“We have been told that the kitchen is a cross between ‘Betty Crocker’ and a morgue,” reader Alan says, adding a “haha” in his email to us. But maybe… not so funny. So today, a Retro Design Dilemma: Let’s help Alan with ideas to make his 1953 kitchen more homey, less clinical. Ooo la la: Lookie all the Vitralite glass wall tile — this one will be fun!
Alan writes:
Help! We have an original 1953 kitchen featuring Apple Green Vitralite glass tile. The tile is in almost perfect condition — but we’re at a loss as to what to do with it. Part of me says “gut” and start over, but many tell us to “save the Vitralite.”
We’ve been in the house for five years and have been stumped for five years as to what to do with this kitchen! The green Vitralite is so overwhelming — even though we’re used to it. We have been told that the kitchen is a cross between “Betty Crocker” and a morgue. haha.
Above: Adjacent laundry room, with more of the tile, and some black trim.
Nom nom, we adore that vintage Vitralite! Hmmm… We spy a very interesting-looking clock in the initial photos that Alan sends and ask him for some closeup. Oh my word, look at this stunner:
Alan replies:
And yes, the clock in the soffit… omg, it’s wild. At 12, 3, 6, and 9, it shows pictures of what families in the 1950s should be doing! 3 p.m. is playtime… 6 p.m. is dinner… 9 p.m. is dancing… and 12 p.m. is sleep!
I’d love you to help update this kitchen by giving us some ideas about countertops and floors! Currently, the counter tops are a Formica that is probably late 70’s — off white and a mess. The floors are a “plastic” laminate – trying to look like hardwood.
Our thought is to replace/upgrade the counters with stone (but we can’t figure out what that would go with the green vitralite), replace the cabinet hardware, remove the original light fixtures and install can lighting, replace the gold dishwasher for stainless, replace the white stove for stainless and call it a day! We just cant figure out what to do with countertops and the floor.
Vitrolite bathroom!
Readers, let’s hear your ideas for this Retro Design Dilemma:
- Okay, readers: Let’s hear your ideas for this dilemma! We will be back tomorrow morning with our design board and analysis.
Alan says
Wow! Amazed with all the comments and wonderful input. I’ve read through the comments – and I see there some questions.
The house actually does not match the kitchen. There lies the problem. The house is a brick cape (white trim with black shutters). It had the original windows when we bought it and they did not open. We opted for the pained windows because the area/house is New England-y. And we wanted a more Cottage feel for the house. There are 32 windows in the house and it looks so much better from outside.
The rest of the house is traditional New England- white woodwork, hardwood floors neutral colors. The kitchen is the oddball room with this vitralite tile.
So our goal is to somehow blend the “cottage style/ brick New England Cape with the tile. Part of me says (what I wrote). New counters, floor and keep the cabinets. I don’t think retro (completely) will work because the rest of the house is (well) not 50’s retro.
I agree with lots of the comments (and thank you! keep them coming).
pam kueber says
well… our mood board is comin’ tomorrow at the crack o’ dawn, and it’s pretty retro. I’m agreeing with one of the first commenters — ineffablespace — who said, to the effect, there is no running and hiding from that green Vitrolite. I will also say: I have a 50s Barry Wills style brick ranch too. Much of the interior is Early American. Some of it is modern-ish. Coolonial. Midcentury modest. Granny ranch. I think no matter how you slice it, it’s all still 1950s, and it’s all still retro.
What do your bathrooms look like? I’m curious.
ineffablespace says
I came up with specific finish solutions
Wallpaper for ceiling (because it reminds me of glitter laminate:
Wolf-Gordon “Badin” wallcovering in white colorway
Visual comfort “Eden” flushmounts in brass
Silestone White Zeus Extreme quartz countertops
Forbo marmoleum sheet in cool green
similar but more substantial pull in brass from Colonial Bronze
Quadrille fabric “Georgia Small Scale” in Aqua-Turquoise colorway
I hope you can see it here:
http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/ineffablespace/library/
Alan (Owner) says
Thanks for this! I really like your ideas.
Alan
pam kueber says
Yes, ineffable, nicely done retro-modern — can we add your mockup photo to our After story?
ineffablespace says
Sure 🙂
Sydney says
I would choose a pink countertop and VCT floor in white, pink, and green to coordinate with the tiles. Keep the wood cabinetry the same. Then, it would not be clinical at all, but a midcentury dream!
Diana says
I also like the idea to search Vitrolite kitchens. See what type of counter top and floors were done back in the day with the Vitrolite walls and what color combos. You need to keep true to the era or it’s going to look “muddled.”
