Bonnie is the proud owner of a 1958 “dream-home time capsule” and sent us some photos of some of its awesome original details to ogle and envy. I am particularly loving the coral countertop and cast-iron painted planter box — this color looks just lovely with the classic, 1950s natural birch plywood cabinets, don’t you think? Boo to the hoo that Formica discontinued the coral boomerang laminate, but I bet we can find something close in a solid for sure and maybe also in a subtle tone-on-tone pattern. Oh. Bonnie’s kitchen features these fabulous fold-down electric range top burners. Another 1950s innovation that… didn’t make it longterm. We see this occasionally in the wild. So cool to see them in this time capsule kitchen. Party on for more photos … and Bonnie wants our advice on regrouting the pink (of course) bathroom tile –> PAM! Hello!! My husband, boys and I have just moved into our very own dream-home time capsule from 1958. Also attached are images of our original 1958 kitchen with orange counter tops, space age wall oven from Fridgidaire, and flip down range…. We plan to work on the kitchen to gain more storage space and counter space in the future. Currently, though, we are going to live with it to make sure whatever design we come up with is thoughtful and meets our needs. We plan to keep it as original as possible to honor the architecture and time period… We will also be working on an original galley kitchen to make it more large-family friendly. It’s outfitted with a chrome flip down range, fridgidaire space-age wall oven, original cabinets, and orange laminate counter tops with metal edging…
Also, I noticed you love original lighting. All but one of the fixtures in our home is original. We are going to try to restore the finished on the lights to original brass (they are pretty dingy right now). Yet another idea for the blog… 🙂
It has a classic pink, baby blue, and black bathroom that must stay…the problem is MOST of the grout in the shower is cracked. A lot. Any suggestions on how to save the tile and repair the grout? I hunted around for some suggestions on this site but didn’t find anything specifically about the grout situation. Would love to send you some pictures, if you are interested, and possible do a feature about this “save the pink bathroom”. :)Here is my pink bathroom in need of some repair…the grout in the shower and around the vanity is cracked. I was wondering if you had seen this before and if you knew of any way to fix it…we really love the original tile and want to keep it!!
Thanks so much for the inspiration from the blog. We love being in a home with a past! Bonnie
BONNIE! Thank you! What a lovely home, and you are SMART to take your time contemplating any changes (that aren’t related to enviroment and safety, of course).
Regarding fixing the old grout:
I don’t know about the grout. I am pretty sure that I have read that old grout can be Dremeled out. Very painstakingly. Then regrouted. *Some therapy*.
Replacement tile:
If you want replace that edge piece, my key suggestion is to work with World of Tile. Chippy always needs a real live sample to make a color match. But maybe she can tell you before you have to remove the piece to send to her, whether she even has something in the family. Golly, it looks like only a teensy chip. This may be a really lame idea but: Build it up, little by little with nail polish? That color of dark burgundy chocolate brown is popular today, I think! Again: I ain’t no properly licensed professional — on both these questions, best to consult with one.
Readers: You ever dremeled out old grout and then regrouted? Did it work out beautifully, or not?
Regarding your your kitchen:
You didn’t ask me for decorating advice, but you know I can resist: Wallpaper — vintage or reproduction vintage — for those soffits, dear? And the kitchenette wall? With coral in it. Note, I’m calling your countertop and the cast iron decorative piece coral, not orange.
xoxo
Cherilyn charfauros says
Bonnie I have your fold down rbw84 frigidaire electric stove. Desperately trying to find someone to fix it electrically. Do you know of anyone. I am in san diego
pam kueber says
Cherilyn, See our FAQs, we have a story on where to find resources to help.
James Rasumssen says
I have that oven and stove in a house that I own. Are they worth anything?
Karla says
Greetings. Fun pics! I have exact wall oven with white handles and wondered if you found any info on it? I havn’t really found anything and enjoy knowing more.
Thanks!
Jessica Mannon says
This is so exciting to see! My husband and I bought a 1954 mid-century modern earlier this year that has the SAME oven and fold-down burners! We also have the exact same color pink tile with burgandy trim in the bathroom. The only difference in our frigidaire burners is that each burner folds down separately, for a total of four panels to fold down. They are really neat and bring a lot of cheer to our house-guests, but we have yet to really learn anything else about them. As to the oven, almost every house on our Dallas street has it. Did Bonnie post where her home is located? I’m wondering if it might be the same builder…
Bonnie K says
We are in Indianapolis. Congrats on your new home!!
Amanda C. says
In the process of purchasing a time capsule home & fell in love with the kitchen! The owners found a few pictures of when the house was first built & painted all the rooms the original colors. Pocket doors for all bedrooms & closets.. My kids thought they were amazing! Master bathroom has the powder blue tile work & guest bath is all pink. Nice to know there are more people out there in love with these homes! <3
Luray Greenwell says
My grandmother had those same fold down stove tops. I loved them. She had a small galley kitchen so they really worked well at saving space. I was born in 1959 so her kitchen was new when I was a kid. Love your kitchen.
Bonnie K says
Thanks so much!
Wendy Yates says
I have a stoptop just like this but the left side caught on fire and needs to be repaired. I am looking for someone to repair it. Or a place to find parts or an instruction manual. Any suggestions?
pam kueber says
See our category Kitchens/Appliances — there are stores there about resources like these.
Terri Shirley says
Bonnie, I love your fold-up range and the oven with the double doors. I grew up with these wonderful fixtures in my home which my parents built in 1956. I would LOVE to have them in my home. Such a wonderful space-saver. I don’t understand why they weren’t more widely-used. When my father remodeled the kitchen, I asked for these wonderful fixtures in hopes of using them in a future home. Unfortunately, I stored them in my grandfather’s workshop and, after his death, these great old fixtures disappeared during the process of cleaning out the workshop. Treasure these wonderful fixtures!
michelle says
Hello! I saw your kitchen and was researching where to sell our vintage General Motor Fidgeaire items. The house my husbands grandparents lived in will be torn down, and the fold down burners are similar to yours, but are “single” units that fold down. There are 4 of them. The oven is identical to yours. Where would I go to sell them?
pam kueber says
craiglist or ebay
Lizzy says
I had the same fold down burners and the same oven here in Sarasota, FL…house was built in 1958. Worked like a dream! Sold my house in 2010 and one day, about a week after closing, I drove by and in the dumpster were the burners and the oven, as well as a vintage light fixture they threatened to walk from the deal if I didn’t leave them. Drove by about 6 months ago and it’s been transformed into a Home Depot Hell House….
: (
Bonnie K says
What a shame!!!! At the very least, sell it on ebay and give us all a chance at it!!!