Remember the Sunbeam appliance center (pictured at the bottom) that I bought myself for my birthday? Well, I recently saw this ad for another one, from Westinghouse. Isn’t it just spectacular?

Why these never caught on, I don’t quite understand. Probably the expense…But oh, as a design statement – well worth the investment. These are one of my favorite midcentury kitchen features – ever.

DESIGN TIP: Notice the nice little set of shelves built between two wall cabinets. A nice touch for collectibles, cookbooks or even appliances. Keep it tidy, though! Also a brilliant idea if you’re installing salvaged cabinets, and don’t have quite the right fit; see if you can make the shelves with extra cabinet frames cut down to fit…The idea in a postwar kitchen is to go for the “fitted look.”

This post was originally published on May 15, 2008.

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In response to Friday’s post on the patriotic 40s kitchen, Josh writes: I’m in love with that sink. Do they still make any like that? Thanks for the question, Josh. Unfortunately, not that I know of. But, I have some recommendations:

• Porcelain-enamel-on-cast-iron or steel drainboard sinks were extremely common in the postwar period, so you can find one vintage if you are patient. Watch your Re-Store Habitat for Humanity or local salvage type place, Craigslist, on our Retro Renovation Forum, and ebay. I were looking for a vintage drainboard sink, I would hold out until I found one in near-perfect shape, although you can get these re-porcelained.
• Historichouseparts.com, one of my favorite places. The first sink (below) was for sale on their site for $725, and count on a hefty shipping charge, too. Others shown are sold for the most part, check in frequently and I’m sure they’ll be glad to help:

• I also recently found a site, thisoldtubandsink.com that says it specializes in vintage porcelain-on-cast-iron pieces, including refinishing. Honestly, I cannot vouch for the refinishing work – and from what I know about this, it can be truly tricky. But this merchant certainly also seem to have a number of as-is pieces in good shape such as this 42×25 double sink at $635. There are other pieces with drainboards as well:
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  Click this photo to see how Joe used the Elkay drainboard sink in his kitchen

• And, don’t forget – that another very viable alternative, are the Elkay Lustertone stainless steel sinks made in the 50s and still available today. While they may not be as “sweet” as the white porcelain, they are probably in reality – more functional, as stainless steel does not chip, is very sanitary, and is easy to keep clean.
• If you are looking for a vintage drainboard sink, be sure that the length and width will fit your space – and that the height of the integral backsplash will work for you as well. You’ll also need to “mate” the sink to the adjacent countertops, I don’t have any advice on this…

Again – there were millions of these made. For example, in the immediate (and less affluent) postwar period from 1946-early 50s, the sink cabinet/drainboard sink combo was marketed heavily as a standalone piece to be integrated into farmhouse kitchens — the Mrs. would keep her wood cabinets, only buy the steel sink base and complementary sink/drainboard. There were big names all over this action, too — Kohler, American Standard, Youngstown. That’s why you see so many sink bases ONLY (as in the photos from historichouseparts.com, above) for sale.

Finally, in further researching Josh’s question, I found two reproduction sinks that are made currently – both are very pre-war and are really meant as farmhouse style sinks to stand on legs or freestanding. Note, most cabinets today and in the 50s on, were 25″ deep.

Here’s the Nottingham Brass Sandford sink, it’s 42″x21″ and $969 free shipping from signaturehardware.com:
And here’s a Strom sink sold as Clarion by plumbingsupply.com (and others) at $1599 plus $175 shipping:

Want more info? See all my stories about kitchen sinks suitable for a retro-style kitchen by clicking here. 

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This kitchen from a vintage Caloric advertisement makes me very happy. And, I recently discovered that my wonderful graphic designer Suzy says her mom had one almost exactly like it! To be sure, this planked door-style is one of my all time favorites! It would be very nice in a classic western storybook ranch. Want to create one of your very own? Read on:

Some of my very favorite cabinets, from Omega. Finish choice: Autumn Birch:

You can get cabinet pulls just like this from Amerock, but in black:

Several wallpapers are from the usual sources – scroll over the images to ID them. Note, I included the first choice, which is clearly not bandana red, because I thought it had the same feel. And, be sure to scroll over that second one a couple of times – freaky optical illusion thing.

Arpa has good-looking yellow laminates. Yellow neon laminate, too, from Formica:

About as basic as you can get today for an electric stovetop. From GE:

About as basic as you can get today for a built-in double oven. From GE:

The floor is from Congoleum. Go look their Commercial section, under tiles, and also see their Commercial sheet. Lots of great choices:

This Retro Renovation classic post has been updated from the original first published May 19, 2008.

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