Nathan recently purchased a 1962 time capsule home. He truly appreciates the beauty and history in this blonde wood kitchen full of pristine, museum-quality appliances not to mention a fabulous pink porcelain drainboard sink. But, he is himself a craftsman and furniture maker, and has his own creative vision for a mid-century inspired kitchen of his dreams. So, now he is trying to find the right buyer for this mint, unused 1962 kitchen including a pink General Electric combination wall mount refrigerator, a pink GE automatic electric built-In oven, a pink GE cooktop, a pink GE dishwasher, and a pink cast iron double bowl sink.
UPDATE: As of Feb 2015 — this kitchen HAS BEEN REMOVED AND SOLD.
UPDATE Jan. 2018: I was first with this story in 2010 — EIGHT years ago — and to this day, other blogs are still rewriting the story and promoting it as if it’s new. Yikes.
Nathan purchased the home late last year from the original owner, who built the house but for personal reasons never lived in it. Oh my, the kitchen is a real beauty.
Once the shock wears off, be sure to notice also the mosaic tile on the floor, and the four-inch tiles on the backsplash, on the soffits, on the wall in the dinette. I’ve never seen tile on soffits, for example. The cabinets — the pink countertops and appliances — the tile — and the light — all combine to make this a luminous kitchen indeed.
Oh, and I’ve never seen scribing (I think that’s what it’s called) of the ‘vents’ underneath the sink and cooktop like this before. The atomic cabinet pulls are gorgeous, too — note, Nathan plans to keep the cabinet hardware.
Nathan for sure is selling the appliances and the drainboard sink. The kitchen, he fears, will not demo well, because it is built directly into the walls. But it’s a possibility that it could also be removed intact.
Finally, I want to forewarn: No chest beating, please, in Comments, over Nathan’s decision not to keep this kitchen. I have never ever said this site is all about having to keep everything original. At its heart, in addition to identifying resources, I’m about just helping people understand what they have in their homes so that they can make informed decisions. Nathan knows what he has, and wants the kitchen to go to someone who will truly be able to love it. (The gorgeous vintage light fixture – stays.)
Click on the gallery shot above to go to Nathan’s flickr photostream to see more photos. You can also see some of his custom furniture by Nathan Chandler — I’ll feature some of his mid-century inspired pieces shortly. Thank you, Nathan, for giving us the opportunity to see your kitchen and potentially, to help find it a good home.
Lisa says
It’s like I always have to remember when buying vintage, not EVERYONE in 1962, despite equal access to pink laminate and amenities, would have HAD pink laminate and amenities– there’s a question of personal taste.You have to choose what best suits you. As someone said in an earlier comment, I think it’s great he didn’t just rip everything out and leave it at the curb– kudos to Nathan for recognizing the value these items would have for another person and offer them as such. I hope they find a good (new) home!
The mystery of why the house + appliances sat there unused, by the way, is just killing me.
Lara Jane says
Sweet fancy Moses! I want every single piece of this heavenly kitchen!
Nathan, you MUST keep us posted on the progress of your new kitchen. If you’re tearing THIS out you must have something insanely fabulous on the drawing board! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Martha says
This is one fantastic looking kitchen. Wish it was mine. Nathan, if you end up selling the cabinet pulls by themselves, let me know…I would love to buy them.
Shannon says
Could you just die? I love this kitchen like I love my firstborn!
Joe says
I’d bet he could sell that kitchen to a studio in Hollywood and a make a TON of money. I’m sure someone who’s a set designer for Mad Men would love to have that in their set arsenal.
Ted Cleary says
Pam, this is absolutely remarkable. Even makes ME want pink appliances. 🙂 Just wanted to toss out a thought in Nathan’s direction: before it does get parted out, I wonder if he’s considered getting in touch with a film crew; they might be EXTREMELY interested in using the kitchen, in place, for some period setting. (As we all know the movie & TV biz mixes & matches locations all the time, even when the viewer thinks they’re side by side.) It might take some research to go from one person to another, but I’ll bet there’d be SOMEbody in commercials, TV or film, either locally or not, who’d love to have such an incredibly thorough setting to use.
Looking forward to the Spring Show next week (and meeting you Pam) but it’s crunch time now! Stayed till 3:30 last night building walls. To Dotty (poster, above): If the Charleston you mention is Charleston, SC, you might be interested to know that a friend from there who’s business is beautifully-restored vintage patio furniture (metal clamshell chairs, etc.), will be displaying some of her pieces in my MCM garden at the Charlotte show.
Tina says
I missed it probably, but where is Nathan and this incredible kitchen?
Kelly says
Are angels singing? – because I hear angels singing.
Glorious! I hope that it can find a happy home. It makes me happy to know that little slices of Heaven like that still exist.
Wink says
Oh, wow. I mean, WOW. Many thanks to Nathan for sharing this kitchen with us, even if the most many of us ever get to see are the photos. This made my morning.
Angela says
This is the kitchen I have been dreaming of!!!