Mary put a lot of love into the complete renovation of her kitchen 10 years ago — those vintage-looking cabinets are all built from scratch — but now love of another kind has her putting it on the market for sale: “That kitchen made me so happy,” she said, “but I gave it up for love. I guess a good man trumps a cool kitchen.” Congratulations, Mary! The kitchen got the glamour treatment for the listing photos, so let’s take a look — and Mary tells us about her planning process and the products she used. Thanks for permissions from realtor Paul Carper and realtor Bart Stockton, who took the photos, both of Carper Miller Real Estate Group.
Mary’s kitchen After:Mary writes:
I love your site and I thought you might like to see pictures of my 1950s house. I renovated the original small 1950 kitchen about 10 years ago. I wanted to keep the 50s look, but open it up and add more storage. I had a blast researching home magazines of that era. The final product was bright and fun and I love it. The original bathroom is also in tact. It’s not pink, but it’s still the style of many houses of that time. I found some great wallpaper to watch the style of the bathroom.
I recently put the house on the market and I’m realizing it’s rare to find others who appreciate the style and retro fun of the house. The realtor described it as make everyday throwback Thursday. Haha. So far the feedback I’m getting from potential buyers is not so great. Most people don’t like the original bathrooms of that era and the retro kitchen is not their style either. It makes me sad that I can’t find anyone that will dig the style, but if it doesn’t sell in a few months I may need to sell it to someone who will gut it to an ordinary trendy style that will go out of date in 10 years or less (e.g. Travertine tile. don’t get me started….)
Mary’s list of retro kitchen resources:
- Cabinets were custom made. It would’ve looked weird to try and retrofit the old cabinets with new ones so they gutted the entire kitchen with custom cabinets based on the elevations. Someone commented that my custom cabinets look like something prefab from the 50s.
- Hardware came from Home Depot. As I mentioned before, some of the old classic hardware is still available at big hardware/home stores for not a lot of money.
- Countertops — As I was researching the color palette for the kitchen I also thought about the counter color. It was hard to find unusual colors at a typical showroom, so I found some great samples at my friend’s interior designer office. They have access to way more choices that your typical design showroom. Once I settled on an orange and yellow color palette I went with solid mango colored laminate. [ Editor’s note: See all our countertop research here, including our list of 10 companies that make laminate. ]
- Metal countertop edging — I cannot remember where I got the metal trim. I guess my contractor found that. [ Retro Renovation’s research on sources to get metal countertop trim. ]
- The double sink, typical for that era was special ordered from Home Depot. You’re not going to find that stuff in the showroom, but if you know the look you’re going for it’s most likely still around. Faucet was also special ordered from a catalog at Home Depot. [ Editor’s note: Surely that’s a hudee-ringed Kohler Delafield. ]
- The stove belonged to my grandmother. I still have the receipt from when she purchased it in 1953! It has since been restored and re-chromed to look brand new. That was not cheap, but I consider it a family heirloom that deserves to be taken care of. I was lucky enough to find someone locally who does that sort of thing. If you live in the LA area, Antique Stove Heaven is a good resource.
- The Vent-a-hood is actually new. I didn’t want to try to find something retro for that so I just went with a simple white.
- The floor is blue and black Armstrong vinyl tile. [ Readers: Remember to always check the Commercial section of websites — that’s where we often find what we want. ] I got the inspiration for the color and pattern from the book Inspiring Interior 1950s from Armstrong (affiliate link). [ Pam’s original “bible”.]
- For the walls, I wanted something bright colorful, which isn’t necessarily a 50s thing so I went through lots of color and design books, like this: Color Idea Book. No need to buy the book. Check it out from the library for free! Also, paint stores have lots of color combinations for ideas.
- Under-cabinet lighting — One of my favorite parts of the kitchen is the under cabinet lighting. They’re the simple hockey puck lights from Home Depot, but when you dim the halogen lights, the orange glow of the walls and counters is wonderful! It’s like a sunset.
- Dinette — In the breakfast room, the dinette set came from a local antique store and the chairs are from Target. Several years ago, they were selling dinette chairs that I think were created by the same manufacturer as dinette sets in the 50s.
- Pendant light is the KNAPPA from Ikea.
- Art — I found a book — All-American Ads of the 50s by Jim Heimann (affiliate link) — that features a bunch of 1950s advertisements and framed them in a grid.
I live in Dallas. It’s in a part of town with some older homes, some of which are have the retro flare. My realtor appreciates the style of the house and reassures me there are people who like this sort of thing. I just need to be patient. The market is slow right now though, so it will just take time. He agrees with me that he would rather sell it to someone who will appreciate it and not gut it completely.
It was a lot of fun researching and planning. The renovation was a PITA. It took 2+ months, but worth it. That kitchen made me so happy, but I gave it up for love. I guess a good man trumps a cool kitchen. The good thing is, we bought a great midcentury modern house that has a kitchen that needs some work. I already have ideas on how to renovate it to make it look great while keeping the style of the house. Can’t wait to do the same thing — update cabinets/storage and appliances while keeping the style of the architecture. This one has the groovy (but confining) pass throughs.
Only TWO MONTHS to renovation? That actually sounds fast to us 🙂 Wonderful job, Mary — and we can’t wait to see what you come up with at your new midcentury modern house! Thank you for sharing your home, and your story. We will keep our fingers crossed that a stylin’ buyer who appreciates period style walks through your door soon!
Link Love:
- See the listing for Mary’s colorful retro 1950s home in Dallas, Texas
- Thanks to realtor Paul Carper and to realtor Bart Stockton for the great photos, both of Carper Miller Real Estate Group
Una says
Beautiful! Everything about this kitchen is fabulous! I live in Dallas too, and bought my sweet 1962 brick ranch a couple years ago. Since then, a lot of homes in the neighborhood have been flipped, most by ripping out all the midcentury features we all love. There is a growing contingent of midcentury lovers here though, so don’t despair. Hopefully one of them will find and love your home too.
