We watched Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House last night.
A great movie from 1948 with deep social underpinnings — the mass relocation of Americans from city to suburbs — but just as importantly, Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvin Douglas as funny and wonderful as ever.
Coincidentally, I had just loaded a bunch of 1948 kitchen photos — mostly of St. Charles Steel Kitchen cabinets. I’ve been doing a lot on exuberant colors for 50s and 60s kitchens — and thought it only fair to give white cabinetry its due!
To be sure, white cabinets were always the #1 choice of American homeowners in the postwar period…they are very flexible to decorate with…they convey a sense of cleanliness and order…and as you can see from the first, large photo below — perky, cheerful color was still a very important part of the design scheme (e.g. see Bradbury & Bradbury’s 40s wallpapers — you can see how they’d look great with white steel cabinets.)
If you’re redoing your kitchen — there are lots of great retro kitchen design details and ideas that you can pick up from these examples. Have fun!
Click on all the thumbnails to enlarge.
Chelsea says
I know it’s been quite a few years since this post, but that link doesn’t appear to be good anymore. It just takes you to the host website’s main page. Tbh, it looks kinda sketchy, lol. Does anyone know where that video from the original post can be viewed? Btw, I am LOVING all the info and catalog illustrations for steel kitchen cabinets!
Pam Kueber says
Hi Chelsea, I took out that (now sketchy) link. Here’s the video:
Chelsea says
Thanks, Pam! You’re awesome!
Carol says
“Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home” is one of my all time favorite movies. How can you beat Myrna Loy and Cary Grant? I think it’s impossible. The dining room had to be the color of a pound of the best butter! That poor painter was so dumbfounded.
Femme1 says
Those dancing veggies remind me a little of the old drive-in movie short with the marching popcorn boxes and fries…”Let’s go down to the snack bar…”
50sPam says
Yes, the dancing veggies are kind of scary. Be sure to click to enlarge the photo. My goodness.
50sPam says
Thanks, Tomorrow Windy. This is so fun! Pam