Here’s a good one — and a good followup to yesterday’s story discussing “when is it *okay* to let go of something original?” and introducing the Retro Renovator’s Creed. Karen wants our help. She wants to brighten up her 1954 kitchen … should she replace the ceramic tile countertops with something more sparkly? Read on for her entire story and question… then let’s confuse her some more with all our ideas and opinion –>
Pam, You ROCK! Thank you so much for hosting this retro reno PARTY!
I’m throwing my hat in the ring. While my dilemma is not new or particularly unique, I could sure use some help from all your retronistas. The simple problem is whether to replace a perfectly good, original, 1954 tile countertop with one that will add pizzazz.
We bought the house 20 years ago from the original owners. It had not been touched since a year before, and sneaking into it late one night, we were truly caught in a time warp. Back then, we were too busy raising three daughters to make any changes to a perfectly usable pink bathroom and all original everything else, apart from new carpet and the addition of a dishwasher. When I began to breathe and look around, I had no idea what I had or what to do with it.
Then, I found this Brown Saltman sideboard in a dirty old junk store. It had amoeba handles and the glass top, and I HAD to have it. After we squished it into the dining room and I saw the flow to the corner fireplace, it truly hit me as an epiphany: This house was one of those fifties retro houses! Seriously, this is 15 years after we moved in.
Then came a year of mad ebay, yardsale and junk store shopping. I’ve settled down on the buying, but still pass the counter tops with a sigh. While replacing them seems sacrilegious, the grout is a germ magnet, and the colors are drab next to the gorgeous ash cabinets, well, they will be gorgeous once I steam and refinish them.I have my eye on some of that new glass tile for the backsplash and maybe a black formica counter? So, help. What do you think?
Any suggestions are soooooo much appreciated.
Thank you, Karen. But no: You ROCK. Your house is just lovely!
What do you think, readers?
Should Karen replace her original ceramic tile countertops?
If yes, with what?
If no, how to add the ‘pizzazz’ she seeks to this kitchen?
I will hold back and see what you say… but I for sure have some ideas.
Sarah says
If you are still undecided after all these ideas you could take a staged approach.
First do the easiest, cheapest, non-destructive set of modifications and see if you like it. (i.e. wall paint, maybe some decals, and clean and seal the grout)
If you are still unhappy with the overall look then you can change out the countertops, and do it without regret of “maybe I could have saved the tile”
Just because the tile is ‘original’ doesn’t mean you should be held hostage by something that is not working for you. A thoughtful change can still be very suitable for the house and era – and most importantly bring you more pleasure.
clg1977 says
I like the tile and think it goes so well with your cute kitchen. My fear is that if you ripped it out, a new granite or quartz tile might look out of place with those beautiful cabinets and appliances.
April says
I lived in an apartment with identical tile for several years, and I didn’t like it when I moved in–but I grew to really love it because it’s neutral enough that you have SO many options for decorating around it. Use the beige as a backdrop, and make other elements of the room the focal point–turquoise or red would really pop against it, and pink would blend in more but still look lovely. I agree with others who have suggested redoing the floor (along with the baseboards)–the floor is much more blah than the counters. I’d also get some fun, period-appropriate wallpaper, which would really add some pizzazz to the room.
If you redo the tile and get a black countertop, what will you do about your oven? Right now it coordinates so well with your tile, it’d be a shame to replace that as well.
(Whatever you end up doing, please don’t touch the bathroom, which is just fabulous. Your whole house is adorable!)
cyndie says
Wow, that is the exact same tile/color/cabinet style and almost the same layout as my 1956 home. My tile is chipped, the grout is ugly and I’m not a fan of the brown color. I am curious what you will decide to do.
Vanessa says
I think your first order of business is to clean/finish the cabinetry, then you will know what you are working with, no sense in making decisions with such a huge unknown in the mix. Once you have your cabinets finished the room will look lighter and brighter, also if the finish has a shine to it it’ll reflect more light around the room. Another idea that might be a simple way to get more light is to see about changing/cleaning the lens in the box fixture in the center of the room, a whiter lens will give you better light. Under cabinet lighting is probably the nicest thing you can do for a kitchen’s functionality and makes working in there so much nicer, you can get small round LED lights that string together and install easily for relatively inexpensive and DIYable at Lowes, IKEA etc.
I love your wall oven and can’t help notice that it seems to match your counter top edge tiles so nicely, if you were to replace the tile your wall oven would look very out of place, especially with other appliances being white. I think it works now even with appliances being different, mainly because of the color tie in. The Hood works the same way I think. If you really need an area with smooth countertops maybe you could re-do part with another surface, (like Pam’s Kitchen) it might be difficult to have it look intentional (rather than disjointed) depending on the layout of the room, but it might be something to look into, or a huge cutting board that sits on the countertop.
For the floors I love the previously mentioned idea of marmoleum with a border, and I think you could really liven the room with it. Maybe the narrow border would be a place to tie in one of the counter colors into the floor?
