Reader recently uploaded 208 pictures of antique stoves, refrigerators and other major kitchen appliances — and in this story, I had fun trying to pick out my favorites. These photos show that retro kitchens come in many design flavors. Above: April’s 1961 kitchen — with its lovely blue Hotpoint refrigerator and stove — is sleek and modern — but friendly at the same time. Droooooooool.
Cool and colorful
Out of all the appliances that were uploaded, the colorful stoves, ranges, vent hoods just had me squealing with delight. Aqua, pink, brown, green — I love them all. Above: Anonymous’ 1963 kitchen, complete with turquoise and bronze starburst flecked countertops.
Above: Reader and fellow blogger Betty Crafter’s swoon-worthy aqua stove in her knotty pine kitchen — complete with aqua laminate countertops. We’re a huge fan of Betty’s kitchen — which we have featured before.
Above: This reader also has an aqua stove and aqua countertops just a slightly lighter shade. I’m loving how the vintage stove meshes with the metal cabinets and funky pulls — retrolicious! [Pam interjects: I think this kitchen is one of Bizarro Twin Pam’s six kitchens.]
Then there is the pink — ohhh the pink! I think Susie O’s pink kitchen above might just be my dream kitchen — a pink Frigidaire Custom Imperial Double Oven and a dishwasher — is your fridge pink, too, Susie?
Since my kitchen doesn’t have room for a full range, I’d settle for this cute, original 1960’s GE pink wall oven, above — love the pink laminate countertops, too, we need a close up!
More a fan of the 1970s? This avocado green wall oven from Frigidaire might just do the trick. “I love the fonts,” says anonymous uploader.
I’ll admit — I’m not usually a fan of brown appliances — but reader Adam’s super built-in Western Holly range (complete with cute owl decor) might just change my mind. I’m really digging the circular oven window.
Another reader whose stove (and kitchen) made me happy was Wendy’s 1960’s Frigidaire Flair with 1970’s avocado green cabinet. Wendy — your kitchen is fabulous and your stove is the crowning glory.
Wonderful whites
Above: Reader Jeff’s 1949 Kenmore stove is pretty awesome — as is his cookware collection. He topped it all off with one heck of a cool aqua range hood complete with silver starbursts. His cabinets and pulls are tiki-tastic too.
Speaking about cool handles, check out the handles on Heather’s 1950’s Roper stove that she found on Freecycle — for free. What a score Heather!
Here’s another 1960’s Westinghouse 2 level stove — just as cool in white. I didn’t realize there was an outlet on it until just now — is that safe?
Above: Reader JoAnn’s vintage white O’Keefe & Merritt stove looks so pretty in her house. My favorite part is the red knobs and handles and the cool work light (that is a work light, right?). JoAnn — you have quite the snazzy house.
Here’s another gem, Chutti’s 1930’s spark stove — which looks to be in perfect condition. They just don’t make ’em like they used to, do they?
Fabulous Fridges
Perhaps a perfect pair to Chutti’s Spark stove — the 1934 White Seal Ice Box above also looks to be in mint condition too.
Above: The 1967 Limited Edition Sears Coldspot Designed by Sundberg-Ferar is cool to begin with. What makes it arctic level cool? The fridge came with a nameplate inscribed for the original owner — Flora. She was a Scottish schoolteacher according to the fridge’s new owner, reader 52 PostnBeam.
Above: Reader Amy F’s Mid 60’s GE Combination Fridge with turquoise and yellow interior and swing out shelves. We’d love to see pictures of that interior Am — and the exterior is lovely.
Reader Ann-Marie Meyers wasn’t afraid to open up her 1962 GE Fridge to show us how cool the insides are. (Though it could be because it is empty)
Gailsmile was also kind enough to open up her retro Philco fridge — love the aqua accents on the inside.
And here’s a really brave reader — who let us peek inside their fridge with food inside! JD Log’s Crosley Shelvador “10” is not your typical Crosley — this is the Australian version — complete with Vegemite in the yellow jar!
T&J from This Atomic Life has two restored retro cool appliances in their London apartment. A vintage Frigidaire with the most awesome handle ever and this super neat Tumblair clothes dryer.
All of these cool refrigerators are making me sad that they just don’t design new appliances with all these fun details anymore. Reader Ali’s 1938 Hotpoint oozes cool — look at all that chrome!
Crazy Chrome
There were loads of Chrome-tastic details sprinkled throughout your vintage large appliances. In particular, I loved Peggy W’s 1956 Caloric stovetop — check out those knobs. They look like little radios built right into the cabinet.
Here’s another fabulous Ultramatic Caloric stovetop with knobs in front — this looks great with the steel trimmed retro laminate counters!
Michelle in Iowa’s Tappan Fabulous 400 is a shiny space-saver indeed. I can imagine baking something in that fabulous oven, just sitting back and admiring this cool retro stove while I wait for my cake to rise.
Readers — you’ve really blown me away with this one! I’m so glad to see so many of you are loving, using and maintaining your vintage large appliances. In today’s world full of streamlined, energy efficient stoves and refrigerators it is easy to believe that “upgrading” to a shiny new appliance is the thing to do, but honestly — what the cool old appliances might lack in technology they more than make up for with their charming and quirky design.
