Reader Shannan and her husband are in the midst of stripping paint from their original wood cabinets. Shannan’s dilemma: She has asked for our advice on flooring, countertops and paint to complement the lovely woodtones, copper accents and aqua appliances. Bring on your ideas, readers — and Pam and I will be back at noon with our thoughts and some mood boards.
My husband and I peruse your site regularly for restoration ideas. We bought our 1959 ranch in 2013. We knew right away that this was the one. It was the most intact 50’s ranch we found. Most of them have been torn apart. We have painted every wall in the house and replaced the flooring. It was all carpeted, and we wanted something different. We are sticking to period appropriate flooring. We choose cork flooring for the bedrooms. We are in the process of replacing the carpet with red oak hardwood floors in the living room.
We even have a PINK bathroom upstairs. Still need a little work accessorizing, but that just takes time. We still have A LOT to do, but it will all come in time and money!
Here are some photos of what our kitchen looks like now. As you can see, it needs some help. We started two summers ago stripping the paint off our kitchen cabinets! We didn’t realize how much work it was and how little time we actually have…. So that project came to a halt. This winter we will be restoring our kitchen with period appropriate flooring and refinishing our birch cabinets, having a contractor come in early in the year to do the whole kitchen for us. Our plans in our kitchen ‘retro restoration’ include stripping cabinets and adding drawer glides and cabinet pull outs.
Also, we are trying to think of a way to better utilize the corner. A new boomerang countertop from Heffrons in Glacier is going to be installed. We are going with a neutral countertop color, because this summer I was lucky enough to find the turquoise cooktop to match the oven!
I have been struggling with a floor pattern. We know we want a VCT floor but are not sure of the color scheme. It needs to complement the original hotpoint turquoise oven and copper backsplash. This where we need some help. We definitely want to go with a VCT that won’t clash with the copper backsplash. We will replace the fridge at a later time. Any recommendations would be helpful too.
I asked Shannon — which Glacier laminate was she contemplating? The grey and white or the turquoise? Her response:
I guess we are still trying to decide between the two for the laminate countertop. I assume we will be putting metal banding too around the edges. Also need some help with a paint color for the contrasting picture window. Or any other paint options you may have in mind. I was looking some old posts of kitchen remodels last night and found one I really like:
I also attached some pictures of some of our vintage copper light fixtures.
Then, Pam and I noticed the GOLD SPARKLE LAMINATE countertop that Shannan currently has — the envy of many a Retro Renovator — and wondered why she was replacing it. Was it in bad shape? Shannan replied:
Yes, it is in terrible shape. Do you know of a way to clean it? There are some pretty gross stains on it. It’s not so sparkly anymore. 🙁
Okay, readers — Shannan needs your suggestions for what flooring, countertops, refrigerator and paint to use in her retro kitchen restoration. What do you think?
Pam and Kate respond:
First — Can you love the laminate you have?
Before we get into the possible solutions, Pam and I both wanted to drive home the point that fundamentally, we love the gold sparkle laminate countertop that Shannan already has. She says it is stained and not in good shape, but … it’s so desirable, can she live with any imperfections? When Pam and I were discussing the solutions for Shannan, we both agreed that if it were available today, gold sparkle laminate would be the perfect solution for Shannan’s countertops — that was before we realized they already were gold sparkle. See our story on Formica’s recommendations for six products to clean laminate. Of it that fails, perhaps cover the stained area with a drop in cutting board or trivet with hudee ring from Vance Industries?
- Gold sparkle laminate countertop — all mine after years of searching
- 70 vintage Wilsonart samples, including “Gold Satellite” shown above
- How laminate is made
All that said, we did consider replacement options…. on to our suggestions…
Some fundamental thoughts: Mixing warm and cold can be tricky
Pam here now. I had a tough time with this one — as I did in my own, turquoise-cabinet kitchen. The reason: Your aqua stove is a “cool” color. Your cabinets, cabinet hardware, backsplash, lighting and current countertop: “warm.” I think that getting warn and cool colors to harmonize — especially when you are dealing with very large swaths — such as the mass of cabinets and how they combine with the mass of floor — is tricky.
I drove Kate a little nuts making mood boards to try and begin to assess how to balance warm vs. cool colors. For sure, I would get all the samples, put them in my space and torture myself and DH for a good long time, before I made a final decision.
