How is this one, Retro Renovation readers? I recently scored a full box of est. 1960-65 era GE Textolite laminate samples, absolute mint condition unused. This is the first bunch — the others aren’t so over-the-top FABULOUS, but still are great gauges of what to look for. OMG. What else do I need to say. We can all eat our hearts out, together, on this one. This post originally ran on Jan. 4, 2008

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A look at 1968 – yes, the era of avocado green, harvest gold and other very distinctive designs. I have to say, I really am growing to adore 60s and 70s kitchens, bathrooms and interiors. These people were having a lot of creative fun. Imagine owning a 1971 split level and outfitting it with a red and black rumpus room… bedrooms with multicolored shag carpet…a Nutone intercom throughout, a Drexel Mediterranean dining room set. Hey! That was my house in 1971!  A triumph. Cut to the chase: 70s decor is back – big time. Avocado Oak ad: Georgia Pacific.

Isn’t this Moenique bathtub/shower faucet terrific? Those are “persian” tiles behind – very popular in ’68, as far as I can see. Ad: Moen.

In the kitchen, it’s Andy Warhol pop colors all the way. That’s wallpaper on the fridge. This kitchen is so well done. Ad: Armstrong.

Those panels lining the tub and shower are Formica laminate. I don’t think the stuff turned out to be very waterproof. Pretty, though.  And I really like the mirror and framed print arrangement above the sinks. Tip: Look for unusually-shaped mirrors like this – they can work in so many possible spaces. Ad: Formica.

I really have a hard time believing that many women put wallpaper on the front of their appliances. But, it certainly is an idea…. Ad: Frigidaire.

I adore this style of wallpaper. The gold, green, orange colonial motif – just makes me so happy. And this is a wonderful Frigidaire. I am quite partial to side-by-side refrigerators. They are particularly good when space is tight. Note, they are not as energy efficient as fridge-on-top styles, I believe. Ad: Tappan.

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Speedway Ron is on the lookout for ideas for really terrific 60s kitchen designs, so we will be on the lookout, too. My goodness, these are chock full of ideas!!! Ad:Vintage Hotpoint.

These designs today showcase some of what was going on about 15 years into the postwar era. Ad: Texboro

Click thru for 5 kitchens in all, along with a little primer….

Longtime readers who have been learning about 40s 50s and 60s kitchen design along with me will know that in general:

• The 40s featured white kitchens with a lot of primarily red-white-blue accents. White – because it was sanitary, and this was also the first wave of fitted kitchens across America – so the design shock was already enough to handle. Red-white-blue because it was patriotic. You saw other primary-color accents as well…Kitchens were sweet, cheerful.
• In the 50s, kitchens were chock-full of innovations: Appliances, dishwashers, new flooring and countertop styles… Color started out white early on…but by the mid-50s the pastel revolution had taken hold. In addition, there were plenty of knotty pine kitchens, don’t forget.
• By the 60s, even more changes took hold. There was more open concept design in homes, and as a result, kitchen cabinets started to take on the look of furniture. Also, contemporary styles finally became more popular, so you saw cabinets lifted off the ground with danish modern-style legs. Again, though, don’t underestimate the popularity of simple wood cabinets – many families still preferred “traditional” styling and not to mention – wood was affordable. Back in these days, people were still thrilled — to have the basics.

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