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:

These porcelain-enamel-on-cast-iron or steel drainboard sinks were UBIQUITOUS in the postwar period, so you can find one if you are patient. Watch your Habitat for Humanity/Restore or local Re-Sell type place, Craigslist, my Postwar Steel Forum, and ebay. The one at the left (no drainboards, though, and in reality a ‘farmhouse sink) was recently on ebay – mint in packaging, never used and it went for about $400. Honestly, if I were looking for one of these – I would hold out until I found one in near-perfect shape.

In addition, watch 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:

Finally — I recently saw a couple of vintage drainboard sinks in Rejuvenation’s salvage yard, for those of you in the Portland, Oregon area.

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. I’ve done a number of posts on these in the past, click here for the most recent.

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:

This Retro Renovation post was originally published on March 24, 2008.

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A revival for mid-century kitchen designs? Yes, the industry arbiter Kitchen and Bath Business made us official in this recent story for their online magazine. (And yes, there’s that kitchen, again.) This publication tracks news and trends for designers, architects and others in the residential kitchen and bath market. A very well-done story by Ellen Sturm Niz.

Back to the Future
Check out what retro ideas are making a comeback in today’s kitchen designs
By Ellen Sturm Niz

Jackie O. sunglasses, groovy bell bottoms, pastel polo shirts with the collar turned up…clothing fashion styles tend to repeat themselves, and the same is true in interior design. Whether it’s a new generation exploring a style they haven’t yet personally experienced or an older generation seeking the comfort of nostalgia, retro interior design is becoming increasingly popular—especially in kitchens.

Read the whole story — a really good one — here…

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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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Zeinab found this really cool off-the-floor dishwasher about Sleeping Bee Alice’s retro dream. From looking at the Fagor website, I think the d/w also can be installed as part of this neat $1,199 cooking center.

And there’s a cool cooktop center, too. Not sure whether it really fits my retro rubric, but I like the concept.

Zeinab writes:

Dear Pam,

First of all let me thank you on your wonderful blog. Second ,I saw your post from couple of weeks about the wall-mounted dishwasher , I found this and I though that your reader can be interested. Please keep it up.

Zeinab

Thanks, Zeinab! This company actually has some cool stuff, including a 24″ fridge that can be turned into a nice big side by side as well.

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Forum reader U.K. Alison asked if someone could help her ship vintage steel cabinets overseas, so I made sure she knew about English Rose cabinets first.

I keep losing this information — and keep having to ask Scathing Jane for it — so I thought I better post it for infinity and beyond. Thanks, Scathing Jane, we hope to see that fabulous St. Charles kitchen reno soon!

Vintage English Rose cabinets (like those above) have a fascinating history: The first English Rose kitchen was made in Warwickshire in 1948, just a stone’s throw from the Wrights’ house, by CSA Industries, an engineering firm that originally made nose cones for Spitfires. After the war ended, CSA used stock-piles of aircraft-grade aluminium by diversifying into up-market kitchens.

Readers in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe can get them via “Salvo web” listings, and there seems to be at least one place that refurbishes them (as in this photo): http://www.source-antiques.co.uk/kitchens/

Aso see:

• My post on John Lewis of Hungerford for authentic reproductions.
• The post on how English Roses resemble Beauty Queens.
• And the post on similarities with American cabinets.

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I saw a sink like this once in a magazine – but this is the first time I’ve seen one live. Yes, that is a LIGHT connected to and running horizontally along the sink! The seller says that it works perfectly. How cool. I presume the covering over the light itself is impervious to water.

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In working with one reader to solve some kitchen issues, I came across this company — Summit, out of New York metro – that makes several appliances that have a real retro feel, at prices that are not so horrific as most “specialty” items like this.

For example, their 36″ range has that second storage drawer to the left that mimics the 40″ stove so common during the 50s and 60s. The wall ovens are pretty simple, too, not all stainless steel commercial. Maybe they’d even give you chrome handles from the wall oven – to put onto the range, much better than those white plastic ones.

This company seems to specialize in smallish appliances. Take a look at their narrow refrigerators, and dishwashers. And, they have those cool all-in-one kitchen units like Dwyer, too. Sorry, I can’t vouch for the quality. When I’m next down near the city I will try to go visit. summitappliances.com

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Hot item! You know how much I love these!

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