Glamorlux Nancy in Fairfax, Virginia, is updating her 50s kitchen and has her inspiration photo all ready to go. The kitchen is already quite nice looking – the overall feel of the space is terrific, and the cabinets are well-made. Nancy’s chosen her countertop and has her hardware… but she still is pondering what color… or colors… to paint her original 50s cabinets…and the accent – or not – for her new Azrock Cortina floor tiles.
Nancy writes:
Hi Pam,
I’ve seen on your site where you and your readers provide ideas for “remodeling” vintage kitchens and baths… Well, here is our kitchen, pre-restoration.
As far as I can tell, a lot is original – cabinets, GE Textolite countertops (golden beige twilight), and plastic “copper” tile backsplash. However, it is very late 50’s, and we prefer a “prettier” early 50’s look. I want our new color scheme to include: aqua (turquoise), pale yellow, red and white.
The original Textolite counters are sort of beat up and lack the metal banding, so we are planning on replacing them. We’ve already purchased the aqua boomerang Formica laminate and stainless steel banding to make the new countertops. Since the copper tiles are only over the range, we are planning on removing them, and then making a taller backsplash on the countertops.
The flooring is obviously not original. I ordered some samples off of the Azrock website, and they came within a few days! My favorite is called Cirrus V-785… (and I want to use this) for the majority of the floor, with a diagonal or random pattern of Azrock’s “Spearmint”, “Honey” and “Coral Reef”…. But, my husband said that might be too much with the boomerang countertops. Our kitchen will have a Mexican theme, so we’re going for a festive look. …
As I mentioned in another email, we’ve been going back and forth on whether to paint our 1959 wood cabinets. I’m really not into the wood look, although I know it was very desirable in the 50’s. Do you think we’d regret painting them? They are worn and slightly water-damaged in areas, so if I kept the natural wood, I’d have to refinish them anyway (which I don’t particularly relish doing). We are now thinking about painting the cabinet “structure” white, but then having the doors and drawer fronts yellow and/or coral. I’ve seen this done in vintage magazines… Do you like that look? The original Amerock cabinet hardware is gold, so I found the same style in chrome on eBay. Oh well, one thing I’ve learned from pouring over vintage “Better Homes and Gardens” magazines is that really “anything goes” when it comes to decorating a 50’s kitchen!
And, thanks for the compliment about the kitchen. It is definitely not a “chef’s kitchen” and the counter space is practically nil. We’ll be adding some shelving on the wall where the Cosco cart and microwave are now. Ha, ha – I wonder how many potential buyers took one look at the kitchen (and the pink bathroom) and decided the house wasn’t for them! I’m including some “inspiration” pictures I’ve collected, to give you an idea of what feel we’re going for. Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks so much,
Nancy
First of all, Nancy, I am so impressed with all your hard, focused work. You are someone who Gets Things Done. You go, girl! My thoughts on your questions:
- Remember how Jerry Seinfeld used to joke that when you have a bad headache, you want to take just enough aspirin to kill you – but then back off a tad so that you don’t? That’s the way I tend to feel about decoration and color…. Lay it on, but then edit it back some and you will be happier. In that vein (if that makes sense): I vote with your husband. That Cirrus floor will look beautiful and has enough going on in its own right that you don’t need to add diagonals or other color punches. I also believe your eye needs somewhere to rest as it dances happily around your happy kitchen.
- Regarding the cabinets: Go ahead and paint ’em and never look back! Another idea: Base cabinets one (darker) color, wall cabinets another (lighter) color.
- And Retro Renovation Peanut Gallery: Be sure to chime in with your ideas, too!
All that said — Nancy, you seem to have great instincts and have really thought a lot about this. So don’t get too stressed out and ultimately – trust your own heart. We can’t wait to see the finished job – thanks for sharing!
PugFreek says
Pat,
wood is inviting yes, but even cheap wood can look good.
Pam Kueber says
Nancy, I found this photo for you on flickr – take a look: http://flickr.com/photos/amandawoodward/112214921/
Pat says
Guess everyone has their own opinions and you need to go with your own. But, I hate painting quality wood, unless it’s a cheap, scuzzy wood, then I say go for it. It is not fun stripping paint! Besides, to me wood is warm and inviting. But, that’s me!
Carol says
O my, those look like my cabinets and the exact same copper tile. I did take the tile off the wall…they sort of just fell off. I am considering painting the cabinets. They are not in that great of shape. I own a 1951 cape cod why on earth did they place the refrigerator right next to two doube wide windows….? the stove sits on a wall by itself. Very odd layout.
Barclay says
We had the exact same kind of cabinets and decided to paint them. See the story and pics on my retro renovation home blog (inspired in great part by Pam’s blog!)
Kitchen re-do.
John Taylor says
Those Cabinets are so beautiful. I do so love the look of them.
My Aunt and Uncle had those type of cabinets with the same type of hardware. Polish them up and get you some vintage kitchen Items and that Kitchen of yours will look absolutely FAB.
JT
Colleen says
Glamorlux Nancy, How goes the kitchen? Did you decide to paint?
Jan says
I have the exact style of cabinets in my 1955 built home and I have no intention of painting them. They are in excellent condition and a little wood cleaner has done wonders. Even the countertops, which are the original white laminate are in excellent condition as well. You know the old saying: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! The only thing I will change on the cabinets is the hardware. I found the brass concave, or dish, knobs from Atlas Hardware, which will look nice with the copper finish hinges (original). One question: those copper stick-on tiles; do they look realistic on the wall?
Joye says
I painted my wood cabinets and couldn’t be happier! They were knotty pine and made the kitchen so dark. I filled the knots and painted them multiple coats of white and a gloss on top and finished them with silver knobs and I love it. My kitchen is bright and sunny and warm now.
If you aren’t fond of the wood, paint them.
astrosonical says
Nancy and Pam have a lot of festive ideas. Personally, I’d leave the cabinets unpainted, but there are a lot of appealing paint ideas brought up since the thread started. Our cabinets by DelMar started out stark white, and have since been repainted a yellowish tone, (which I don’t remember) and finally white. They certainly need repainting now. I would like to strip and stain or just strip and put a poly varnish (?) on them. The 1962 model I’ve seen of my house had or has Formica woodgrain cabinets that go to the ceiling on the upper ones. Next door and behind me had turquoise DelMars, the one next door’s I believe are still that color. Mom painted ours, and always pulled the doors and all the metal fittings off when she did them. Kitchen had white Formica with gold speckles and threads, rolled front and back edges, sandalwood walls, white with brown terrazzo floor, and a black baseboard under the long bank of cabinets. A riot of color! LOL