Patti writes:
Hi, Pam! Oh my, where do I begin? A few years ago you featured my pink bedroom with the silver starbursts wall and Heywood-Wakefield furniture. This was where my midcentury obsession began. Since I had moved out of my ‘big house’, a 1903 four-square and into my 1948 garage apartment out back, it was the perfect time for out with the old and in with the new modern. But that’s a whole other story. This one is all about Betty.
“Howdy hudee, bring it on,” we told Patti! “Let’s hear more. Let’s see more.” And she delivered.
Photo viewing tip for this and all stories on RR:
On a desktop computer, you can click on any photo,
and it should enlarge on screen, up to double in size.
And so our email back and forth commenced:
A little over a year ago, I moved from my apartment in the town I grew up in to North Carolina. I dreamed of buying an untouched ranch. And I found her, a 1957, no less. She’s as old as I am and equally as worn. The kitchen has the original cabinets, counters and sheet vinyl floor. Original appliances are long gone, and craigslist replacements were there for resale. I wanted a period stove and just couldn’t find what I wanted to fit the 36″ space. But I had to do something with those cabinets so I could unpack my dishes….my dishes! My 1957 set of Franciscan Starburst, my coveted dishes!
My original plan was to restore the cabinets to their former glory, sand them down and clear coat. But after 2 weeks of sanding I couldn’t get the wood tone even. And the inside of the cabinets were a worn out mess.
I had leftover paint from my vintage camper redo, Sherwin Williams 6758 Aqueduct, which just so happens to match my coveted dishes. So I decided to give the paint a try — and my cabinets turned out beautiful, inside and out.
And so my kitchen waited since last December, until I could find the perfect laminate for my counters.
In the meantime, the search was on for a late 50’s stove. We said we wanted gas, but when I found my pink wall oven and cooktop on craigslist, I had to have it.
It waited patiently covered up and off to one side in my kitchen for the perfect laminate. Many, many samples were delivered to my house but none were ‘the one’. Until you, dear girl, featured Betty and Endora. Finally!
The original counters are tan linen. (It’s still in the main bath. The half bath is original gray boomerang.) The finish was completed worn off in several places, and the counter was still solid as a rock. We decided to relaminate over the old.
Editor’s note: Remember, readers, a special reason we love Betty and Endora is that they are stock laminates — not special order. Stock laminates are generally much, much cheaper than custom digital print laminates made-to-order. For example, this 4×8 sheet of Wilsonart Betty from Home Depot is just $59.
When I saw Endora, I was so tempted to repaint my cabinets pink but, you know — those coveted dishes! So Betty won out.
I ordered two (5 x 12) sheets as soon as she was available from Home Depot. Shipping was free to my door, and I asked them for a 10% discount, and they said yes! We’ve contemplated how to do it for months, then, finally a few weeks ago we dove in.
I measured and calculated and made all the cuts…
Darin wired it all up…
(… Weensie Scarlett was ever so helpful every step of the way proving how valuable a lovely assistant can be.)
It was a lot of work, hard work. Laminate is not forgiving, once it sticks, it’s stuck! But I just had to work slow, be patient, and think it all through.
I’m so happy I ran the laminate up the wall as the backsplash. That was tricky, because nothing is level or square, but it got easier when I quit being so particular and decided caulk was my friend. The trim where the counter meets the wall is aluminum 90 degree L from Lowes. I used contact cement to adhere it.
I painted the walls SW 6360 Folksy Gold.
I still can’t get over it!
My Burke tulip table and chairs (too big for the kitchen) are now kinda in my living room, which I suppose was once the dining area, though I don’t know how in the world they ever fed a family in that space.
(Side note: When I took the living room carpet up a few months ago, there was a patched place in the floor between the door on the left and my table. Must have been some sort of divider to separate the dining space. I thought about putting it back, but had already moved the ceiling light and hung my flying saucer retractable light up, so I patched in flooring I stole from the entry to the attic. You never know what you’re going to find. I always say, “If it doesn’t say Sunkist, you don’t know what’s inside”!!))
Yowza, Patti and Darin, this is just Yabba Dabba DIY Awesome.
Patti sent us some other photos — some decorating tweaks to her 1957 bathroom and to the basement, where the couple has created an office and crafting area. And — sneak peek that snack table and boomerang clock. Come back tomorrow for the details on how Patti made those. Meanwhile, I lavished praise on Patti for her decorating and design inventiveness. And, I asked for a personal photo to go with the story.
