Meara’s “before” kitchen was actually just fine, with that can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it O’Keefe and Merritt range and neutral cabinets, countertops and flooring. That said, it wasn’t the stunner she wanted for her 1955 midcentury modern house built by the prolific Ernest Pierson. The solution? A cost-conscious refresh using Youngstown steel kitchen cabinets headed to the dump, boomerang laminate countertops and a remnant piece of real linoleum flooring. The “after”: Much more than just fine — Meara’s kitchen is adorable.
Meara writes (edited slightly to combine emails):
My home was built in 1955 by the Ernest Pierson Building Company in Eureka, California. The Pierson Building company built a number of subdivisions in the greater Eureka area in the 1950’s. The homes are some of the only flat roofed ranch homes in the area. It is my hope that Pierson homes will become appreciated for their architectural significance.
I purchased the home in 2012 and have completed extensive renovations. The kitchen was the only room that had not received any attention.
Prior to the remodel the kitchen was a chopped up version of the original. The kitchen had originally had a cooktop and a wall oven which had been removed years prior and portions of the cabinets were modified to make room for a standard range and dishwasher.
I decided to do the kitchen remodel by accident. Friends of mine were doing a kitchen remodel on a rental and the Youngstown kitchen cabinets were being removed and headed for the dump! I let them know that I was interested in the cabinets, we discussed the possibilities of how we could fit them into my kitchen space. Once we agreed on how to maximize the use of the space the project was a go. The cabinets are the original finish, I chose not to refinish them as they are in very good condition.
The goal of this remodel was for this finished kitchen to look as though it had always been there — and, it was a remodel on a serious budget of $3500.
I began the search for counter top material and flooring. Retro Renovation was a great resource! For the countertop I chose Formica Charcoal Boomerang. I found a great company called Heffrons for the aluminum countertop edging. I live in a small and remote area in Northern California with a limited number of resources. I was lucky enough to take my project to a local counter top installation company (Humboldt Countertops Surfacing) that was excited about my project and worked with me to pull off the vintage look that allows the kitchen to look like it was always a part of my home.
The flooring was a remnant piece of Marmoleum flooring.
The remodeled kitchen is the perfect setting for the O’Keefe and Merritt stove. Rounded upper and lower shelving units were custom designed to finish off the look.
This has truly been a labor of love for me and everyone who has seen the kitchen loves it and reminisces about a cozy vintage kitchen they have enjoyed in the past.
Meara Hattan, Realtor
http://www.Facebook.com/hattanhomes www.humboldtagenthattan.
realtor
Hooray: Another realtor who “gets it”! What a lovely little kitchen, Meara. Congratulations on a remodel that was both thrifty and historically appropriate, and thank you for sharing it with us!.
Carolyn says
I think that sometimes rooms get remodeled without a lot of thought put into them and when buyers/renters see them, they are turned off and blame the “old” appliances. The Before certainly is an awkward layout – what a nightmare keeping that cupboard to the immediate left would be with grease spatter and boiling pasta water!
If I hadn’t been reading this blog for the last few years, to pay $3 – 4000 for a 60 yr old stove would’ve been crazy talk. But you all have shown me there are reasons these thing are still cookin’.
If you watch “Last Man Standing”, I think Kristin & Ryan’s apt. stove and Ed’s cabin stove is an O’Keefe-Merritt paired with a 1970’s-’80’s fridge.
In the first farmhouse DH & I rented there was an “old” electric stove – best danged thing ever! Having all the burners to one side with a “countertop” on the right – too, too handy! Next to a stand-alone dbl farmhouse sink – heaven!
Until I win the lottery, I will “make do” with a GE/Westinghouse/etc. keeping more in the less than $500 range (range, that’s was a funny!) and have it checked out by an “old guy.” But I can dream, right?
Karin says
Couldn’t agree more. Gotta love the double oven for all the above reasons. There are several similar double oven 1940s/50s gas and electric ranges being sold on my local reseller Kijiji. Obviously, the O’Keefe and Merritts are the Cadillac of vintage stoves, but there are similar less costly brands still around with cool features like built in deep fryers, double ovens and extra room on top. They’re just so pretty. They absolutely make a kitchen.
CarolK says
That kind of double oven is so much better than these double oven that you have on some recent ranges. I’ve got a Maytag Gemini which has a small oven above the main oven. The upper oven does get used a lot, but have you ever tried to pick a 25 pound turkey basically off the floor? The low main oven requires you to do that. (Let’s not mention that time that the turkey toppled out onto the floor. That’s a secret between my daughter and I. It was going back into the oven for another couple of hours so I figured that any germs would be killed and we did wipe it off before returning it to the oven.)
Mary Anne says
Love the yellow walls and bright chalkware by the window. The whole kitchen is wonderful, every single part!
Lynne says
Pam, this is totally, and completely off topic, and I apologize. But I was at the thrift store today and I saw 3 vintage Paul Mitchell, Japan tiki mugs. Thought of you immediately. 3 for $3.00!
Feel free to remove this….sorry to interrupt.
Pam Kueber says
so didja buy them for me!
Lynne says
Yes, I most certainly did!
Pam Kueber says
🙂
Lynne says
Just let me know where to send ’em.
KStacey says
Love! I have that clock, so I love that too, LOL! Moving the stove is definitely an improvement, but I could kinda understand the positioning before, giving you a larger cabinet on the left. The sink however, I can’t. How could they not put it under the window in the first place!? Much better now!
Elaine Hattan says
Great work, Meara! Maybe you should consider another career move…interior design ????
Laura M says
Simple and beautiful. LOVE it.
libbyontheprairie says
The cabinets are awesome! Way to go saving them from the dump! Beautiful kitchen overall =)
Gretchen in Greenwood says
Small changes in layout can make such a big difference! This kitchen deserves to be in a magazine to show everyone how age appropriate remodeling should be done. It’s even more impressive for being a budget remodel. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Christiane Minnick says
It’s beautiful. What do you do for venting cooking fumes and heat?
Pam Kueber says
I checked with Meara, she said there is an exhaust fan in the ceiling, not visible in the photos. On issues like this, dear readers: Check with your local professionals to ascertain building code requirements. https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
Sandra says
I love exhaust fans in ceilings. In my previous house, I used the one above my stove to vent the heat from the house, in summer when I would get home from work. It would help draw cooler air in from the windows.
Bette Jean says
Love how that gorgeous stove is now centered in the kitchen.