Erin says
Oh, don’t get rid of the tile! That’s amazing. My thought is actually to go MORE retro rather than trying to modernize. I agree that the modern with the retro looks odd. I like the black and white laminate tile floor idea, I think that would look sharp! Black counter top also. I would be tempted to paint the cupboards white (do it well or hire someone) for a fresher look. But keep the pulls! But no stainless! If the stove works, keep it. Those are expensive and so cool! Replace your stainless refridgerator with one of the retro style ones (like Smeg) and find a white retro looking dishwasher. Get rid of the laminate floor and just embrace the room as it is. It’s amazing that it’s still there!
TLK says
Nothing says “morgue” like stainless steel!
Lilly says
I would keep the cabinet hardware and lighting. Changing to some decent LED or halogen bulbs inside the fixtures will help improve the light quality. Some LED “can” lights in the center ceiling could help improve the light quality without losing the period fixtures. The floors and countertops could be enough to deal with the green overwhelming everything. Solid surface black countertops or black laminate with chrome edges would work as a compliment to the green and be strong enough to not have the green be completely dominant. I would change out the appliances and hood to all be stainless or white.
Karin says
Great tile, LOVE it! And that clock-how wonderful. My first thought before I read the comments was soapstone for the counters. I think either a laminate or real soapstone would work. I saw real soapstone once at a home show and it’s beautiful and durable. I concur with the others who mentioned flecked black VCT tile for the floors.
lynda says
I have been thinking about this kitchen off and on today. It really is interesting, and I think it should be preserved as much as possible.
I think stone would be too jarring with such a retro kitchen. If the owners must have stone, then I would suggest soapstone with the green and white veining. My first choice for a counter would be a quartz counter flecked with recycled glass. The glass colors can either be neutral, go with the green, or introduce a multi-color look. I think that type of counter just has a retro look and would be very durable. I also think that a laminate top would be fine, although not as durable. I like the stainless sink, and if you wanted a little more retro look, you could get one with a drainboard. I really don’t mind the hanging fixtures, but the ceiling fan does not go with the look. Maybe 3 matching retro looking lights would be best. I think the birch slab cabinets doors are nice. If they needed refinished, I would suggest sanding them down and putting on a water based poly type product. The oil based products give wood the orange look. I think red, pale yellow and other colors would go nicely in the kitchen. (could easily pick up colors in counter if one with multi colors is chosen. If budget works, I would go with Big Chill appliances, otherwise the new GE Artistry in white would look nice. If the old range works, and you like it, I say keep it. (paint the overhead exhaust fan) Most newer ranges won’t be as large and you will have to fill in with more cabinets. Floors are hard. For ease, take up the laminate and add another fake–the luxury vinyl plank in wood or tile look. The kitchen already seems a bit busy and some of the more colorful options may just overwhelm the space. I would get the clicking, floating type of vinyl floor that would make the space waterproof. I would probably choose a birch or maple to go with the cabinets–and that does not have much wood grain in the fake wood look.
I agree the windows should match. Looks like one is double hung and one is a casement window. Also, it does look like one window opens out to another room. If it is a heated space, maybe no window is needed? I would paint trim around the windows to match the windows, white. However, I like the birch doors and the birch trim.
Both the kitchen and the laundry look very practical and large. As you can see, there are many opinions here and not one is exactly right or wrong. Good luck with your very fun project.
Al says
This would look great and be easy on the budget: Black flecked VCT or rubber flooring (e.g. Nora rubber contractor’s specials are $1-$2/sq ft). White or grey boomerang or linen print laminate counters. Banish big fridge to the garage and replace with a smaller white vintage fridge from Craigslist. White dishwasher from Craigslist or GE Artistry series. Paint hood white. Curtains that have white, grey, black and a similar but darker green.
Ky says
Here’s my thoughts:
Change the countertop to a matte black, using laminate to be closer to the period. If they have their hearts on using natural stone, they could choose a dark slate or soapstone to have a dark matte look. Use either white or black for the appliances and range hood and ditch the stainless. Change the window to either a casement type or something with larger panes. The small colonial mullions do not work for this period of house. Keep the existing hanging lights but get rid of the ceiling fan. If they are wanting recessed lights, however, go with the square recessed lights to echo the ones in the soffits instead of round can lights. The floor needs to be something besides wood, either white, black, or gray, but needs to be uniform. I think there is too much else going on in the room if the floor was patterned in any way. The other bold way would be to use pink as the floor and accent color since they are opposite on the color wheel. So many directions this can go!