Update: I have added this clip to the blog even though it doesn’t fit. I cannot get it on any smaller…. Thanks to Bo Sullivan, who works with Rejuvenation Lighting, for the tip on this 1949 film created to help postwar homeowner owners create the efficient kitchen of their dreams. It’s interesting to understand the context for films like this. After World War II, housewives did need educating on how to design a modern kitchen. But I think the bigger purpose of this propaganda — and it IS propaganda — was to incite homeowners to part with their hard-earned war-time savings.
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After the grueling lessons of the Great Depression, folks were still very very conservative about tapping into their bank accounts — or just as likely, raiding the stash of cash under their mattresses or buried next to the barn. They DID have money. During the war, there were a lot of jobs — but little to spend your money on, because of rationing and all the materials going toward the construction of wartime armaments. After the war, there was tremendous new capacity available for consumer goods. But, Americans didn’t want to spend on discretionary consumer goods. They did buy houses But, they were Savers. And, the Government was Scared. They did not want the economic wheels grind to a halt and cause another depression. Hence films like this. It wasn’t until 1953 that Americans really started to cut loose their dollars. Another story for another day…
Video source: The excellent archives.org.
June Cahill says
Love the “hidden” area to hang wet towels -when I look at this kitchen – and all the great ideas, I think we went “backwards” in design instead of forward. The hole in the counter for collecting garbage is fabulous – however, I think I would have added a sliding cover to close it up (smells)…but, people probably took out their garbage daily (bins were not as large) back then. Facinating!
Jacy Park says
The reason I LOVE this video is because it coordinates exactly the “new” thought processes at my full time job: 5S housekeeping (organizaion) and Ergonomics. Wow. I took a 5 day class to learn this “new” thought process and LOOK! It’s been here since 1949!!!
Reader Question: All the layouts of the kitchens I’ve seen thus far on this website are very square in design – just like the video. We have an accepted offer on a 1951 Frank Lloyd Write “inspired” home that has a “honeycomb kitchen” design. The kitchen is ORIGINAL with avacado green fridge and wall-mounted stove (gorgeous, but in desperate need of love). The kitchen is 12 x 12 but multi-sided (like I said, honeycombed). Does anyone have any experience in this type of layout?!
lady brett says
oh! i don’t know how i missed this the first time around, but i want that kitchen! it is just *perfect*. oh, how i love utilitarian things – i think that is why the 40s speaks to me so.
oh, such inspiration! i shall have to determine what ideas i can reasonably incorporate into our kitchen, seeing as it is already built.
thanks to ChristineEliane for the plans, as well.
natschultz says
Oh my gosh! I’ve died and gone to HEAVEN! That kitchen is TO DIE FOR! I’d lose the seat-height pull-out sewing table though 😉
The odd thing is, apparently very efficient bin cabinets were common, even in the 1920’s. The book “Craftsman Kitchens” is awesome – there are lots of larger undercounter base bins that roll out like the smaller ones in this video. I tried for a few years to find them anywhere, all to no avail 🙁 The closest I could find was tilt-out hampers / trash bins. The funny thing is, reading that book was like reading the diary of my house – even my original cabinets are all the same – upon further examination I actually found that there was originally a pull-out cutting board that someone filled in with a piece of wood in the face-frame.
Honestly, while the bins are awesome and seem to be a great space-saver, I think they would be a cleaning nightmare. Also, while it appears that lots of potatoes fit in those small bins, I don’t think it’s possible that a whole 20 pound bag would fit, which means you’d still need a separate pantry to store the rest. The film does mention a separate “storage room.” Most modern houses don’t have an extra food “storage room”, so a big pantry is probably a better (and cleaner) use of space. We keep all our flours / sugars in large old glass wire bail jars, and while they currently do waste countertop space, the film mentions that the bins are meant to replace said jars / canisters to keep the counters clear, but, if you notice, the counter / sink area in that kitchen is actually 30-36″ off the wall to accomodate those bins, similar to a modern “back channel”, so you actually lose floor space. You can accomplish the same thing today with glass jars (no moths – NEVER use plastic!) by either building out an extra 6-9″ or just adding wall shelves to get the jars off the counter. The only downside to the jars is that you have to pull them out and then stick your hand in to reach the scoop. For a modern look you could replace the jars with stainless roasting pans with lids and a rubber gasket, I guess 😉
The countertop compost drop – I actually am planning on doing that in my kitchen, into a pan in a drawer. I had actually thought about putting a door to the outside, but I think that is asking for trouble, no matter how well insulated and well sealed. Old houses used to have two-way cabinets for wood next to fireplaces; I don’t think anyone actually uses those anymore (too many bugs). As for the smell, it does have to be emptied often, but it can’t be any worse than the one that sits on my counter now – that’s just taking up space. Add baking soda!