Pat in Nebraska says
I have a 1960’s Westinghouse 2 level stove in the Coppertone color (like the one you have pictured in the White color.) Mine doesn’t have an outlet on it though, but, it does have the clock. I have looked high and low for information about this stove and am so happy to have FINALLY found one like the one I have. Was this stove considered a “drop in” in today’s terms?? My oven no longer works and I don’t know just what kind of stove I want as a replacement, since getting a “freestanding” stove will require some alterations because of the way this stove “sits in” to my counter area (back and sides like the one pictured) and a “drop in” or “slide in” model(s) are a lot more expensive. Anyone have any suggestions??
Mary says
I have a 1967 Tappan Fabulous 400 electric stove in Sterling Heights Michigan. I want to upgrade my kitchen and am willing to sell this. Everything works great on it. I am putting together a webpage about it.
pam kueber says
you can post this on our buy/sell forum: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
ChrisF says
Hello! I have a working 1960s cotton-candy-pink GE wall oven available. If you’re interested, please make me an offer. I’m in Arizona & willing to ship!
pam kueber says
Chris — please take this over to the buy/sell forum — https://retrorenovation.com/forums … good luck
JP says
HI There…
Stumbled upon your site trying to find resources for my 50’s roper gas stove. Then I saw you had posted a photo above of a contributor “Heather” who acquired a 50’s Roper from freecycle.
I HAVE THIS EXACT! It was in my house when I bought it and its my daily use range! Works like a champ. Model 52D13NN
I was wondering if you could connect me with Heather to see if she has found any ad’s or owners manuals for our stove? Thanks in advance. If not…do you have sources for old manuals other than ebay? Thanks.
Your site is fantastic 🙂
pam kueber says
Hi JP, sorry, I cannot get into “connecting” readers. There are 200,000. Best thing I can suggest is that you take this over to the Forum: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
JP says
Gotcha. I understand. Thanks.
Just thought maybe Heather was a regular contributor.
Keep up the great site 🙂
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
It’s hard to conceive of an appliance more wonderful than the Western Holly built-in. That thing is incredible. Love the porthole.
Jen says
Hello,
I’d like to clear up a misconception about the refrigerators. I read here and just about in every comments section folks saying that they would love to have a vintage refrigerator “if only they were quiet and more energy efficient” like now. I think this comes from the fact that the first frost free refrigerators were not energy efficient. The very old fridges like the philco above and the “round top” fridges with the small freezer compartments that are meant to only make ice cubes are very energy efficient. I have a 1948 Hotpoint with a small “speed freezer” for making ice cubes or holding a couple tv dinners. I cannot hear it running unless I put my ear to the fridge. It costs me about $30 a year to run (measured with kill-a-watt). I do have to defrost it, but I don’t have to take the food out – there is a setting on the dial that says defrost and you manually turn the dial to that setting. The fridge still runs but the freezer compartment melts into a tray and you pour out the water. My previous fridge was a 1942 westinghouse (it is for sale, Knoxville CL) was a little louder when it ran, was smaller, and had to be manually defrosted, but also cost $20 a year to run. For frozen food, I use a chest freezer in the butler pantry, out of sight. These fridges are smaller, but they are “all fridge”, so you do not have to share the space with a freezer. It seems to be the same size or only slightly smaller to me. My “new” 1948 hotpoint is “huge” at approximately 9 or 10 cu ft.
Dustin says
I just inherited a Hotpoint with the small “Speed Freezer”, that belonged to my great grandfather and has been passed down. I’m trying to pinpoint a year on it. Any suggestions?
Alida Revere says
I love everything so classy Lol!!can you please email me back I need to purchase the fridge and stove. thanks
pam kueber says
All buying/selling needs to go on to the Forum: https://retrorenovation.com/forums/
Darren says
These appliances are the bee’s knees! I especially dig the Philco refrigerator with the aqua accents. I have one in the shop currently in line for restoration. It has Cris-crossed heads of wheat embossed in the door as well as a nice fold embossed 3/4 of the way up the door. The interior is aqua with polished stainless, aluminum and chrome accents.
I plan to restore this old Philco and two paint it in aqua/robin’s egg blue with white/pearl white at the embossed fold – like a 55 Chevy. Then it will get three coast of clear and buffed to a show car finish. All the chrome will be replated and the compressor rewired for another sixty years of service.
I know I’m not the only one who really digs the retro stuff and I love taking the old and making it new again. No where can you find modern appliances with the style of the past. So I started my own restoration business – Iron City Retro in Pittsburgh, PA. I will restore any appliance you have to like new condition and in any custom color you want.
Check us out at ironcityretro.com to see whats available for restoration. Right now we have the Philco mentioned above (unrestored), A GE Combination refrigerator with a turquoise interior with copper plated lazy suzan shelves,(unrestored) a 1936 GE monitor top (restoration in process) and a 1950’s Coca Cola wet cooler (restoration complete).
Please give us a call or send us an email if you are in the market for a retro appliance. We usually have better pricing than anyone else and if not we’ll match it.
Alida Revere says
I really love everything, I’m soooooo In Love Love. Please tell me where can I purchase a pink stove and a fridge, I live in Marina Del Rey California the nearest antique mall in in Orange Calif, but I do not know if they have anything as nice as yours, Please email me asap, thank you and I love you too, Alida
pam kueber says
Here you go, lots and lots of places in California: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/11/04/13-places-to-buy-restored-vintage-stoves/
Brian says
Reader Adam’s brown stove with portal window is identical to ours. I want to restore but have no manual. The manual would also be helpful to know how to properly use all the bells and whistles. Can any one help me?