It sounds like they make every moment an adventure… She replies:
The truth is I just have way too much time on my hands! And, wow, it’s hard to take a good picture of yourself. We’ve been laughing our heads off. But here we are.
Golly, Pam and Kate, I can’t thank you enough for all the awesomeness you share and all the hours you spend finding the things that help us make a house our home. And eight years?! Good grief that sure went by fast. You have drawn together so many like-minded souls. These midcentury homes keep us grounded in a simpler time. We are all forever grateful!
Thanks a ton…
Patti
Thank YOU, Patti and Darin! xoxo
DIY laminate countertop:
More Wilsonart Betty:
Carolyn says
Wow! That is one terrific kitchen. You were so brave to take on the laminate job as DIY. I love your color choices….I know it must have been a hard decision at first to go with electric, but that stove is amazing looking. Great kitchen, wonderful home.
Judy H. says
Your beautiful kitchen has given mr new thoughts. My cabinets are original to my 1953 house…custom wood cabinets was all the lady would have. (sheer coincidence, I met the man whose brother built our house!) They are beautiful, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to paint them. Well, I’m bringing it now and those cabinets are gonna make me smile every time I look at their freshly painted faces! Your kitchen is priceless!
Patti Cannan says
Love the house you’re in! Do whatever makes you smile. And if you paint them with regular old latex wall paint, the next owner can strip them easily if they want the wood back. But I’m betting they won’t!
Scott says
It came out super nice. And so clever of you to think of placing the wall oven under the cook top to utilize the existing space.
Karin - Free Wheelin' Travel Blog says
Thank you so much for this post! I want to redo my counters with the Betty laminate, but wasn’t sure what to do about the backsplash. Yours looks amazing. Do you have any other suggestions for cabinet color, and flooring that would look good with the Betty? Currently my cabinets are plain white. I’m not sure about that much aqua, even though it’s my favorite color. Also, I need something darker for my floors. Currently I have cheap white sheet vinyl tile, and it’s not a good combination with four dogs and muddy paws.
pam kueber says
Hi Karin, I suggest: Consider adding the countertop and changing the floor and then sit back and assess whether you need to change the countertop.
For floors, we are fans here of VCT tile or linoleum. See all our flooring research in Kitchen Help / Flooring — https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/flooring/
Neil says
The cat obviously approves. Nuff said!
Deborah says
Patti & Darin’s kitchen makes my vintage heart sing!
bella says
I love the color combinations in this kitchen. That pink range in those aqua cabinets? It just looks like candy. I can’t stop looking at it.
Lynda Flaherty says
I think I spotted an old aluminum screen door decoration outside the window in the yard being used as a trellis. What a great Idea. I love your Ideas. Great job!
Jennifer H says
I am so glad to see this post! Not only have I been staring at a 8X10 sample of Betty in different spots in my kitchen for the last month, but the counter top that I am replacing is the same as Patti’s original counter top. I have wood cabinets from late 40’s-early 50’s (I’m not sure when this kitchen remodel of my 1904 house was done) but they don’t need to be painted. A few spots need re-shellace’d but they are in wonderful shape. As much as I love that new cabinet color, my husband said a resounding NO for our kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing! I am glad I got to see Betty in such a large expanse and as back splash!
Patti Cannan says
I’m one of those people that never wants to paint original wood but I just couldn’t get my cabinets to even out. Finally Darin said “but we love color”. And if it weren’t for my dishes, this kitchen would be pink with Endora counters! I’m happy for you that you’re cabinets have survived all these years. I bet they’re beautiful!
Jason says
This is such a beautiful kitchen!! So well done – it could be a tv or movie set!
Jason says
PS – did they paint the dishwasher? Fantastic!
Patti Cannan says
You betcha!
Jason says
That’s so great – I love it and the wall oven / cook top arrangement and placement of the controls for the cooktop is great. I also like how you did the laminated countertop edge, but gave the vintage look by using the metal trim along the seem for the backsplash area without having to have metal everywhere.
Patti Cannan says
Thanks Jason. I used the metal trim edge in my last place and it had a lip over the top. I quickly realized I missed the convenience of brushing crumbs, etc, over the edge!
Jason says
My thoughts exactly! I’ve often thought it just doesn’t look as vintage without it, but it’s not convenient to deal with – I think your solution is a perfect compromise! Plus you can still join the backsplash to the counter in the normal way for a good seal before placing the trim over it.