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.
Suzann writes: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.
Next to that is a little vintage metal enamel table that we found on the roadside while out walking one evening, same story on the Eames chair. Together, they make a little desk area. Any other questions, just let me know! Thanks again!
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).
lynda says
Super perfect. You should send your pictures in to a magazine for publishing. Or maybe Ikea or Armstrong or Caesarstone would like the pictures for an ad! Creative and colorful–you did a great job.
nickarmadillo says
Wow! Walking into that “before” kitchen, I would have absolutely no idea where to start. Great work!
suzann says
Thanks! The fact that it was a blank slate gave us a lot of freedom without feeling obliged to save and design around something that was already in place.
Rita@thissortaoldlife says
Oh my gosh I want to play house in this kitchen. I think I especially love the fridge. When my grandparents updated their kitchen in the 70s, they moved a fridge awfully like this one down to their basement. It did finally conk out on Grandma, but only last year. (She’s about to turn 95, still living in her own home. Sure hope I’m built to last like her.)
But the floor is really high on my list, too. Thanks for sharing such a great renovation.
Jason says
Beyond amazing! I love it. All your choices are beautiful! I have a 1956 kitchen in Delaware if you are bored.
Jason says
PS – totally agree with Pam on the door. I mean it’s all amazing. The door without the fake 9 light divider looks so much more period. I have only done one door in my house, which was a door I added in place of an old window at the back of the garage and it’s the fake 9 light kind, which isn’t mid century to me and my back doors are a half lite – with three panes and horizontal not vertical raised panels.
Anyway – it was cheap and in stock and I’m ok with it – but your choice definately takes the steel door to a much more mid century appropriate look in my book!! I’m not giving up my front and back doors anytime soon, but it’s nice to see a good looking option.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
This is the best total transformation I think I have ever seen. The first picture looks to me like a total “tear it down.”
Great job, Suzann.
Jon Hunt says
What a STAGGERINGLY AWESOME tranformation!! Wow!! The final result is so gorgeous. Great colors, great textures — magnificent!
locogirlp says
I absolutely LOVE it!
I’m wondering, though….
Where’s the faucet? And the stove?
😀
suzann says
Sadly, there is NO stove. The city of Tampa forbid me to put any built in stove or cooktops in here because it is a detached apartment in a single family property. Something in the code says: an oven/stove = 2nd kitchen = separate residence = multi-family property. Before the remodel, I asked mom what appliances she wanted. She actually said “just a toaster oven and microwave”. I planned to put in the oven anyway, but the City wouldn’t issue the permit. Anyway, I don’t think I have enough amps in the breaker at this point anyway.
TappanTrailerTami says
Wow Suzann, what a great transformation, while keeping the basic “bones” intact! Love the pop of color, yet simplistic cabinets, and oh-so-vintage subway tiles.
As for the appliance (stove) dilemma: After tons of research, I kind of think stoves are passe’ if you will. There are now do-it-all microwave ovens that act as a microwave, toaster oven, and broiler all in one!
Then there is the Cuisinart “Griddler” which has pretty rave reviews on Amazon – it can act as a griddle, sandwich maker, panini maker, and with the waffle plates, a waffle iron. Oh, and per reviews on Amazon, it cooks bacon and steaks great with NO splatter! All in one appliance…I just love multi-tasking appliances. I plan on getting one of these as I broil meat a lot, and just don’t have the heart to mess up my 1950 Tappan broiler, which in the bottom of the stove, underneath the oven cavity. Ok, truth be told, the messing up is ok, I just don’t want to bend down there to check meat, and clean it all up again!
Finally, I just totally envision a Westinghouse Roaster Oven and Stand in beautiful bungalow kitchen – great for roasting, baking, and slow cooking. And certainly a staple of many 40’s through 60’s kitchens. I have one, and my mom has had one for as long as I can remember. Thanksgiving turkeys are always cooked in the roaster oven at our homes and come out fabulous.
Between those three items, I think a stove is completely unneeded!
pam kueber says
I think you are probably right, T3. But oh, our vintage stoves are sooooooo pretttttttty
cheryl m says
Breville Smart Oven
http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW
It is definitely not the cheapest toaster over or “counter top oven” out there, but it is …perfect. It cooks/bakes/broils everything better than any full sized oven I have ever encountered.
I got mine when I went looking for a countertop oven to bake/roast smaller 1-2 person meals quickly, my 1950s stove is beautiful, but it takes a LOOOOOONG time to heat up to temperature, and is huge, wasting a lot of energy to cook a small side dish, or a meal for 1 or 2.
All the fabulous reviews in the cookware cooking-geek forum at Chowhound (where I also hang out online) convinced me to splurge on it, and I could not be happier with the purchase… it is the bomb! (Tip: use one of those 20% off coupons Bend Bath & Beyond sends out every month or so for the best price on it)
suzann says
Oh, and the sink faucet goes in today. 🙂
Black Eyed Susans Kitchen says
Fantastic! I am in awe!
pam kueber says
So I have an invasive question: Suzann, can I find you some wallpaper for the walls above the subway tile? That would take this kitchen OVER THE TOP. Maybe I can get a sponsor to donate it??? Are you game? Or are you *done* haha?
chris says
Pam — If Suzann feels that you are being invasive, I just want you to know that I, personally, would not feel “invaded” in the least if you wanted to find ME some wallpaper. Or a great old stove. Or a fabulous double drainboard sink. Really. Feel free!
If you could find me some money, I would be especially excited!
🙂
If you do find Suzann some wallpaper, be sure to share it with “the gang!”
pam kueber says
haha
suzann says
Bring on the wallpaper! I would totally consider it, especially if it is donated! The only thing that might prevent me is if mom insists “no”, cause she likes the wall color. I was *this close* to changing it to a light blue, just lighter than the blue on the floor.
Carrie says
The “before” picture looks waaaaayyy too familiar!
The “after” is gorgeous! How happy and cheery! Good job! 🙂