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.
Marissa Bee says
Any update on what ever happened to this lovely kitchen? I’m curious to see if the items found happy new homes!
pam kueber says
Nope. As I recall, I tried. I have just let it go…
Linda Ghiloni says
I still have the bubble gum pink sink! I have yet to have it refinished and it sits in the garage under the stairs waiting for our time to renovate. I would still be interested in selling the sink for a fair price, but transport would be the purchasers problem and expense.
Nathan Chandler says
All items are still available. I received hundreds of inquiries, at the end of the day it was too overwhelming. I have a list of emails that I’ve kept…if you’re interested send me an email and I’ll add you to the list. I will send an update to the group before the end of year. They will soon be posted to craigslist, or the like.
Anne Walker says
Yes, please add me to the list…if I’m not already there. I, too, have attempted to contact you. Your posting solved a mystery for me, as I have inherited a home with that era kitchen minus a fridge. Attempts to find one to fit the only space where one could have been, failed and having seen what was probably originally there was quite a surprise. We have a fridge in the laundry room. I want to maintain that era’s style, but it’s not easy. In addition to an absent fridge, 1 of the coils of the stove top has split and I’d like to replace it. 1 of the ovens clock timer is out of whack. We actually turn the fuse off except for holidays when 2 ovens are needed. BTW: I am in the state of Illinois, also. I will try to post a picture of my kitchen. Thank you for finally providing an update.
vickie perkins says
Do you still have a list, Nathan? I can’t imagine you still have this for sale due to the high response but add me to that long list if you do, please. I am more than willing and able to drive out at a moment’s notice. My husband grew up near Ladd!
Anastasia says
Built but never lived in “for personal reasons”? Sounds like a movie plot of Steve Martin’s. Wonder what the story really is behind this place! GORGEOUS baby, really is.
Tania says
Wow, this kitchen is amazing!!!
Andrea says
Oh my god, my family has the same oven and stove top 0_0 !!
Linda Ghiloni says
I have a pink sink! It is essentially the same as this one, except it was professionally refinished in this “bubble gum pink”. But, I am seriously considering having it refinished in white before installing it into my circa 1905 craftsman home. I am in southwestern Canada. I’m afraid I could not offer as good a deal as Nathan, but would possibly consider a trade.
Pam Hartley says
I contacted Nathan via e-mail a few weeks ago and he replied he still had the kitchen fixtures and wanted $1000 for everything. I was in heaven and asked him to call me with details so I could make travel and shipping arrangments. After a couple more e-mails with no reply, I gave up. Not sure what the story is on this one.
Amy in Sacramento, CA says
“Fixtures?” Like the faucet? What else for $1000?
Pam Hartley says
Amy, he told me he still had and was selling the entire set: stove, sink, fridge, cooktop, etc., for $1000. I asked him several times to call me and he never did. Finally, I just gave up.
barbara says
I grew up in a Campanelli ranch style house. The whole neighborhood was all the same ranch houses. We had that same fridge and push button stove and our oven was built into the wall. and a matching hot water heater all in the kitchen with radiant heat slate tile floors. Every house was the same, except we all had a different color, Ours was pink, The next door neighbors was aqua., The people across the street had a brown color, next to them was avacado etc.
The bathrooms also matched the kitchen, the tubs and sinks were the same color as the fridge, oven and stove. The bathroom tile, matched the kitchen backsplash tile.
These homes were the newest things, very modern for the times. My family was the first owner and we moved there in 1966, just after it was finished being built. Every house had 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, a garage and a den.
I have very fond memories of that house. I think that is why I love Mid-Century modern.
Casey says
Hey, my apartment (built in ’53) also has the same oven and cook top, but in yellow! And they still work great. You can see a couple of pics on my blog, here:
http://vitaminihandmade.blogspot.com/2012/04/moving-day.html
I’ve been meaning to take some more glamour shots of the entire kitchen but I must wait till I get my custom boomerang cafe sewn. 🙂
Gabrielle says
I’m living in a home that had one owner for 60 years and we have the same wall oven and stove top(still is working condition!). The button press stove top confused me at first because the buttons go in order Hi, 2 , 3 , low, warm. 2 is a smaller number and is a higher temp then 3. 🙂
But this is a beautiful kitchen.
pam kueber says
You are very lucky, Gabrielle!
meaghan says
I have that fridge and want to sell it also the oven both working the stove top to match but not working ! any offers can provide pic located in CO
Anne Walker says
Do you still have this…know it’s been over a year.