1940s bungalow kitchen before:
1940s bungalow kitchen after:
Wow, Suzann’s 1940s bungalow style kitchen remodel is — fantastic. So bright and cheery, I know this transformation is going to excite a lot of readers. And, after five years of doing no stories at all about Ikea kitchen cabinets, here’s a second one in a row — using different cabinets than the Akurums that Jerry used. Read on for Suzann’s story and the list of resources she used to design and construct this happy space.
This is a kitchen in our detached 540 sq ft in-law suite, where my mother is moving in. We’ve revamped the whole place. We wanted to make a cutesy, cheery kitchen that would align with the era of the home- 40’s bungalow style.The cabinets are Ikea. The floor is Armstrong VCT, special order from Home Depot (same price as the ones on the shelf, but takes 2 weeks) to match our apple green Caesarstone countertop (ordered at Ikea, subbed out to a local installer). I made all the curtains from gauzy linen with lace trim to soften up all the subway tile (American Olean 2×4″ in “biscuit”).We drove 4 hours to pick up that GE fridge in the next state. It is late 30’s-early 40’s.The previous single owner bought it during WW2 with cash rations and used it all her life. She kept in tip top condition for 80 years.
Suzann, this remodel is so sweet — thank you! Your mother surely will love it, but stop calling her surely. haha. Little joke there. Things I luv in particular:
- 54o s.f. Yowza. I am telling you, there are many days now, that all I want to have to clean, heat and pay taxes on for is: 540 s.f.
- Bisquit-colored subway tile. I think this is a great way to do it… Back in the day, the whites were not so white. I adore the aged look of the bisquit.
- The door style you chose for a bungalow kitchen is the “right” one.
- Love the basketweave floor. Lofe the apple green. Love the fridge.
- But most of all, love the dumpster diving enamel table, and that you gave it a happy new home. 🙂
Resource list for Suzann’s bungalow kitchen remodel:
- Ikea kitchen cabinets – Adel door style — now discontinued, but Ikea usually has a line with the same look
- Countertops from are Apple Martini from Caesarstone — color no longer available butsee their catalog for lotsa options.
- Kitchen sink: Ikea Domsjo — now discontinued, but Ikea usually has a line with the same look
- Armstrong VCT, ordered from Home Depot in White Out, Kickin Kiwi, and Lunar Blue.
- 30 patterns from 1955 for arranging vinyl floor tiles
- American Olean Starting Line wall tile, bisquit gloss from Home Depot. Suzann notes: “It comes in a 12″x12″ sheet, but I still put a spacer in between each one to straighten them.” Update: Seems discontinued, but there are lots of tiles out there like this now.
- Rebuilt windows: Woodwindowmakeover.com in Tampa, Florida. Suzann says: I’d like to credit our window craftsman (Woodwindowmakeover.com); their replica sashes for all three windows in the kitchen made all the difference in keeping with the period. They sell parts, etc for old wood windows, or can rebuild the whole window sash if the wood is too far gone (like they did here).
Jeanne says
Ditto what everyone else has said! It’s gorgeous. Is there a stove in the kitchen? I just LOVE seeing all the color interpretations that everyone has done with the flooring patterns! That is my favorite part!
Kersten says
Kitchen stories always make me excited, since I am clueless how to begin mine. That first pic- holy moly. If you can do what you did, I can certainly do mine. The weaving in the floor is bold and perfect! Love it! The swing out window is so sweet! Thanks for including the background story of the fridge – it hits where it needs to…
I agree with others— we need a link to more pics of the whole house! 540 sq. feet – it must be adorable!! And- was the whole house in need of repair? wow! Great work!
suzann says
Thank you! Yes, the whole little house needed repair. When we bought the place last Fall, this had been a jam room garage with a bedroom and bathroom attached to the side and a utility/laundry room on the back (now this kitchen). We gutted, engineered, and transformed the whole place. I will gladly share more pics as the rooms become photo-ready. I may have shared the kitchen a tad early, but didn’t expect it to be featured!
Kersten says
Oh goodness. I love that a Jam Room Garage turned into Mother’s Quarters! Perhaps the bathroom wallpaper will need to feature bongo drums and guitars!
vintage_vantage says
One of the best transformations you have blogged about yet! Beautiful and period correct. Great work guys!
clampers says
Oh my gosh! Gorgeous!!! I love the floor and the countertops.
Kate says
Holy Moly! What a transformation! Great job!
I LOVE the floor! 🙂
Jen says
Wow — this is really impressive! L0ve the apple green, and that floor is striking!
JKaye says
Wow, what an amazing transformation. It all looks great, but one touch I really like is how you kept a tall storage cabinet next to the back door. That’s one thing about the old kitchen that did make sense, because the swing of the back door limits how that space can be used. I like how you lined up the top of the tall cabinet with the top of the window frame and the door frame. That sort of attention to detail is what makes this new kitchen have a craftsman era feel to it.
It looks like you had to move the electric box and a water heater. Where did you place them?
What a treat for your mother. Hope we can see the rest of the place sometime, so we can see how she is living big in such a small space.
suzann says
Thank you! To answer your q: “It looks like you had to move the electric box and a water heater. Where did you place them?”, We got a space saving instant water heater and installed it in the attic, and the breaker panel is in the kitchen, on the opposite wall (not pictured). I painted it the wall color. But, I think in the “before” pic, you are seeing the well bladder and a sprinkler control box. We moved the bladder outside and removed the sprinkler box since the sprinkler system needs to be revamped (not even close to our priority list!)
lady brett says
lovely. the story behind that fridge is wonderful!
and i love the windows. from what i can tell, i think i like the general layout as well – a place that size works so well when it’s just a few rooms of decent size (as compared to, say, a separate tiny galley kitchen, etc.)
Debra says
Suzann you efforts certainly paid off in a big way! I love what you did & that that sweet vintage refridgerator is still running like a top ~ what a find that was. I am sure your mom will enjoy every minute she spends in this sweet labor of love!
Betty Crafter says
I adore this from top to bottom! The colors are just perfect, I love the basket weave pattern on the floor, and the fridge is insane. And the tile adds just the right touch of texture. Please show what you do with the rest of the place!