Shirley says
I would definitely buy this house if I were to live in Dallas. Great bright colors!
Googie or Bust says
I am sending vibes for wonderful buyers for you! Your work is lovely and the masses are just plain dull, white-washed dorks!
When I sold my last home, it was on the market for SIX months. In a market where houses usually sell in 4 days. It wasn’t the price it was my “fixer” kitchen with original perfect condition laminate counters, built-in place out of solid pine cupboards and marmo floors. There was ONE wall in the house that wasn’t white and people complained. I painted it. It still sat. Thank Dog I had the money to pay for two mortgages in the interim. If you aren’t in the same place, the one reader who suggested painting the orange white (cringe!) or a pretty pale blue to compliment your great floors, may be the way to go. Imagination seems to be eschewed by home buyers, maybe you can help them along with that one concession.
In the end, I sold to a wonderful gay couple who had some style and loved my house as was. Your kitchen masterpiece put my old house to shame. Hang in there! RR is HUGE and I hope the word gets out.
Maria says
Love the kitchen! However, I hate to say it, but a friend got a house for a song because nobody besides us could see past the bright paint. Try toning down the paint. If I was going to sell this I’d:
Fix the cracked patio. It can be repaired/skimcoated if replacement is a cost factor.
Pop the maroon color in the “Band-Aid and Blood” bathroom. Soften with maroon towels and add bold art. Been there, done that with this same tile. It works.
Tone down bright paint. If you do paint a room use a light shade of same color on ceiling. These RE photos are a prime example of how white ceilings turn gray from the angle of window light.
Stage the house. Get rid of big chair in dining area – it makes the space look small.
Agree with others a few Fiestaware pieces in kitchen would tie it all together.
(I’d be hard pressed to give up Grandma’s stove unless I had to, I LOVE those stoves.)
Susan says
I love your kitchen. If I had found a house like this 3 1/2 years ago, I would have purchased it for the kitchen and the bathroom alone.
I also love your bathroom. I have the classic “blue” 1950s bathroom and I love it despite the protests of friends who say I should “gut it”. Then again, they also think I should gut my kitchen, which is a mashup of periods from 1940 – 1970. My kitchen is a mess right now so my goal is to consolidate it to one period: mid-century (think Mad Men – Don and Betty Drapers Kitchen).
Jacki says
Mary, don’t give up. When we put our 1959 house that was totally unmuddled on the market we had a realtor that looked at it as if it were a white elephant and his MLS comments reflected that. After 6 months we hired a new realtor who was head over heels over the pink kitchen tiles, pink appliances and MCM fish bathroom tiles. She touted the house as “RETRO, RETRO, RETRO, Barbie would love this kitchen! We had a buyer that evening who said he had looked at the MLS ad multiple times, but didn’t bother to look at the house itself because it sounded like a standard house with nothing special about it. Your buyer will show up, try jazzing up the MLS ad.
Beki says
*as featured on Retro Renovations! That has GOT to be a selling point to someone that will appreciate it. 🙂
Kathy says
I agree!
I also agree with Brian’s comments that the living room looks a bit bare, and painting it and adding a few items to make it look more inviting might be all you need to do. Sometimes you can over declutter.
But honestly, I don’t understand why so many people have so little imagination when viewing a home. Surely there is a market out there for quality retro style. They might not want to have to paint an entire house full of vibrant color, so toning it down but still with retro vibe could make it more easily sold,
Elizabeth says
We are in the market for a home like this in this neighborhood (in this exact school district). Your home has so much character and other homes in that area have unfortunately succumbed to greige nation. I just can’t stand them. It’s such a beautiful neighborhood, but there is no charm on the inside. Yours just has so much personality. I wish it had just 1 more bedroom and it would fit us. Sending magic buyers to you!!!
Caitlin says
Haven’t seen a kitchen that I’ve loved this much in ages. I would be euphoric if I was on the market for a home and walked into your kitchen. I will send prayers to the retro realtor Goddess that she look down upon you with grace and send the perfect buyer your way.
Beki says
I haven’t read the story yet because I got too excited. 8 years ago, I moved into my ‘for the mean time’ house and was fixing it to live in till I found MY house. Junky particle board cabinets in the kitchen were painted blue and the walls orange. The looks I got when I told anyone this…blue AND orange?? My heart skipped a beat, not only did you go retro, but blue and orange!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! now I shall go see where to find those countertops (drool). Amazing job!
vintigchik says
Unfortunately, my husband and I were in the same boat. I decorated and restored the 60s wonderfulness back into our last home. It wasn’t until I spent time and money making it 2015 bland that it sold. I almost cried. My husband signed the papers today. My job is designing kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and counter tops. So my advise is this: do the style you love. If your style is bolder than plain vanilla, go only as bold as you think you might stay in the home. If it’s all original and in great shape, don’t touch it except for required repairs. The next owner will probably not like your style anyway and those that appreciate vintage homes like things intact. You can still have a period authentic home while being conscious of trends. For instance, it’s much easier to replace many of the vintage style materials such as sheet flooring and laminate counter tops than it is to replace granite and tile. I think that’s where cabinetry becomes important. High quality cabinetry in a very basic style is key. The next owners can easily paint it, or add thin wood strips on the edges to make them shaker style. Then you can add in brighter colors in your accents which we all know are pretty easy to find. It’s so hard to give in to the pressures of the market, but sometimes that’s your only choice.
Mary, I know it’s hard putting your heart and soul into your home just to hear uninformed people complain. Painting is probably your best bet. Good luck.