I am in the mode: Cranking out a new 1940s style kitchen design board each week until I get them all done. I think there will be five in total. Here is #3: A retro kitchen inspired by a vintage American Kitchen ad. It’s dominated by the color red — via the ruby red mother of pearl laminate countertop — and anchored by a green linoleum that I’d describe as, yes, drab. But also, restful, which allows your eye to rest on the sharp colors elsewhere in the room. Remember: Every element of a design doesn’t need to “scream.” I hesitate to say “shouldn’t” scream but there, I said it anyway.
Elements to create a happy red 1940s kitchen:
- Fabric: Look for a drapery fabric that includes all the main colors in your kitchen. I prefer vintage — yes, it can be found in sufficient yardage if you are patient and tenacious — like these 3 yards available on ebay.
- Sewing Pattern: Whip the fabric into curtains — you can do it! Use a vintage pattern — lookie how these scallop at the header (or whatever you call it) — nice!
- Sink: Elkay Lustertone 54″ stainless steel kitchen sink
(affiliate link) - Countertop: Mother of pearl (aka crackle ice laminate) from Heffron’s. We;ve had numerous readers find less expensive (not special order) red proxies — research our Kitchen Help/Countertops category to see those stories.
- Countertop edging: For this design board, I showed aluminum edging from RetroTrims.com
- Kitchen cabinets: Steel kitchen cabinets were available in the 1940s, too. I showed these vintage Whiteheads (a rare brand) so that you could see how the metal sink looked with a steel cabinet. If you want to hunt for vintage read this story only kinda in reverse.
- Vintage percolator: Vintage percolator on etsy.
- Linoleum flooring: Linoleum sheet flooring — in “Evening Moss” — from Armstrong
- Countertop depth French door refrigerator: I found another countertop-depth refrigerator that seem to have possibly not-supersized proportions.
- Vintage stove: Vintage 1948 Cromwell electric range from AntiqueAppliances.com.
(affiliate link)Other stories to look for 1940s kitchen ideas:
- My mood board #1, anchored by white cabinets
- My mood board #2, anchored by wood cabinets
- Lauryn and Dennis’ sunny 1940s kitchen makeover
- Dave and Frances’ 1938 kitchen
- See how the tile is done on the wall in Kristen’s original 1940s kitchen.
- Maile displays her dishware beautifully in glass-front wall cabinets in her 1940s style kitchen.
- Vintage metal cabinets are appropriate, too — and lookie the best cafe curtains ever in David’s kitchen.
See all of our 1940s kitchen design boards here
CategoriesCabinets
The GE Artistry is pretty adorable in person and usually on sale for 550.
http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=ABS45DFWS
Yes, that’s another great one that I think would be just fine for a 40s/50s style kitchen… Honestly, as long as it’s white, and pretty simple — it will likely work. But yes, the Artistry has some nice retro touches — planned in!
Thanks, Pam. This is one of my favorite kitchens.
What are your thoughts on using Wilsonart’s “Betty” laminate counter top with a red, cracked ice, linoleum floor?
-Elroy
There are new percolator coffee makers available made by Presto or Cuisanart. I bought the Presto one on Amazon several years ago to replace a vintage one whose plastic parts eventually cracked. The Cuisinart one has the clear glass knob to see the coffee swirling inside and I saw it at JCPenney the other day. Percolator coffee is so much flavorful than drip, IMHO. And takes up minimal counter space.
My thoughts are “no”. The colors clash…
There are two similar ovens / stoves for sale at the Rowan County ReStore in NC. https://flic.kr/p/rLHFZj and https://flic.kr/p/rNTSjb.
I didn’t know you could get built-in deep fryers, but now I want one.
(And I’m totally not affiliated with the ReStore– I just took pics because they’re amazing and I can’t have them.)
That little girl looks thrilled to be stirring the cookie dough! Lol!