English Rose metal kitchen cabinets: One of three brands we’ve identified as made and sold in England — and, still made today! But being a U.S.-based blog, we have mostly U.S. readers (84%), so it’s only now and then that we get to read about Retro Renovations from across the pond. And what a delightful story this is: Ondrea and James paired up, and soon enough, were feathering their Bristol, UK, nest with a “new” kitchen. In this case: combining two sets of vintage aluminium — (in U.S. talk, aluminum) — English Rose kitchens into one… and there’s lots to the story, of course!
Edited a bit for flow, Ondrea writes:
Hi Pam,
I’m not sure where to start! I moved into my two bedroom bungalow, as I was downsizing after three of my four children had flown the nest. My 26-year-old still lives with us. I grew up in this area, and the bungalow is in a great location — very near the Bristol harbour, Ashton Court and the suspension bridge.
The bungalow from the outside looks very unassuming (like a wooden shed)! and lacked in character, being a 15-year-old newish build. I knew that one day I would have to add something to make it unique and not just a granny bungalow – yes, I also have grandchildren.
I’ve always had a love of anything vintage, I enjoy flea markets and charity shops. 1950s is my favourite.
I was lucky enough to meet James three years ago, and we have many shared interests. At the beginning of this year. we decided to sort out the bungalow kitchen. We looked around all the shops that sell modern units. I thought they were all similar to each other and not built to last and that they cost a fortune. At first we discussed James’ making wooden units to look 1950-60s.
Then I spotted a set of English Rose on eBay. It was February, and I had teased James for not being very impulsive (he’s a deep thinker — likes to plan properly!) So there and then — sitting on a bus — he bought the first set of units online. I cried with emotion (sounds silly, I know) — best Valentine’s gift I ever received.
English Rose is made from aluminium! It’s lighter than steel and doesn’t rust, also it’s the metal that was left from Spitfire aircraft.
(Pam here:) As often is necessary in projects using vintage metal kitchen cabinets, the couple needed to buy two sets of cabinets — or cupboards, in UK-lingo — to get the number and configuration they were aiming for. I’ve heard from some Retro Renovators who have purchased three kitchens — and from those who have “finished” but are still looking for one last piece to fit just righ.
- See all of our stories on vintage steel kitchen cabinets — 81 brands identified — in our Kitchen Help / Steel Kitchens subcategory here.
- Sometimes stories of other readers remodeling using vintage steel cabinets may be found in our Kitchen Help / Readers & their Kitchens subcategory here.
Ondrea continues:
We bought two batches of cupboards from eBay and sprayed them all to match. One kitchen came from Cornwall (cream & red), and the other, from London (blue & green).
The next few months were very hard work. We took them all apart like a giant meccano set and sprayed everything!
We didn’t use any outside contractors in at all. James did all of the work himself, the spray paint, flooring, tiles, shelves, even sewing the curtain hems. He’s such a star!!
The finished kitchen, the cooker is 1960’s — a “Creda Carefree” — a bit modern! Curtains and clock are original 1950’s.
I also found this lovely 1960s larder.
When James moved in with me, his most treasured possession for sentimental reasons was a 1950s radio that belonged to his friend Keith. Keith has passed away now — he was unable to use the radio so new-in-box as he had cerebral palsy. Now we have a whole kitchen to match!
***
Wow. Just wow. Ondrea and James, I adore your story, your kitchen, and your touching tribute to Keith. You are our dose of love and joy to start the week! Congratulations on feathering your nest so creatively — and beautifully. And thank you for sharing your story and photos with us!
Read more about vintage metal kitchen cabinets from the UK:
- My first story on English Rose cabinets in 2008.
- You can still buy English Rose-style cabinets made today.
- A place in the UK that sells them refurbished.
- A 1956 English Rose kitchen complete with Revo oven
- In the UK, there were Anemone and Paul cabinets, too, it seems; I count four U.K. brands if you include the reproductions as a new brand.
And don’t forget, all’s being built and tracked in the:
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The Retro Renovation® Encyclopedia of Vintage Steel Kitchen Cabinets
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The kitchen redo is beautiful, as is the love story behind it.
(Where DO you find great guys like James?!? *Sidles off to commiserate with her four dogs*)
I had to wait 43 years to find James!!!
They don’t make many like him do they,it’s lucky for me because I only need one dog ( and 2 cats)! 😄
Adorable! Is it wrong of me to say I am glad to know the “six-panel” doors are just as ubiquitous in the UK as they are here? Funny, but I learned in Cedar Grove Mansion in my native Philadelphia that in Colonial America they were called “cross-bible panels.” The top part being the “cross” & the bottom part “an open bible.”
Is this the larder? How interesting…I spotted my very same larder painted white in the background in the film ‘the omen’ in the priests kitchen.
Well, there you go — I learned something new today! Cross-bible panels!
FABULOUS!!!
Love, love, LOVE the 1960’s Larder -which we Yanks would call a hoosier. In the biz and have sold the occasional uber-charming English hoosier now and then, and they always fly out the door.
The handles on your English Rose cabinets, with their metal escutcheons, are super. Funny how even though all the elements in your kitchen are so similar to the American versions, your finished room looks distinctly English.
Natch!
Beautiful job on your kitchen, mates.
Neil
First ~ James was worth the wait! Your kitchen is adorable! What a stunning redo ~ you have so much to be proud of! Thank you very much for sharing your darling kitchen with us!
He sounds like MY husband! What a great, personalized kitchen and a monument to happy times past where these cabinets dwelled! I salute you!
Many, MANY years of happiness in that great kitchen of yours you two !!!! Fantastic work, every bit of love you put into it really shows !!!
My mom had the same kitchen clock in yellow! She recalled it was a wedding gift in Summer 1949! My brother took it all apart and cleaned and fixed it up, so she bought a new clock and gave the old one to him.
BTW her 1955 house has all of the original wall and floor tile–green and black!
What’s the curtain fabric? Vintage, or new, and does it have company name and design name in the selvage?
The curtains are original 1950s fabric (at least I was told that and it appears to be older fabric to the touch & design) they have no label and I haven’t been able to be sure where fabric was from. They look handmade we did have to sew them up a tiny bit to fit the window (they were a bit long).
Whenever I flip through kitchen renovation books and magazines from the UK/Europe I often see things that to my American eyes look like mid-century fittings. I can’t tell from their website whether English Rose will ship to North America.
I had a Creda oven we bought in the ’90s (with a neat side-hinged door) in a previous home, and have a Creda Solarspeed cooktop where I live now. They sold their wares (at a slow pace) in the US in the ’90s. Nice stuff. Using appliances designed for foreign markets in the US is problematic though due to different electrical standards (i.e. 50Hz rather than 60Hz) and lack of US certifications. Too bad – I’d love one of those Smeg ovens with the oval window.
Hi Ondrea,
Great work, was wondering if you could advise how James spray painted the cupboards and handles, what paint was used etc. My husband and I have bought some cabinets with the aim of re doing our kitchen but I’m struggling to find details on how we should do this. How far back they should be stripped etc etc. Any advise welcome as yours look so good.
Amanda, this is not a DIY site per se. On questions like these, I prefer/recommend you consult with properly licensed professionals — also remember that old products like these may contain hazards — for example, lead in the paint, etc. — so a pro can help you assess what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions how to handle. For more info see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page >> https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
I’m late to the party, but where did you get the flooring?? Is it vintage or new??