Take a look back at all of the reader home remodeling stories we’ve covered and you’ll notice one common theme often surfaces: Unless the renovation is DIY, most homeowners need to convince their contractors they aren’t nuts for wanting to build 1950s pink bathroom or a ’60s kitchen. However, in the case of Meghan and her husband Will’s 1954 Florida ranch home kitchen remodel, the surprising opposite is true. The couple were all set to remodel their kitchen using relatively contemporary finishes until Jason, their wood worker, decided he just couldn’t build a modern kitchen around the showpiece of the space — the couple’s professionally restored 1950s vintage Universal stove.
All the lovely “after” photos are by Philip Marcel Photography, used with permission 🙂
Jason’s ultimatum was great news to Meghan, who had tried to convince her husband to go retro from the very beginning. How to get Will on board? Once again it was Jason who suggested that Meghan tell Will the kitchen would be more Jetsons and James Bond than retro kitsch. His idea worked — once Will envisioned a cool, space age kitchen where cocktails would be shaken — not stirred — he warmed to the idea of creating a retro modern kitchen.
The result is a kitchen that is modern with a retro twist. A light and airy white, pastel blue and grey color scheme makes the space feel larger, more open and clean while also allowing the refurbished vintage stove to take center stage. Many 50s inspired details such as the Marmoleum flooring, boomerang laminate countertops with aluminum edging, boomerang chrome cabinet pulls and mid century styled pendant lights help support the vintage vibe of the space while details like the glass subway tile backsplash and custom zig zag valance edged in aluminum add a modern touch. As an added bonus, making a few changes to the kitchen’s layout also allowed Meghan and Will do nearly double their kitchen cabinet storage space.
The wood cabinets were custom made and painted a light blue to mimic the style of vintage steel cabinets, but just behind their retro facade, modern amenities like under cabinet lighting, plenty of storage space for large pots and pans, hidden garbage and recycling bins, lazy susans and quiet close drawer and door mechanisms ensure that Meghan and Will’s 1950s kitchen has all the conveniences of a 2014 kitchen.
The couple also decided to use new technology to install an undermount sink in their laminate countertops — making it easy for them to wipe crumbs and spills into the sink.
Meghan hopes to replace their side by side stainless refrigerator with a retro style GE Artistry refrigerator in the near future, but other than that the couple could not be more pleased with their retro modern Jetsons kitchen remodel.
Read more
Meghan — a self described “recovering journalist” has written extensively about her retro modern kitchen remodel over on her blog Metaphors Mixed.
Resources to create this colorful retro modern kitchen remodel
- Cabinets — custom made by Jason Straw Woodworker. You can read more about Meghan’s “Jetsons ” kitchen remodel on Jason’s website too.
- Vintage stove — professionally restored by Antique Appliances. You can read more about Meghan’s stove saga over on her blog.
- Cabinet pulls — boomerang drawer pull from Rejuvenation
- Boomerang laminate countertops — Wilsonart Retro Dungaree
- Aluminum countertop molding from Eagle Aluminum
- Kitchen sink — Wilsonart double equal HD undermount sink
- Faucet — Kraus KPF-1621 single lever pull out kitchen faucet from Amazon.com
- Glass subway wall tile — Subway Tile outlet
- Pendant lights — Astron mid century pendant light from Rejuvenation
- Flooring — Marmoleum — Color: Concrete
It is fantastic to hear about carpenters like Jason, who believe in restoring homes with period appropriate details. Even better though is that Meghan and Will ultimately decided to go with this colorful — yet sublime — retro flow.
Mega thanks to Meghan for sharing her kitchen remodeling story with us — again, to read her full account, head on over to her personal blog, Metaphors Mixed. Another huge thanks goes out to Philip Marcel Photography for granting permission to feature all of the “after” photos of Meghan’s kitchen here on Retro Renovation.
wendy says
i have that laminate in my bathroom! also, i’m intriqued by the undermounting with laminate… that is something i will definitely research for my kitchen remodel.
Janice says
Wow! I can only echo the other comments about the fabulous attention to detail in this kitchen. The tile valance is killer and having done my share of tiling projects, that would have been one heckuva challenge! That was the first thing that caught my eye; the second was the stove. What a stunner! Perfect kitchen and how lucky they were to find a carpenter with an eye for what’s appropriate for their house. Well done!
Robin, NV says
Finding the right contractor is SO important. I’m impressed that Jason took a stand for vintage/classic/retro and that the owners listened (are we in opposite world today??). 😀
LOVE that tile backsplash. Love the stove, the counters, the cabinets, those awesome pendants – gah!! What a beauty.
Andi says
Love this kitchen! Just read Meghan’s stories on her blog about the fabulous stove’s journey to perfection, as well as the rest of the remodel. Wonderful! I think the kitchen manages to be modern, hip, retro and timeless in its setting, all at once. All of the finish choices are perfect, and Jason is brilliant!
Jeanne says
Love it!! Kudos to Jason! When we put a dormer addition on our house in 2002 (two bedrooms/one bathroom), I asked our contractor about tiling the bathroom walls (instead of just drywall) and he said “people don’t do that anymore.” Phffft!!
Ranger Smith says
Very well done! Clean and soothing with a bit of hip.
lynda davis says
I love this kitchen. I think Jason can certainly call himself a designer/carpenter. That is a rare combination. Such a fresh happy look that does look perfect with the stove. The GE Fridge will finish off the look. I am sure the owners are so happy how their hard work really turned out to be something special.
pam kueber says
Yes, isn’t it? Such a refreshing, enlivening palette!
Jenny A. says
That zig-zag valance trimmed in aluminum is really cool.
Nancy says
What a great job! So glad they listened to their very smart carpenter and changed gears – this is a much more fun kitchen and a fab layout!
I love my laminate counters, but dearly want an undermount sink – so have been excited to read about this new technology lately. I checked their blog, and didn’t see any details about how they went about getting theirs done. If they check back in here, I’d love to know more about how they went about getting this fabricated.
Pam – you are on the Wilsonart Pin Board as the cover for the “Blogs we Love” board!
Sandra says
Very smart carpenters listen to the wife. So do very smart husbands.
Meghan says
Thanks! Undermount sink is from WilsonArt, installed by the talented Jason
jason straw says
Thank you for your comments everyone! This job was certainly a collaboration. Meghan and Will had a lot of respect and enthusiasm for my ideas and the retro esthetic. For those who are about to undertake a renovation please do yourself a favor and find the artisans in your area, whether they be builders, tile setters, or cabinet makers. Their excitement for their craft will show through their work and into your living space.
-jason straw
jasonstrawwoodworker.com
pam kueber says
It’s wonderful to hear from you, Jason. Lovely work! Keep spreading the word and the retro luv!
MikeD says
Very cool! Great attention to detail.
Really like how you carried the backsplash above the window and that aluminum trim is perfect
Nice work