Greg and Tammy’s 1953 Kelvinator Foodarama — before, after & inside — 10 pics
pam kueber - Updated: October 28, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
The Kelvinator Foodarama “before”:
The Kelvinator Foodarama “after”:
Inside “before:
Inside “after”
Close up of what’s for breakfast:
After seeing Greg and Tammy’s fabulous retro red farm house kitchen remodel, there was call to see more of the Kelvinator Foodarama refrigerator. I had been planning it — already had the “before” shot of the behemoth before Greg repainted it with auto body “safety red.” But then Greg sent more photos and Oh My Gosh, look at this refrigerator. I had no idea. It is gorgeous inside. I waaaaaant that Breakfast Bar. I ask Greg what is the model year and he writes:
Pam I think it’s a 1953 model. It was very complete when we got it, Breakfast bar, juice containers, 4 of 6 original ice trays, banana bin. The only major thing missing was the saran wrap holder. The refrigerator trays roll out, the metal freezer shelves actually have the cooling tubes attached; it will freeze ice cubes in 20 minutes.
The original owner from Altoona, Pa, a lady named Belle, took great care of this classic. We consider ourselves caretakers of this fabulous Kelvinator Foodarama!
Am attaching more interior pics. Please include the one with our 14-year old, Shane. He would be thrilled!
Tks!
Well, tks, to you, Greg!
Patrick C. and Helen S., what do you think?: Is the Foodarama more elusive – hence desirable — than a built-in Revco???
Drool!!!!! I am so jealous of your fantastical 1953 fridge! It is a work of art 🙂
joansays
That is one red hot appliance. For it to be in such good shape and still running is a credit to the owners of the companies from that time. There was a very different mind set then. Companies took pride in their high quality products and it shows in this long lasting fridge. Unlike most of the companies today that practically build in components to fail, so that we have to keep replacing them. Their bottom line seems to be profit driven not pride driven. I’m not blaming the employees as the attitude is top down. Maybe we the consumers are to blame for excepting it. Long live Vintage. LOL 🙂
CC in Virginiasays
I love how the commercial calls it a “food keeper” rather than refrigerator. Don’t buy any other food keeper until you’ve looked at a Kelvinator! love it! Such great imagination and creativity back then. 😉 Tammy & Greg, you are so awesome to share your project with us! And Pam is awesome for posting it!
Laurynsays
Incredibly amazing restoration! What a beautiful job and what an amazingly cool refrigerator. And a special bacon drawer? Geeze Louise, hold me back. We recently installed an under-counter fridge (6 cu. ft.) in our very tiny kitchen, and while we’ve adapted quite well and are very happy with it, it was hard not to get just a little jealous of this fridge. Such fabulous efficiency in 11 cu. ft. … a wee thing compared to most modern fridges. This one is so incredibly well laid out, I can’t imagine it not meeting a family’s needs.
Chrissays
I’m pretty sure I just had a “special moment.” 🙂
Wow…. WOW! Wow.
Tava Youngsays
Too flippin cool!!!!
karensays
“What a dream of a kitchen-come-true/ What a wonderful setting for you/ and what makes it greater?/ It’s a Kelvinator/ most modern, most useful, most YOU.”
I am in serious, serious lust. Banana keeper? Breakfast bar? We feed raw to our dogs, and those dispenser chutes in the freezer door would be perfect for the individual meals we make up. Greg’s paint job is just beautiful, too. Congrats to you both!
One thing I can’t figure out is where the saran wrap dispenser was.
martasays
Just figured it out by looking at the other link! It goes right above the bananas. So cool.
Debra says
Drool!!!!! I am so jealous of your fantastical 1953 fridge! It is a work of art 🙂
joan says
That is one red hot appliance. For it to be in such good shape and still running is a credit to the owners of the companies from that time. There was a very different mind set then. Companies took pride in their high quality products and it shows in this long lasting fridge. Unlike most of the companies today that practically build in components to fail, so that we have to keep replacing them. Their bottom line seems to be profit driven not pride driven. I’m not blaming the employees as the attitude is top down. Maybe we the consumers are to blame for excepting it. Long live Vintage. LOL 🙂
CC in Virginia says
I love how the commercial calls it a “food keeper” rather than refrigerator. Don’t buy any other food keeper until you’ve looked at a Kelvinator! love it! Such great imagination and creativity back then. 😉 Tammy & Greg, you are so awesome to share your project with us! And Pam is awesome for posting it!
Lauryn says
Incredibly amazing restoration! What a beautiful job and what an amazingly cool refrigerator. And a special bacon drawer? Geeze Louise, hold me back. We recently installed an under-counter fridge (6 cu. ft.) in our very tiny kitchen, and while we’ve adapted quite well and are very happy with it, it was hard not to get just a little jealous of this fridge. Such fabulous efficiency in 11 cu. ft. … a wee thing compared to most modern fridges. This one is so incredibly well laid out, I can’t imagine it not meeting a family’s needs.
Chris says
I’m pretty sure I just had a “special moment.” 🙂
Wow…. WOW! Wow.
Tava Young says
Too flippin cool!!!!
karen says
“What a dream of a kitchen-come-true/ What a wonderful setting for you/ and what makes it greater?/ It’s a Kelvinator/ most modern, most useful, most YOU.”
That SONG! love love love.
lady brett says
what brilliant compartmentalization; just lovely.
Marta says
I am in serious, serious lust. Banana keeper? Breakfast bar? We feed raw to our dogs, and those dispenser chutes in the freezer door would be perfect for the individual meals we make up. Greg’s paint job is just beautiful, too. Congrats to you both!
One thing I can’t figure out is where the saran wrap dispenser was.
marta says
Just figured it out by looking at the other link! It goes right above the bananas. So cool.
Jason says
Have Mercy!