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Home / Kitchen / Readers and Their Kitchens

Christine gives her pink 1962 Lyon kitchen some retro TLC — including Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart First Lady Pink laminate

pam kueber - January 18, 2017, Updated: July 18, 2021

pink kitchen before renovationThe oven in Christine’s kitchen — complete with original-finish pink Lyon kitchen cabinets — finally gave up the ghost and could no longer be repaired. A mini-makeover was soon under way — and the “after” — just lovely! Double-happy for me, Christine was able to use our new laminate — Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart First Lady Pink — for the project.  Christine has been extremely generous in providing detailed information about the contractors and resources she used. 

 

pink kitchen after
Christine writes (edited to combine multiple emails):

lyon steel kitchen cabinet handle lyon kitchens aurora illinois

Hi Pam:

I finally got a chance to take some pictures of my pink kitchen remodel. As you’ll see it was designed around the original 1962 Lyon steel kitchen cabinets.

pink kitchen cabinets
Above: Before. Alas, the oven could not be fixed.

retro renovation wilsonart first lady pink laminate countertops

My pink oven broke, and the appliance company in California, which I found through your blog, and which sent me parts in the past, couldn’t rebuild the part I needed this time. So I had to say good-bye to the oven, hello big counter top and laminate wall.

pink metal kichenpink lyon steel kitchen cabinetspink counter top with metal edgingretro boomerang laminate

I started the remodel the same month you released your laminate line. SOOO lucky for me! The installer even created matching grout so the counter and backsplash look seamless. Thank you for creating this wonderful boomerang laminate. I LOVE it!! I wish I could’ve used it in so many more places, but some got broken during the remodel.

nevamar beige flair laminate nevamar carnation flair laminate

When we took the pink stove out we found two glitter laminate chip samples —  one for the kitchen and one for the pink bathroom. The pink counter in the pink bathroom had been removed before we bought the house. I tried to salvage the gold counter top but the biggest piece was damaged by the oven that sat on it. The other side I had planned to reuse in my basement, but it didn’t work out. I gave the largest, nicest piece away so it wouldn’t go to the landfill.

As you know, I’m still trying to sell the left over Wilsonart pink pieces on craiglist (links long gone.) I was able to use a lot of the pink laminate I bought — I use smaller pieces as place mats, the front of my old stove cabinet drawer, or other DIY projects. It won’t go to waste — it is just TOO cute! I just kept trying to find more counters around my house to use it on.

metal look laminate edging

Taking photos of my current house and the materials used made the biggest difference in being able to find similar or the same materials in today’s market. Several of the contractors had great ideas on how to use modern materials to create a timeless look. Jay Potter at The Floor Store suggested I use Wilsonart Satin Aluminum laminate on the edge of the kitchen counter to replicate the look of a metal edge. This idea saved me money and allowed me to wipe crumbs off the counter without catching them on a metal trim. I loved the look so much and wanted as much consistency as possible, I redid every counter in my house with the metal edging — three bathrooms and a laundry room.

Retro Renovation First Lady Pink pink laminate by retro renovation for wilsonart

It was the laminate installer, Allan Knutson of Adams Interiors, who suggested I get custom-colored grout to fill in the gap between the countertop and backsplash so my little kitchen felt bigger, I wouldn’t have any trim to collect crumbs and it would truly look seamless.

My general contractor, Sean MacNeela of Corrib Construction, usually works on big houses with big budgets that feature the highest end styles. But as my neighbor who also owns a 60s ranch, he knew a lot about the value of good bones, mid-century styles and how to find those same materials in today’s building market. 

Most of my supplies were purchased from our local building materials shop, 52nd Ave. Hardware.

They were all happy to help me find just the right lights, wood, colors and materials needed to help me keep my kitchen in the mid-century where it belongs.

Thanks, again, for your interest in sharing my experience so others don’t have to look so hard. Please keep sharing stories — you’ve helped me fix, replace and find new ideas that are allowing my house to go back in time.

Fondly,
Christine

The resources that Christine used in her pink Lyon kitchen refresh:

  • Counter top: Retro Renovation® by Wilsonart First Lady Pink [see all of our stories about the line here.]
  • Edge: Wilsonart Satin Brushed Natural Aluminum
  • Pink grout: Miller Urathane Grout to match counter *Purchased through The Floor Store
  • Floor: Azrock VCT Pinch of Salt * Purchased through The Floor Store, installed by Adams Interiors
  • Refrigerator – Fisher & Paykel
  • Dishwasher – Bosch
  • Slide-in Stove – Fisher & Paykel
    • Appliances all *purchased through Basco Appliances, installed by Corrib Construction, Sharpe Plumbing and Precision Electric
  • Sink and Faucet: Kohler Vault sink, Mirabelle faucet *Purchased through Ferguson, installed by Sharpe Plumbing
  • Window: Milgard *Purchased through 52nd Ave Hardware, installed by Corrib Construction
  • Lights: Ikea globe lights, GE LED bar light *Purchased through IKEA and Home Depot, installed by Precision Electric.
retro kitchen redesign
Above: Toward the end of setting up this story, I asked Christine if she could send a photo of herself to include with it. She asked if I wanted her to set one up with her wearing her mother-in-law’s 1960s prom dress. Heck to the yeah! And oh my, it’s fabulous, she looks fabulous in it, and they both look fabulous with the pink kitchen! It’s a fabulous fest!

Thank you, Christine, for so much time to write up your resources, take photos and invite us into your kitchen. Which is, of course: Perfect! 

CATEGORIES:
Kitchen Readers and Their Kitchens Vintage Steel Kitchen Cabinets

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Reader Interactions

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49 comments

Comments

  1. Vinny Lee says

    April 1, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    LOVE the metallic edging! I’m gathering info/ideas for a 1950 kitchen remodel and love metal edging, but remember food catching in it when I was a kid!

    • Linda says

      April 11, 2020 at 10:20 am

      Me too! I have a large chip (>2 in.) off my 1960’s laminate edging and have been considering an aluminum edge, but this seems like a great alternative. I’m thinking of DIY’ing so less intimidating as well!

  2. Lori Scott says

    March 26, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Love it! I still have the original gold flake counter tops from when my grandparents installed them Job well done!

  3. Teri Easterday says

    March 20, 2017 at 11:39 pm

    Christine looks absolutely fabulous in that awesome dress!
    Thanks for sharing your cute pink kitchen!

  4. Johnny 5 says

    March 19, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    Both you Christine and your kitchen look FABULOUS! KUDO’S on your dedication, passion and commitment to “the real thing”, I love it!!

  5. Cynthia Newport says

    January 23, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    Where can pink Lyon cabinets be found? This is so lovely.

  6. Bunny says

    January 23, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Love, love, love your pink kitchen! And the dress?…… gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

    Bunny

  7. toni says

    January 23, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    I hope she meant caulk and not grout. Grout is rigid and will crack. Caulk has some give to it.

  8. Dennis says

    January 23, 2017 at 12:14 am

    Love it! But on old appliances like the beloved oven, I would check and see if retro resources could help you fix it – I think often a part can be made – sometimes thinking “outside the box” –

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