Here you go:
Option 1a: Cool Glacier countertop, Cool Raw Silk floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Vitros Glacier boomerang laminate from Heffron’s
- Azrock TexTile VCT floor in Raw Silk
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
This option is Kate’s favorite. It would make for a light feeling kitchen with the light flooring, white and grey countertops and white refrigerator. Making the wall turquoise would add color to the space along with the vintage aqua appliances that Shannan already has. The cabinets and copper backsplash and light fixtures help warm up the space. Shannan could also add a few more pops of orange or pale yellow to bring more visual warmth to the room.
Option 1b: Cool Glacier countertop, Warm Autumn Haze floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Vitros Glacier boomerang laminate from Heffron’s
- Azrock Cortina VCT floor in Autumn Haze*— like in Pam’s kitchen
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
See how the warm floor and the cool countertop are competing, compared to 1a? Pammy no likey.
*Ugh. After doing all the work on these mood boards, we discovered that Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze has been discontinued. However, there are other colors in the new(ish) Azrock TexTile line that are good substitutes, so we’ll continue as planned…
But, I like the warm floor with the warm cabinets.
Option 2: Cool turquoise Glacier countertop, Warm Autumn Haze floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Vitros Turquoise Glacier boomerang laminate from Heffron’s
- Azrock Cortina VCT floor in Autumn Haze — Haze — like in Pam’s kitchen
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
Even though the countertop is still technically cool, Pammy likey better, because there’s more color in the countertop — the aqua — and for some reason, that helps.
YES: In this kitchen, Pam loves the idea of stainless steel edging. It will look great.
Option 3a: Cool Charcoal countertop, Cool Raw Silk floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Formica charcoal boomerang laminate
- Azrock TexTile VCT floor in Raw Silk
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
Pam is liking the charcoal Formica. The darkness is picking up on the blackhandles etc. of the stove.
Option 3b: Cool charcoal countertop, Warm Autumn Haze floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Formica charcoal boomerang laminate
- Azrock Cortina VCT floor in Autumn Haze — Haze — like in Pam’s kitchen
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
To ensure an all-brown/beige interior does not look too drab, (1) be sure the space is well lit and (2) add pops of a well saturaged cool color as an accent.
Option 4: Warm butterscotch countertop, warm Autumn Haze floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Wilsonart retro butterscotch boomerang laminate — like Amber used in her kitchen.
- Azrock Cortina VCT floor in Autumn Haze — Haze — like in Pam’s kitchen
- Paint — aqua color to match the vintage appliances
Those butterscotch boomies look great with wood cabinet, but we’re not so sure when your appliances are aqua.
Option 5: Cool solid aqua countertop, cool Raw Silk floor
Above:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Abet Laminati laminate in Azzuro Mary (or coordinating aqua color — we’d likely try to get as close in color to the ovens as possible — get samples to be sure) — like Betty Crafter’s kitchen
- Azrock TexTile VCT floor in Raw Silk
- Paint — light yellow to bring more warmth to the space
A solid countertop aqua could look good.
Option 6: Cool solid aqua countertop, warm Autumn Haze floorAbove:
- White GE Artistry refrigerator
- Abet Laminati laminate in Azzuro Mary (or coordinating aqua color, get samples to be sure) — like Betty Crafter’s kitchen
- Azrock Cortina VCT floor in Autumn Haze — Haze — like in Pam’s kitchen
- Paint — light yellow to bring more warmth to the space …
- Or.Pam says, this one would look good with the Bradbury Atomic Doodle wallpaper, too. She says that this is also a favorite combo — because like the charcoal countertop, the aqua countertop reads like a new graphical element — and is a stock/deco paper (vs. special order/digital print) laminate.
Paired with the warm floor.
So there you go, Shannan. We bet that helped. Or confused you more. Which?
JustMyOpinion says
Hmm, I like a combo you didn’t put together. To pick up the oven color I’d choose the turquoise glacier countertop and pair it with the raw silk floor which pulls together the gray in the countertop. My second choice would be 3b.
pam kueber says
So you’re suggesting a “2a.” if we had made that up. Yes, an option…
Debbie says
My favorite is 1a. Not nuts about the copper tile, but I adore the turquoise oven and dishwasher. I would take the stovetop out and take it to an auto body shop to be painted to match. My dad built lots of ranch-style houses in the 50’s and 60’s, this kitchen reminds me of those. Looking forward to seeing pictures when this is finished!
