractor or carpenter? I’d recommend you consult with a pro as these kinds of questions should be looked at individually…Good luck.

David S. September 2, 2009 at 12:10 am

Pam..I called Dishmaster (Rhonda). They have no parts for this model. She suggested I ask you. Need handles for M-51-M52b part #213

pam kueber September 2, 2009 at 12:34 am

Sorry, David S., they are the sources… if you have a real old model, then you are likely out of luck. This site is not a selling site…

pam September 6, 2009 at 11:15 am

St. Charles Kitchen cabinets soon for sale. wonderful condition. have been painted a very light grey. Not sure how to value them.

pam kueber September 6, 2009 at 12:14 pm

Pam, How to Sell, and How to Value FAQs here: http://retrorenovation.com/tag/faq/

And please – no buying or selling on the blog (I will delete them) — put your items on the Forum: http://retrorenovation.com/Forum

Jan September 25, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I have a free-standing white metal cabinet that I want to try to find out more about. So far I haven’t found a label anywhere (I plan to pull it out this weekend and look at the back and inside). It’s got a lot of rust around the bottom. My late husband brought it home during a curb-side cleanup several years ago, and it currently holds the microwave on top and lots of other things inside. It has several drawers, one of which houses what I think might have served as a bread box, and two doors at the bottom. The top is a grey cracked ice pattern with metal around the rim. I’m not interested in selling it (I really want to fix it up and re-paint it), but I have some photos of it. Is there a place to post them to see if anyone can tell me what this is?

pam kueber September 25, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Jan: http://retrorenovation.com/forum

our steel kitchen cabinet forum. lots of photos there to compare. good luck.

Rebecca J. October 5, 2009 at 11:46 am

Advice anyone? I have renovated my kitchen with painted white cabs, black countertop and aqua walls. the aqua is a tad overwhelming on all walls; backsplash could be a great way to reign it in a bit. I’m not doing a total retro look but I have a white globe hanging light fixture with black metal cage to play off the black counters; and a 40s enamel table with very light pinkish marble formica top. I have subway tiles I could use but probably not quite enough for both sides of my galley kitchen (cabs on both walls of the galley). SO I’ve been looking at tin tiles as an inexpensive option. I think white. Any thoughts on how that might look (too early of a period? style clash with 40s stuff?). And if it could combined with subway tiles to mix up the texture? and if white backsplash + white cabs = too much white? there are some colored tiles but mostly single tone. Tin tiles would be something like this: http://www.m-boss.com/tin_ceiling_finishes.aspx

Bonnie October 9, 2009 at 1:55 pm

RE: 1946 American Brand Kitchen

I am looking for the spring that goes into the hinges of the cabinet doors. Any ideas on where I can find?

David S. October 13, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Someone…Somewhere…has to have parts for the Dishmaster Kitchen faucet
M-51 / M-52b part #213. Any ideas?

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