‘Betty Crafter’ wrote me a happy email and sent me these happy photos, which reminded me that I need to start another microsite in the same vein as Save The Pink Bathrooms. Only the new blog will be called: Say Yes to the Knotty Pine. Don’t try to buy the url away from me. It’s mine all mine buwahahaha. Meanwhile, here is Betty’s “miracle” story and more photos of her gorgeous time capsule knotty pine kitchen…She writes:
We just bought the house less than a month ago so we have a long way to go, but here’s our short story so far!
My husband and I decided to move because although we lived in a pretty fab 50’s house in a great location, it didn’t have the original kitchen and bathrooms I’d always wanted. Just before our house hit the market, I saw this one online. I almost stopped breathing. I really didn’t think a house like this existed! Turquoise counters? Knotty pine paneling in half the house? A pink AND a green bathroom? Fireplace? Creek? Barn?
Crikey!
“It looks like the inside of a Spartan trailer!” I squealed.
I immediately called our realtor who refused to show it to me because: “I’m already showing that house to two clients who DON’T have homes to sell first.”
Well I was so insane for this house that the hubs and I drove there and convinced the seller to show it to us herself! Upon seeing it in person I was even more sure this was home. It’s a miracle we ended up here because we weren’t the only ones who loved this house. But luckily for us the other offers fell through just about the time we got offers on our home, and here we are!
We don’t want to change much because the house is pretty much perfect. We tore up the carpet to install green apple VCT in all the areas with the knotty pine paneling and hardwoods in the rest of the house. The turquoise stove and bar chairs came with the house – lucky us! Otherwise it’s all original.
Is it possible to be in love with a physical object? I could not love my new house any more. Also, I’ve started a blog — Betty Crafter — to chronicle our caretaker and preservation efforts if anyone’s interested… The pink bathroom has an unfortunate 80’s vanity, but I found a pink wall hung sink for $5 on the forums here that will be going in soon. Then some fresh paint inside and out and a Crestview Door and we’re done! My main concern is preserving what’s here. There are a few stains on the counters, and I’d like to find the best way to clean them and protect them from future stains. I also need to give my paneling the “Eartha Kitsch treatment” but they are in pretty decent condition as is.
Also, in one of the first shots I sent, that is a NuTone Intercom/Radio that even goes out to the barn! We even have the owner’s manual – when we moved in there was a file folder on the counter with every receipt for service and owner’s manual to everything in the house since the 70’s.
Thanks for thinking my dream kitchen is as awesome as I do!
Crikey! BC, you have some mighty fine happy going on there in your little piece of time capsule paradise. I love the way you used the fabric on the kitchen chair to choose your floor color and tie in with the skylark blue Formica countertops. I also LOVE the way the peninsula eating area curves out, from the bottom (eating counter) to top (prep counter) — what a great idea from the past. Send me pics of your other projects when they are ready for prime time. And: A barn and a creek? Those, too! Tip: for cleaning countertops, our reco is Countertop Magic…
sarah says
WOW!!! what an inspiration to people that already have knotty pine but are thinking of painting over it . This should convince people out there that knotty pine is not only enviromentally friendly, it is so beautiful! Is there a good web site for buying knotty pine?
Michelle says
It gorgeous! We just moved into my grandmother’s home and are fixing it up, and we have the knotty pine kitchen cabinets with yellow walls, and an 1959 addition that it is heart pine walls and ceilings. People keep telling us that they would rip it all out, so seeing this post (and this whole site!) is inspiring! Thank you!
Deanna says
It’s beautiful and I am so jealous! It’s good to know that there are still such well preserved gems still out there and that instead of someone buying it and doing some completely average “Keeping-up-with-the-Jones” update or “House-flipper” redo this house got owners that appreciate how great it is. I so happy your family and the house found each other.
June Cahill says
Love, LOve, LOVE them! In Tucson, there’s a 50s subdivision where every house has knotty pine cabs! As a realtor, I “stalk” the new listings just so I can preview those knotty pines for some lucky client! What a smart Mama and what a good lesson to teach your little one (too cute, btw) – “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix!!!” You set a fine example! side note – would have never thought of the apple green VCT – but, WOW – it looks sensational with the turquoise (my favorite!) appliances.
Susie Martin says
How cute? Where is the turquoise telephone?
Heidi Swank says
I wasn’t a big fan of the knotty pine until today. The high gloss on them makes them just wonderful! I loooooooove your kitchen. And the green apple VCT is fabulous! I’d love to see your bathrooms, too! Congratulations!
Sheana says
Beautiful!!! I am holding out hope that I will someday find the home of my dreams!
Northside CJ says
How perfect! I can’t think of any other word for it! And this from someone who loves metal cabinets.
I love the flooring, it looks amazing. I’ll have to check out that blog. I’m drooling over the vintage kitchenware!
Eliza says
This is fantastic – but that roll of paper towels right over the stove makes me nervous. Please please find another place for that!!!!!!
Josie says
Oopsy-daisy, I had a disappearing post. If I double, I apologize!
I love this kitchen! Okay, I am not genuinely a knotty-pine person myself (I am a painted cabinet person, white or candy colours) but I LOVE that Betty respected – if not outright adored – her vintage find, and didn’t harm or heaven forbid, gut it. I really think there’s a lot to be said for “if you don’t like it, leave it for someone who does…” and I am so glad to see this kitchen reunited with someone who likes it and didn’t just fill a dumpster and then load it up with HGTV’s Top Ten Blandest Hits.
Also, I do personally love the apple green floor – so fresh, so cute, so appropriate. I would have that! I wish I did. I also really quite like the countertops and admire the choice to carry over the fabric of the chairs to really marry them. Apple green and aqua – does it get better? No, no it does not.
So I don’t, ahem, pine for the cabinets, but I do really love your style and vision. Bouncing over to your blog now, because I think I’ll like what I see.