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

The 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. 

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Christine writes (edited to combine multiple emails):

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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!