G S says
My favorite is #6 with the wallpaper.
judith hall says
Pam, I just checked out the Striations in the Azure…LOVE it! That would be really awesome if she could keep her current countertops.
lynda says
I too like the copper and the turquoise and the color of the newly refinished cabinets. I like the 1a mood board. There is something about the floor and the counter that seem to tie in the white refrigerator. The GE style is just right for the rest of the retro appliances. There is something about 3a that is nice too. I think it is the darker counter. I think the turquoise cooktop would look nice against the dark counter. I believe the regular aluminum or stainless(?) edging on the counter will be right. I would not match, matchy the backsplash with a copper edging. Will the sink be white or stainless? I think a stainless sink with a drainboard would look nice and perhaps make the laminate last longer. However, the white sink would help draw in the refrigerator a little to the color scheme.
Remember, nothing is right or wrong, just go with what you like. Copper canisters, a copper tea kettle and a copper pot or two, will look nice too. Pam and Kate have certainly made your job easier with the visuals. Have fun.
judith hall says
I really like the look of #5. I think if the countertop can be gotten in a turq. as cool (in color) as the oven, it would work well with the copper tile backsplash. The floor is a perfect compliment to the countertops, I wouldn’t want anything with a yellowish or tan coloring. Now, I do like the light yellow to warm things a bit, but if her kitchen is large enough, it might be interesting to do one of the “less important” walls with the wallpaper and light yellow on the others.
I also was attracted to #3a, but I’m not to sure about the charcoal boomerang, it might be too dark. When we were shopping countertops, I thought I liked the charcoal boomerang in the book and on the computer screen. When I saw it in person, it was way darker than I had anticipated and was not going to work with my mint green walls. I ended up with the gold sparkle and I like it. Then again, turq. with charcoal is an enticing….of gosh, someone help her figure this out!
Lisa says
And then there’s this… http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/atq/4816171946.html
Laurie Louise says
Wow!
Tikimama says
I think that Shannan will be able to tie together the aqua/copper/white by using the Bradbury wallpaper, paint colors, curtain fabrics and accessories. I am doing something similar in my own kitchen, where I have warm wooden cabinets, copper hardware, aqua oven, white appliances, and original brown speckled Pomona tiles. I just sent Pam a bunch of photos to use, if they are helpful.
The flooring I chose was Karndean Venetian Blue, which has been featured here on the blog. I love it!
Laurie Louise says
Let me start by confessing that I covet your oven. And a matching cooktop? I swoon. Overall, you have got some seriously good bones to work with, Shannan.
Many of the things I’m thinking have already been said: Yes to the copper tiles (I had them in a 50s house I bought in the 80s and loved their warmth and richness.). Yes to a more subtle pattern on the laminate–maybe explore the neutral linen one from Jonathan Adler? Yes to the wallpaper! No to the metal edging. I think it would detract from the tiles, and the clean look of self edging would be the fit. Yes to red in the floor–not a checkerboard, and I’m not sure how to integrate it–maybe the whole floor? Too much?
On working with warm and cool: I think when done well, it can just yin-yang you into a happy place. That said, I think the turquoise has a warm, creamy tone–that it’s one of those warm(ish) versions of a cool color. I would paint the fridge to match, and find a place for red and a dash or two (notice how I avoided the word “pop”?) of yellow.
Bottom line: Have a ball, knock yourself out, and let us see the results!
Carol says
Laurie Louise thank you for typing all that out. You saved me some some time. I lean more toward yellow or cream for a second color, like a 2 toned ’57 Belair. That color combo is yummy.
tammyCA says
Your kitchen has some of my favorite things..the warm wood cabinets, the turquoise appliances, glitter in the countertop and shiny copper! Yes, this combo goes very well with each other.
Do they make copper banding for the laminate? Hopefully you can clean the stains out somehow & preserve it. Or bring back the glitter! I always thought little glittery stars on counters would be so cool & funny that the other day I was in the kid’s store Justice & noticed the floor tiles had some sparkle going on..I looked closer and they had tiny gold stars! Ohmystars! 🙂
Mary Elizabeth says
I forgot to suggest that Shannon could do a wood edging on the countertop instead of self-trim or chrome edging. Since you are already hiring a carpenter to refinish the cabinets, she/he could also make either flat or rounded edging and stain it to match the finish of the cabinets. DH and I did that in our kitchen, after researching and finding out that it was a 1950s-1970s option, especially with modern style cabinets like yours (although we also like it with our colonial knotty pine). I’d suggest that the edging be flush with the top, that the space between countertop and edging be sealed with clear caulk (or whatever your carpenter recommends), and that it have three or more coats of polyurethane on it to protect against water staining.
pam kueber says
“how countertop edging was done” — 10 ways — 1953: https://retrorenovation.com/2013/03/25/10-ways-kitchen-counter-top-edg-1953/