Here’s a timeless question: Readers Kate and Tom ask how to approach a Retro Renovation of their 1960s kitchen — which was updated by previous owners in another decade’s style — but, with an eye toward being thrifty and toward resale some day. What is your advice? Note: I’ll let readers comment for a while, then, I will follow up with my thoughts and what I learn from you!
Update: My followup story with my ideas is here.
Kate and Tom write (edited from two emails for flow):
Hiya,
This truly is a great resource! I’m pondering ways to re-vintage our 1960s house, which we bought a couple years ago from a couple who had done painstaking renovations of their own (not the original owners) in the 1990s. The house has their flesh-toned fingerprints all over it, and he was a master woodworker, so it’s a very professional 1990s vibe that we have to contend.
We have both lived in older homes that looked more true to their era, and we long for that midcentury look which seems to match the house’s soul. Here is a photo of the kitchen. We just added paint color but dislike hardware, granite, backsplash.
I’m still just in the visioning stages of trying to picture some remodeling, and need some input about our granite countertops/stainless steel/wood cabinets (cherry? oak) with their wrought iron pulls….Worried about resale value, and expenses just to create an aesthetic when what we’ve got functions well and is “up to date.”
What are your thoughts? How can we accentuate more of that 1960s vibe in a way that won’t detract from potential resale value?
–Kate and Tom in Minneapolis
Readers, what do you think?
How should Kate and Tom approach a Retro Renovation — also with an eye toward resale and unnecessary expenditures?
Betsy in Michigan says
If you’re springing for flooring for the floor, don’t forget about no-offgassing good old fashioned REAL linoleum. Marmoleum makes some great durable and authentic patterns.
Hunter Hampton says
A few thoughts. I would not paint the cabinets. I wonder if the original cabinets had flat fronts, I suspect they front trim was put on to update them. They would look more MCM if they were flat. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/218143175671855645/ Atomic star knobs would go a long way. As much as I hate granite, it probably has to stay, too bad you can’t edge it in stainless. To me the least MCM thing in there is the contemporary floor and the stove. VCT tiles are cheap. Get 12″ squares in two colors, like blue and gray or green and blue or green and gray. Red and gray, red and beige. DO NOT get black and white tiles, they destroy any room they are in and your floors will show everything. https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=vct+tile A Sputnik light would be a real statement. They are 100 bucks at Lowes.
Janet Senatore says
I’d say the cabinet fronts are original. They look more 50s than flat would look. My old house was built in the 50s and they had that same exact cabinet. It was original.
Kathy says
I think the cabinets are perfectly fine. The color is great and the style is simple enough to work around while satisfying your average potential buyer. For me, the floor is the number one problem. I’d look at genuine linoleum or vct. I personally couldn’t live with the countertops, but it’s hard to throw away something that was expensive and is expected by potential buyers. If you keep them, keep the granite backsplash, too. It’s a typical 60’s look. If it was me, I’d go laminate in a solid color with square edges. It’s sleek, modern, period appropriate and inexpensive – and you don’t have to care if someone wants to rip it out later. The rest is decorating. Figure out where your aesthetic lies within the 1960s realm. Mod? Colonial? Look at period reference material. There are lots of pix online. What you think of as 60s might actually be more 50s. Decide what you like. Don’t be afraid of wallpaper. It’s not so hard to remove it later. And don’t be afraid of color. Paint is easy to change.
Terri says
My kitchen was VERY similar to yours. We painted Halcyon (soft aqua) from Sherwin Williams, replaced the counter with solid white quartz with silver and gold flecks, used a simple tile backsplash and under cabinet electric and lighting. When you install an electric strip under the cabinets, you can’t see it and it keeps the tile clean looking. I then replaced my hardware with a tarnished brass, which is very modern and timeless. Love the linoleum or vinyl flooring. That’s my next project. We kept the cabinets and it looks very true to the era but polished.
Cindy Friday Beeman says
Where did you find white quartz with silver and gold flecks? I haven’t seen that choice in the samples at Home Depot or Lowe’s, and I’ve been looking for two years now.
