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:
Suzy says
Beautiful … LOVE IT ALL!!! You two did a great job!!!
Madeline says
Hmmm, I am an American living in England but currently visiting back home in the US… that probably really confuses your reader statistics! 😉
I think it’s quite fair to say that a lot of Americans are used to homes proportioned on an unnecessarily large scale. Compact can be so much more efficient, and comfy too.
But, think of having a massive lounge in which one could display every piece of G-Plan imaginable…!
Carol says
A great source for G-Plan in the South is the Insyde Outsyde shop (Facebook) in Chattanooga. The owners are from Wales and they buy estates and bring shipping containers over here. They have high-end auctions and sales in the shop. Wonderful stuff and incredibly delightful owners. VERY good prices and all G-Plan looks near mint that I’ve seen. This is the only place I’ve seen G-Plan for sale and they get a lot in.
Jo says
Pretty similar story for mine too! Some rescued from a house renovation and collected through word of mouth and chance encounters. My husband and I went on a night course to make the bits we didn’t have which meant my hiding the fact I was pregnant at the time! My husband painted it all. I’ve got a 50s new world cooker that came with my first house. Was originally red work surface but I chose the formica boomerang in grey and it looks fantastic. I love my kitchen!!!!!
Ondrea says
Oh I must admit that i would of loved the boomerang work tops I see on this site, they are so cute! I kept costs down and bought a plain blue only £60 per work top. Maybe when it looks tatty in 20 years time I could justify replacing them! They don’t seem to exist in the UK…
I have saved some original work tops that came with the kitchen and we have them in daily use in our workshop (red & grey) there was not enough to use for a whole kitchen.
Jo says
Hi Ondrea, kitchen looks great – yes we had some original stuff too but not enough sadly and what we did have was very damaged. We got our worktops from BGN boards in the West Midlands. This kitchen moved house with us – re-configuring 6 years ago when we moved had to get new stuff made and recycled the old into a desk with some ikea legs! 10 years on since it was restored still looking ace. Yes the Boomerang was expensive but still looks good as new and we figured was still cheaper than getting a new kitchen from MFI or somewhere. Made to last these things are! All the best with your future projects.
Jay says
Great story and a beautiful kitchen to boot, wouldn’t mind making my pots of tea in there. I especially like the Creda stove and the clock on the wall. I went to an estate sale yesterday and it turned out to be an 1800s farmhouse and the kitchen area last saw an update ca. 1960s. It was fitted out with steel cabinets and a GE wall oven and push button cooktop.
Ondrea says
Thank you for lovely comments!!
In the UK my little fridge is considered quite big ???? I know you guys think not..
Oh forgot to say Dan yes warming tray & toaster grill above the oven space on Creda oven.
Janet in ME says
Absolutely wonderful kitchen and I had never ever heard that the some of the metal came from Spitfires. Kind of sad to hear where they ended up after the war. James is a treasure for sure to be so handy and he did a great job. I have a small fridge and it works for me. I wanted a double oven 40″ range because I bake a lot, so we swapped the stove to the large space where the fridge was, and put a small fridge in the 30″ stove spot. I really dislike the way the huge refrigerators now dominate the entire kitchen so I was very pleased with the look of the small one. You planned out the kitchen with such foresight, and I think your larder is also an eyecatcher and perfect with the cabinets. Good job!
pam kueber says
I’m not sure that the cabinets came from old Spitfires — I think it was the company that MADE Spitfires. Much like here in the U.S.: Steel and aluminum makers had to come up with new ideas to use their metals after the war ended — metal cabinets were one of the results.
Janet in ME says
Hmm. I thought maybe they were scrapped and the metal was re-used. It always pains me to think of that, like all those wonderful old ships that were sold to manufacture razor blades!
Ondrea says
I have an article somewhere explaining the factory’s history (I will send to Pam).
I understand it was left over metal unused after the war and it also gave the factory and workers a use!
pam kueber says
Thanks! That would be great!
Carolyn says
OK, just how much space do we have here in the comments?! Is that cute and adorable or WHAT?! That larder – with windows!
Love hearing from other lands to see how trends developed globally. Ondrea finding James, someone who not only shared her vision but made it reality. Love how all the colors tie in to each other.
I agree with commenter Dan – I cringed at the teensy fridge but my biggest beef with the monstrosity fridges we have today is you have to have orangutan arms to reach into the back! No wonder we have science experiments in the fridge.
Now I’m off to write a realtor to see if he can change the description of a house recently come to market. Complete steel kitchen with dbl sink w/dbl drainboards – not a peep. “Tiled bath” intact! with sizzle sticks!, pinchpleats -AAAAAAHHHHH!
Janet in ME says
Carolyn, I would love to see that listing!
Carolyn says
Janet in ME – no, actually you wouldn’t…I’m hoping the realtor replies personally so I can let Pam do my dirty work, er…I mean, have Pam corroborate that there are several markets for grannie ranches: us, eco-____(?), hipsters, ???, not just flippers who will not only ruin it but waste besides.
Don’t want to take attention away from Ondrea’s kitchen article today.
Ondrea says
Dan the long narrow panel doesn’t open, behind it inside it allows for the space for the back of flip down to move, it also acts as air circulation for perishable food (when some people didn’t have fridges). My little larder holds more than you would think. In England in the 1950s not many people would have a fitted kitchen (one English Rose unit would be more than a weeks wage) so these litttle larders were very popular
Penne I love the wallpaper too (it’s more a 1960s copy) & was a bargain! I think it helps break up all the blue.
Dan says
What a charming and cheerful room.
Interesting how Brits seem to get along quite well with appliances about half the size of what Yanks think are necessary.
That larder is wonderful. That long narrow door just below the flipdown door doesn’t seem to have any handle- what is that? And is that a warming drawer just under the cooker top?
Penne says
Beautiful and fun kitchen. I especially love the wallpaper behind the larder and the Creda Carefree. So cool.