Maile’s tiny 1970s galley kitchen was dark, narrow and covered with years of grime — but that didn’t stop her from seeing its potential to be delightful. With a careful budget to overhaul the space — including moving a wall — Maile made a plan to maximize her kitchen, while adding some cheery color on the countertops and flooring. The result of her hard work is a functional and sunny 1940s-style kitchen that makes Maile want to bake the day away.
My home is a double wide that was built in ’77. The elderly couple that lived here smoked… and the whole place had that ‘old, grimey’ odor. Anyway, as you know back in the ’70s, kitchens were so much tinier. This was a galley kitchen that had 24″ floor space between sink and stove.
The construction of the cabinets was just about a step and a half above cardboard, and there was such an appalling lack of space utilization. The faux wood paneling and tiny stainless two side sink made everything so dark.
So keeping the budget to 16K, I punched the stove wall out two feet into the living room, added a garden window, and went with glass upper cabinets.
I used Wilsonart Laminate 4916-60 Sweet Corn for the countertops, with stainless edging that my contractor got (not sure from where), Armstrong Marmorette NATURCote LP020 Sweet Grass (this is commercial grade, but extremely environmentally sound, and will require a professional floor layer as it is persnickety for the DIYer) on the floor. Thanks to Retro Renovation, I found the Hudee ring for the sink. I got the sink from a salvage store for just $40! It was a mess, but with Bar Keepers Friend, I got it bright white again. The paint is Behr, from Home Depot.
I went with the 40’s because my last home was my grandparents’ house in San Diego, built in 1939. I love the feel and products of back then.
I’ve inherited many items from family and have collected items to finish out the look. They are my inspiration pieces. Among all the items in the kitchen, I have something from each of the women who have influenced my life. Every time I cook, they are there in spirit with me. It’s always a good time!
I have found a late ’40s vintage Magic Chef gas stove, but it’s sitting in the garage until I can get it retro fitted for propane, (an expensive proposition!) Waiting to build up the piggy bank. The only guy in the area is quoting up to $1,500. Plus buying the tank, etc. When they remodeled, I had them do the gas piping. Looking forward to cooking with fire again!
I had them build a low cabinet to put the refrigerator on. I have a bad back, and bending over is a big problem for me. Having the fridge up on this pedestal makes it so much easier, and the lower cabinet drawer is perfect for baking pans and such.
I hope that this covers it. I’m happy to answer any other questions or more pictures. I must tell my husband at least once a day how much I love my kitchen now! The only drawback it that it makes me want to bake and cook ALL THE TIME!
Wow Maile — what a transformation. The kitchen feels so much cleaner and larger now. I love the combination of the yellow countertops, aqua flooring and vintage jadeite accents. And — we LOVED that you showed us your inspiration pieces — we strongly encourage readers who are trying to decide colors for their kitchens or other rooms to do the same — that is, look for items in colors that sing to you and build your space from there. All the better when the pieces have sentimental value! Pam and I both also have items from our mothers and grandmothers and aunts in our kitchen — what a great way to stay in personal touch with those memories, every day. 🙂
Also, what a great idea to raise the height of your refrigerator to improve ergonomics. This reminds Pam: Her aunt Mary Anne did the same with her dishwasher.
Thanks so much, Maile, for sharing your space with us1
Angela says
Wow, what a bright sunny kitchen! I love the transformation.
Pat says
I was just going to comment you needed an old stove and then I see you have one. I do hope you can save up and get it converted, it will make your kitchen perfect, perfect, perfect! I love it!
My Dream Home Is An Oldie! says
Oh! My! Goodness! you are living proof that you don’t have happen to own a 1040’s, 50’s, or 60’s home, doesn’t mean that you can’t take ever you DO have and get the vibe and era of your choosing with a little (or a lot!) of dough and sweat equity!
Your tiny dark and inspiring kitchen of the 70’s is so beautifully transformed that no one would ever guess that it was built in the 70’s! In your situation, if I thought I could pull off what you just did, I would not hesitate to shave down the living room for one tiny little second either! I’d be cooking and baking my days too! How special to actual use your family and friends keepsakes! I do as well! So many people receive them as gifts or as inheritances and set them on a shelf, afraid of making a chip or crack. But the joy come in the memories that happens each time you measure coffee in Grandmas coffee scoop, or serve cookies from someone specials platter! Of course we try to be extra careful with those items, But, if it gets a chip, its just adding to its history. And if it breaks beyond repair, I just believe my loved one would be happy to know that I loved her pieces enough to use them!
I can’t believe you did so much with a really tight budget for a kitchen! Did you a lot of the work yourself? In any case, I just love the results!
My Dream Home Is An Oldie! says
Make that UN-inspiring kitchen of the 70’s!! I have an issue with writing, I leave words out, and, and in this case, sometimes, the beginnings of words. Its an LD that I grew up, but in 50’s/60’s, they didn’t have testing like they do now!
Jayne says
For my ’40s kitchen, I used this nicely priced grooved chrome countertop edging:
http://www.prohmi.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=A223
And I used Marmoleum floor linoleum as the kitchen countertop surface — it works beautifully!
Teresa says
Love the flooring used here! Has anyone seen murafloor? Looks like any retro look can be reproduced. Not texture but patterns and colors. Would love for retrorenovation to do a full story on it
Mary Elizabeth says
Maile, what a wonderful, warm kitchen you have now. It’s great you went back in time for your renovation rather than forward!
My favorite features are the glass-front cabinets, the yellow countertop and the little yellow chair stool–ubiquitous in the kitchens of our grandmothers. 🙂
Tamara Relics says
That yellow is wonderful!
As for the elevated refrigerator… I can attest that some old homes had that feature. Recently we lived in a small 2 bedroom 1920’s bungalow in Denver. The kitchen was a double galley and at one end was a doorway. On the other side of the doorway was a switchback stair area to the basement and door outside. Instead of being an open stair space it had built in cabinets high above, a small broom like shallow closet (the iron board space was in the kitchen), the milk door, and an odd platform about 18 ? inches off the floor that went over the bottom stair. it was about 30″ wide and had no railing… really unsafe! We put pantry shelves in and later a countertop microwave.
After sharing our wonder as to this platform with some of our neighbors (one of them still lives in her parents house and she is over 80!) we were told that is where the icebox was placed. And one of them still uses it for their modern refrigerator 🙂
Lauryn says
Maile, this is such a wonderful kitchen. I adore the countertops most of all, especially with yellow being my favorite kitchen color and 1940s being my favorite era. Bravo to you!!
Jovon says
I love the way you have greaty improved your kitchen! It’s so beautiful and looks so much larger! Very nice!
I do have a question though…why was your refridgerator shr\orter that you had to pu it up a bit? (Love that idea btw!). Are vintage refridgerators shorter than their modern versions?
I am moving in a couple weeks and have been researching like crazy and finding fantastic buys so that I can start remodeling the kitchen ASAP!
Very nice! I love your work! Do you have any other plans for the rest of the house?
Tam Francis says
What a wonderful job! We did something similar with our 1948 home, but had to leave it behind. I never thought of doing a blog on it! You’ve inspired me! I miss my vintage stove and feel for you. You’ve done an amazing job. I love the floor. We used the VCT tiles too!
~ Tam Francis ~