Tips to using the slide show: Click on the first thumbnail… the image will enlarge… move forward or back using arrows below the caption… you can start or stop at any image.
Can I describe the history of kitchens from 1946 to 1966 in the captions of 24 photos? Here is a cheerful cliffs-notes attempt that includes: Modular sink bases for thrifty farmhouse homemakers… The importance of sanitary kitchens… A short history of steel kitchen cabinets… The ubiquitous knotty pine… The brief popularity of pickled wood… Remembering 40″ stoves… Wishing for appliance centers… Wishing for drainboard sinks… Lingering over Mondrian kitchens… Celebrating coppertone… and more. Honestly, I can’t say which of these kitchens is “my favorite”. They each reflect a particular point in history, so in many cases it’s impossible to judge any one “better” than the next.
Marty says
I love the oven on #21. I saw one at an estate sale in a very modest neighborhood of midcentury houses. Wish they still made ’em.
Lindsey Cota says
Pam,
how far have you gone into vintage dishwashers? I was google imaging “double bowl, double drainboard sink” which I <3 when I came across some pics for vintage dishwashers.
To be honest, I never really considered them as an option as I guess I assumed most vintage small appliances break down. But now I think I will look into them when I get my own kitchen as it will complete the look and save me from hand washing. yuck.
See what I found-
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?25871
Thanks, Lindsey.
Lindsey Cota says
Well, technically I was googling – “vintage youngstown kitchenaider”
But I was drooling over the double bowl/double drainboards that came up.
Trina says
Number 7 is the closest match to my kitchen, but I never considered a red counter top with the teal and yellow color scheme. Interesting!
Lynne says
No question….#14. Love it. Unfortunately, my current kitchen bears absolutely no resemblance what so ever.
Just another Pam says
Ironically, Lynn, mine does look quite a bit like 14 and I’d so much rather have number 2.
duki says
Number two is for me too!
Cindy Taylor says
I choose #11 — love that color combo! #12 is great too.
Lauri Hutchins says
I can’t get the Home Depot ad to close and it covers the pictures!! 🙁
pam kueber says
try scrolling down a bit then starting. i think this is an issue – depending on your browser and java (keep them all updated)
Jason says
Hey Pam…Picture #8 is very similar to the 1963 kitchen pic that I sent you. I think that pic #22 is more 1950’s since the father is wearing a hat. I like this pic….Dad is home and his daughter is happy as he holds her up and mother is happily watching them as she prepares a pot of coffee. Notice how one of her legs is up.
Rechercher says
Number 10–the American Kitchens Pioneer in Coppertone–was the kitchen of my youth. Our house was a custom built MCModest (designed by my Mom) not Early American, but it still worked. Mom always said you should build a house, live in it for a few years, then tear it down and do all the things you should have done the first time. However, my parents lived in that house the way it was, for 30 years.
Jon Hunt says
#21 was one of the models for the kitchen remodel we did. Note: that laminate IS our laminate. We totally went for the red walls, green lower cabinets and wood upper cabinets in this picture. I love the look of this.
(NOTE TO SELF: take photos of finished kitchen and send to Pam! My daughter has this idea of dressing up in 60s clothes and posing in the photos, but it’s been hard to wrangle everybody in the house in one place!!)
Jenny says
Love no. 14 and I wish I could completely recreate no. 20 in my house.