Lyndasewsalot says
I’m glad the valance over the sink is there. I think I would look for retro light fixtures . With brushed nickel/ and frosted glass. I would look for boomarang shaped brushed nickel hardware. I would change the flooring of its pergo , or sand and paint it ( in a retro pattern ) pulling colors from the granite. if it’s real wood .painting it in 9 x 9 ” squares with a black border under the toe kick . I would add turquoise vintage accessories . To coordinate with your paint colors . Maybe add 1/2 round glass shelves on the cabinet sides by the sink window. Adding some IKEA ( Grundel?) rails and accessories on the backsplash.
kathy murray says
I like the idea of a vinyl retro flooring, but if it is not in the budget what about painting it in gray and white. I would remove the granite back splash and add a retro one. Also change the hardware and add retro accents. It is a nice kitchen just need to tie the flooring to the counter tops and add those retro touches. I have an example of painted floors on my Pinterest page. https://www.pinterest.com/omak50/flooring/
Carol says
Fortunately, your granite is not brown or green. Marble would be best for stone, but the white and gray granite is nice. Yes, I said nice. It doesn’t scream “up to date/out of date” as much because of the color. I would definitely leave it. The cabinets look like very good quality cabinets. I don’t love the nutmeg color, but when decorating you could envision them as knotty pine or orangy birch. I would leave the cabinet color alone also. If you paint them, it will look more 40’s if you go for a retro look. I agree with the comment that it will look more transitional or beachy. It would look great if you went with the Fiestaware era and white cabinets. That said, my main issue is the floor. It clashes with everything. I think a sheet commercial laminate, or retro laminate would look awesome. Karndean? Wasn’t that the maker of a floor listed on this website of the blue pebbled/tiny stone floor. A great retro wallpaper on the backsplash, if you didn’t want to tile, would do wonders for the kitchen along with curtains and dish towels. There doesn’t seem to be anything retro on the counters. Hardware is inexpensive to change out, especially since you have hidden hinges. I would also leave the appliances since they look new and match. Unless you want to go with a major $10,000+ overhaul to get the retro look, I would just do the floor, backsplash,and hardware, and add the other accessories like you inherited them from your grandmother. You can still have a yummy, delicious kitchen for very little dollars. That’s a lot of counter top space and 4 “retroish” appliances to replace. If this is truly your forever home, go for the retro 100%.
Kim McDonald says
I really have to agree with Carol. The thing that is really “OFF” is the floor. The counter tops are a nice light color, and the cabinets re nice so, I would leave them. New hardware if you wish. But a nice vinyl patterned floor would really wake the room up. Try that first.
Rick G says
And …….. just to add to my vinyl solution / suggestion, I’m sure having a 4 inch tile pattern put onto the back splash would be fairly easy , as far color scheme – I would suggest maybe either a red, turquoise, or white vinyl for the counter & either just a turquoise , or two tone white & turquoise vinyl for the cupboard doors. ( & fridge & dishwasher as well ) – I think this would be a huge transformation toward getting the proper look. As well – why not have some funky shapes done in vinyl, for the wall – stars, boomerangs ; etc.
Rick G says
Don’t laugh, but the first thing that comes to mind – Vinyl, I mean the kind that comes on a roll & you would most likely want to get from a sign supply store. It comes in tons on various colors, shades & finishes. I’m thinking the counter; for the cupboard inserts, the fridge & dishwasher. & why not the backsplash too !!! – It comes in several thicknesses, It’s washable; easy to maintain, durable, etc. I think this offers you a great fairly inexpensive option; that you could peel off; if the time comes that you decide to sell. – Nothing major to do, or undo. As far as having someone else do it, either ask at the place you get it, if they can suggest someone, or maybe try calling a few places that do the car/vehicle wraps & see how much they would charge. If the hardware bugs you, just change it for now to vintage & keep the other stuff aside to put back on. – Good Luck 🙂
Reader Deb says
Had to laugh when “Instant Granite counter top covers” kept popping up on the Shop Related Products sidebar from Amazon, but they do make an Italian White Marble peel and stick. The company that sells it is called Easy Home Renewals. $59.99 for a 144″ x 36″ roll, and they offer free samples. They also sell Appliance Art, covers for dishwashers and refrigerators. Didn’t see very much that was retro looking, but maybe if people ask they’ll make more.
pegster52 says
Good quality and function never go out of style. You probably can get the look with changing the backsplash, floor, hardware, and window dressing. Or at least start there before changing the big ticket items.