In regard to tile countertops I notice my kids make a mess of the grout all the time and it’s constantly stained etc. so I can understand feeling a bit less than in love with them, but if your daughters have just grown up you may be looking at a much easier era of cleaning coming into your life, and that takes a little time for your mind to wrap around. “What? It stays clean when I’m gone??” IF that’s the case you might like your counters more than you have in the past.
All that said, I Love your home, (it’s so perfect 😉 and I do like the counters, they are beautiful to me and could be worked with designwise. However, I might not choose tile counters in a kitchen if I were starting from scratch, so I can understand wanting to change them out, and I’d respect your decision and admire your desire to keep your house cohesive and era appropriate, regardless of what counter top you choose.
lynda says
I agree that the tile does look quite nice. However, I can understand you wanting something else. I bet the old tile-in cast iron sink is tired too. Have you thought about using black soapstone? I think that would look nice with a white tile backsplash in a design like you have now. I think one of the Marmoleum sheet products in maybe a green color (jade or eucalyptus?) would look nice on the floor. The soapstone usually has some green undertones so I think the green Marmoleum would look nice. I think soapstone looks a little like the old linoleum counters (sans the edge, of course). I would go for a large undermount stainless one- bowl sink. The cabinets are probably solid wood, maple or birch. In addition to steaming, you will need to sand them to the bare wood and then put a new finish on them. I like the Waterlox look rather than a poly finish. Waterlox penetrates into the wood rather than sitting on top. The refinish job should really improve the look of the wood. It can be touched up now and then without sanding them down. You need new hardware too for the right new look. I agree there should be a new light fixture in your future. Rejuvenation has some nice MCM choices. And lastly, I had a friend who had a house back in the 50’s in Ca and she had stainless appliances in the house. I am not a fan of stainless, but the color might look nice in the space. However, if you use the white backsplash, white appliances are nice too.
Sandra James says
Hey buddy! A lot of great suggestions.
I see the hood over your range as being the wrong color. Either match your stove or your oven. It’s copper and doesn’t match anything.
Clean your cupboards is excellent. Can you loose the over head ones at the end (by the sliding door). That would open up your kitchen for so much more light.
Change the flooring too. Paint the yellow walls. Those are big changes.
I don’t love tiles but yours look great. Since I’ve been in your house and the feel is like steeping back into time… I’d leave the tile and focus on other items.
Hugs
Billy Boomerang says
What a conundrum! While I am no fan of tile countertops — however; I am a fan of continuity. The theme of tiled walls and tops run through the house — just in varying colorways. I think that’s something to consider. If you are wanting to be true to the original design and keep the tile, I would suggest the following:
1. wall paint — I would reconsider the green on wall. In the pics I can see, it’s just not bringing the best out of the wood cabinets and it kind of gets aggressive with warm pinks. I have seen many a seafoam and pinks color scheme pulled off quite nicely, but it’s just not happening here. I think the wood of the cabinets are the wrench in the works. Love the wood — so it might be time to nix the minty (?) green.
2. the cabinet pulls — Hey I love artistic pieces and unique cabinet hardware can really be a homerun. In a retro home, they can come off looking like a school project. Great for homespun, bad for mid-century authenticity. You have Bronzed hinges, go put the originals back on or source some period pulls. THEY WILL DO A WONDER of a job.
3. the cabinet finish — If you’re still not satisfied, I would break down and have the cabinets refinished. No changes to the original, but the finish looks tired. It does that — it cannot last forever. Several of the door fronts look dull or discolored. A great cabinet guy will restore them to their original glow. Of course this is pricey and you might say, “Billy, that’s a lot more than the new counter tops would be!” Perhaps, but if you want original — this will make it happen.
With the refreshed finishes of the cabinets, period pulls and a cooperative wall color, some trim like hand towels and throw rugs and your vintage kitchen will shine. The original design was not flashy or build for pizzazz — rather subtle beauty and function.
Whatever you chose — good luck and hooray for caring about your time-capsule home! – Billy
Roberta says
I would keep the bathroom tile, but replace the kitchen tile because, well, it’s just boring–and there is too much “sameness” to the color tones in the kitchen.
Jessica L. says
I, like many others, have the same tile in my kitchen. It’s not in such sound shape as yours and not a regulation depth as yours appears to be. (not deep enough to install a dishwasher) I haven’t had the money or time just yet to plan a more involved remodel, but painting the cabinets and changing out the pulls is a fantastic way to freshen up the look for cheap! I just hate the idea of ripping out something that’s serviceable and actually pretty charming!
I think the tiles could read as a neutral against most colors you might want to use. Maybe bring in that fresh green from your breakfast room on the walls, a creamy vanilla for the cupboards. (your yellow kitchenaid will pop nicely with the green) Or skip the green and save the pop of color for the VCT floors– Lowe’s sells literally hundreds of colors. I’m liking the idea of using a bright yellow to match your counter appliances, or maybe a border of burgundy and field of beige (perhaps too predictable to copy the counter?) Try to make something else in the kitchen your hate-object rather than the counters. 🙂
Have fun!!