As we like to say here, “There’s more than one way to retro.” This circa-1974 St. Charles Kitchens catalog — just added to my personal collection — proves it, yet again. St. Charles trots out their interior design experts and shows one harvest gold kitchen … decorated in six different styles of the day. From Early American to Mediterranean to 70s Contemporary — and more — they show us how to get our 70s style cookin’.
1. 1970s country style kitchen:
Use checkboard wallpaper, delft backsplash tile and butcher block cabinets to create a Dutch “Country Charm” kitchen.
- Viewing tip: Click on the photos – they will double in size on screen.
2. Contemporary 1970s style kitchen:
Dig the stainless steel backsplash and appliances, the woven wood shade, smoked glass table and oh my, the fabulous floor in this kitchen that St. Charles anointed “Contemporary Sophistication.”
- Note: There is no date anywhere on my catalog. I’m guestimating 1974 based on… the clothing.
3. 1970s Early American kitchen:
There’s an ox yoke in one of the other photos that goes with this kitchen design. Did I ever mention: I have an ox yoke. It has a mirror in it. It came from Grandpa. I think he made it. From an old implement used on the farm. Shoot me. I am sure I will never be able to throw it out. St. Charles officially called the style “American Heritage.”
4. 1970s flower power kitchen:
Of course, the flower power kitchen is my favorite. The cabinetry in this design is painted Dover White, St. Charles says. The design is “The Now Look.”
Note: Harvest Gold was introduced to kitchen appliances in Spring 1968. It was one of the longest enduring color trends — popular through at least 1984. Above: Other colors available from St. Charles this year. And YO: The cabinets are textured steel, “St. Charles DURALON finish” with a “soft-to-the-touch feeling of fine-grained leather.” Why did steel kitchen cabinets introduce texture to their cabinetry? I hypothesize: To better mask fingerprints and better hide dings. There also may have been a desire to make them appear more organic, less… antiseptic. I’ve also talked about steel cabinet maker’s introduction of wood door fronts, too.
- See my History of Steel Kitchen Cabinets — 70+ designs identified so far!
5. 1970s Mediterranean style kitchen:
And of course, we have the “Spanish Villa,” or as we have been known to call it, the “Casa de Torquemada” kitchen style. Ya gotta love the creativity.
6. 1970s Asian style kitchen:
I feel like this “Oriental Influence” kitchen concept is something you’d have seen in Florida. Don’t forget the electric wok!
Kelly Wittenauer says
I like no. 2 Contemporary best. That yellow vinyl floor in nos. 1 & 3 is similar to what was in my mom’s kitchen in the 70s & 80s.
Robin, NV says
I am hard pressed to pick a favorite! I have to go with #2, #3, and #5. I love the Casa de Torquemada! The floor in #2 is to die for.
Also – I put Nevamar’s “California” laminate countertops in my kitchen and they are very much “harvest gold.”
KnitYeah says
I like the Flower Power version best. I actually own that same pendant lamp which hangs over our dining room table! 🙂
pam kueber says
ooooh, I dig it!
SebastianFTL says
Aww, when I see these 70s kitchens I think of how angry I am my 60s-era kitchen was gutted by the condo association before we moved in. The 70s flower power kitchen is my favorite, as I had a much-loved great auntie who died way too soon, at 67 about 12 years ago, whose architect husband did that treatment in hers. Funny though how the concept of what was “Mediterranean” in those days was dark & heavy, whereas today it’s lighter and more open, a switch from Spanish design to Southern Italian & Provencal French, or even white & blue Greek. Also funny: other than the wok — an electric one I think — nothing about that redo correlates to what we think of as Asian today.
Your thoughts???
Kyle68 says
I was wondering if yesterday’s Mediterranean is today’s “Tuscan”. (Or is Tuscan already going out of style?)
Maria says
Love them all. The 1972 home we just bought has the traditional wood cabinets with “Amerock Carriage House” pulls, so we are going with the Spanish thing, but as a 70s child we had that very shade of yellow cabinets (Formica, not steel). Love the 70s.
Betsey says
Thanks for sharing. I’m just finishing renovating a 1974 mobile home that has a harvest gold kitchen. I call my decor “wine country casual.”
Mary Elizabeth says
After my own heart, Betsey!
Marcia says
The flower power kitchen is my favorite, too. I can’t think how they thought #6 was Asian style. I don’t recall ever seeing harvest gold cabinets in the 70s; my own dark 1976 kitchen has cabinets of particleboard, a sad downgrade from the wood cabinets of earlier years. Most of the other 1970s elements in my kitchen were “upgraded” by previous owners, but the utility room still has a vinyl floor similar to pictures 5 & 6. I’m guessing it used to be in the kitchen as well. I had the same vinyl flooring in my 1949 mid modest kitchen & bath and I never liked it!
she says
There are elements I like in all of them!
Steve H says
Reminds me of the original Betty Crocker test kitchens at General Mills headquarters in Golden Valley MN. They were all done in different themes as well – Asian, Mediterranean, New Orleans, Cape Cod, etc. As a kid, I think just about everyone we knew had a table and chairs set like the one in #3.
Pamela H. says
Love the Contemporary and the Flower Power versions – wouldn’t mind getting my hands on that smoky glass top table!
Valencia says
Hi…I’ve got a 1990s version of that table…it’s very versatile! Do love the smoky glass!