Janet says
How were those pull-out boards constructed so they would not zip all the way out? I’d like to see a cutaway drawing. That mid-level board is a great idea.
Clare says
I made a blog post in January of 2008 regarding this very same kitchen that I was fascinated with. I guess it wasn’t meant to be mine, and has since been remodeled and demolished.
If you would like to see pictures of the real thing, in what was a very modern house for its day in the late 1940’s, you can visit my blog post.
http://farmstyle.blogspot.com/2008/01/vintage-kitchen-laundrysewing-and.html
For the most part it was exact. There were some bins missing, and the garbage shoot hole was covered and a dishwasher inserted underneath, but there is no mistaking that someone did actually live with this kitchen.
I’m sure it was highly functional.
Selena says
I love the pictures! It brings it to life. I also love the laundry room…. Hmmm. Too bad you couldn’t save it.
ShariD says
Hello! I would love to be able to see the pictures you have posted on your blog, because I have an enduring passion for kitchens of this vintage. But, when I click on the link you have provided here, it tells me that only invited readers may access it. Can you please tell me how I would go about acquiring such an invitation?
Best Regards
jayjaycooking says
What a wonderful video. I wish it was possible to find craftsman who could recreate such kitchens for those who would love to return the kitchens to their former glory!
Vicki says
I love it! This may not go strictly in this area, but it is related & I just had to chime in. I still have my mom’s 1947 high school economics class cookbook somewhere (sans the cover over my many, many moves sadly). It’s called the Woman’s Home Companion Cookbook. My OH has apparently moved it out of the kitchen again (so he could have the drawer for his junk) & I have no clue where he put it, so I can’t check right now how extensive it is, but there are sections in there about how to arrange your kitchen and all of the “up to date” info on running your home in the post war era. I remember that as late as 1971 they were still offering Home Ec classes where I went to school, and one of the major requirements making an apron.
Nina462 says
I think it’s funny now that houses now have to have those BIG gourmet kitchens – what a lot of wasted space & effort. I loved this video. My grandmother had huge flour & potato bins under the counter. I wish I could’ve asked her about the flour moths…hmm, maybe I’ll ask my Mom. Thanks for sharing this video –
ChristineEliane says
I am ga-ga over this kitchen. As a home-econ major my pet peeve is the lack of functionality in our homes today. There is a pdf from USDA for this kitchen on the U of Michigan’s extension site. http://agnic.msu.edu/hgpubs/modus/00000014.htm
Thank you for such a lovely and informative website.
STL Mom says
Thanks for the link to the kitchen plans. I love floor plans. I don’t love the asbestos lining used around the stove!
Selena says
Thank you so much for the plans!
My DH told me to tell him what I wanted and he’d build it. His ego was hurting because a guy we know finished an awesome kitchen for his wife by himself. He’s a firefighter by trade. My hubby is a carpenter so he figures he should be able to do something awesome too…. we’ll see! 🙂
ShariD says
Thanks so much for providing the link to the plans for this kitchen! I love love love kitchen floor plans. Not quite sure what the attraction is, other than perhaps satisfying my overpowering sense of living in them via my imagination.
One thing though ~ if someone wants to go searching for it via the link, it did not come up right off the bat, at least for me. I had to use their search function to track it down. It was also not listed under 1949 as year of production ~ it was listed under 1951! But if you look for “1951 step saver kitchen” it should be at the top of the results.
Also, about those lovely “functional house dresses” that have been mentioned here. They apparently drew a considerable number of inquiries from the start, because it was significant enough to generate a note from them in this document. They said something to the effect that they were designed, created and/or produced by their Home Economics lab staff. So, no patterns or copies to be made from here. However, I can from experience, recommend eBay as a potential source of patterns from this era for these types of dresses, and I even have enough interest in them myself to have an entire Pun