Yesterday, Elizabeth invited us to weigh in on floor tile choices for her blue bathroom Retro Renovation. Setting up the story, I came across an earlier email that I had let fall through the cracks. She had sent me a photo of her pink kitchen refresh in progress. Good news about the time lapse, though: Her work is now finished — and goodness, wait until you see this transformation!
I asked Elizabeth about the kitchen. (It’s in a different house than the one with blue bathroom.) Following is a lightly edited version of our emails:
Dear Pam:
This house is my 1965 house. It is named Diamond Crest because it has adorable diamond shaped windows on the front side panel. (And because diamonds are a girl’s best friend.) I mentioned I was buying it in that old original article–or maybe in the comments thereafter, I don’t remember now. I bought it in October 2014!!! It’s 99% done now, but it took forever because we would get to doing other stuff. I was reading your recent “The Hard Way” awards, and thought, GEEZ! Even when all you do is throw money at a project, it still ends up being hard! My husband, who is NOT a plumber, had to install the floating toilets because no one else knew how.
It is a darling 1,774 s.f. house and my goal was to change nothing, only restore it to perfection. Plus better.
Diamond Crest had been a rent house and the landlord put in that same beige Mexican style tile that is on every current floor in Texas. I had all of that busted out even though it was brand new because THAT’S NOT MID-MOD. (Luckily the terrazzo entry hall and pink tile bathroom and mint green tile bathroom floors were left intact.)
Elizabeth shared the resources she used:
So for the kitchen and adjoining laundry room floor, I found something from the Azrock Collection: Cortina Grande Solid Vinyl Tile in the colorway “Kink”.
The laminate is Abet Laminati Rosa Crazy Horse. It replaced beige (possibly original) beat-up laminate. It was not easy finding pink floors and pink countertops, let me tell you.
The kitchen light is a Saturn Three Light Crystal Drum Foyer Pendant that I bought online from AllModern. [Pam here: Tried to find it, seems discontinued.]
But it was easy enough finding pink appliances, of course —Big Chill!)
And she continued:
The construction is 100% complete. I put in adorable pink window shades because I know it will take me forever and a day to find the fabulous floral pinch-pleat draperies I want. I bought a $5 t-shirt from WalMart about four years ago and IT has the exact pattern I would love on it! I’m never going to give that shirt away! Think Dorothy Draper, I guess. Also, I still need to curate the place with décor. I get busy with other stuff, and it just sits there for a while.
But you have heard much more than you bargained for. Do know that every single purchase was made in consultation with retrorenovation-com-staging.enwf9w61-liquidwebsites.com! (And that was a lot of purchases!) So you were my constant companion through this, even though you didn’t know it!
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Yowza! Thank you, Elizabeth. I simply cannot imagine being unhappy in this kitchen!!!
More stories about Elizabeth (shown above, from our 2014 story) and her other projects:
Carolyn says
Geez, she beats Barbie’s Dream House with that light fixture! I have that table only in yellow. My 12 yr old grandson figured out how to open it and it was a “duh!” moment.
I don’t blame Elizabeth for taking out that tile tho’ new. Why that gets installed is beyond me since it’s so hard on your feet and body. Then you have to buy a couple of gel mats at $100/pc in front of the sink and stove (hint- if you know someone who works in a factory, they can get you similar for much less!) Linoleum is much easier on your body. And that’s some shiny floor!
Elizabeth – good on you for keeping what works and incorporating – painting the cabinets instead of changing them out.
And kudos to DH for assisting her journey.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Thanks, Carolyn, you’re a doll. I said that tile was “new” but really it could have been ten years old for all I know. I was sure it wasn’t from 1965, though!!! So it made room for the nice soft and shiny vinyl.
Elizabeth from Central PA says
Just love this kitchen! I love that you went bold. It looks pretty much set back in time. So original. Kudos!
On a side note, I found some vintage pink appliances that will be installed in another month or so once they get their check up. Your kitchen is total inspiration for me.
Bette Jean says
Pictures…before and after, please.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Thanks, Elizabeth from Central Pa! We can’t wait to see yours! Real vintage ones, no less!!
Karin says
This is breathtaking. Lucky Elizabeth to have a husband that trusts her vision. I love the matched counterttops and backsplash. May I ask, are they both Abet Laminati? I once visited one of their factory/stores and was very impressed with the quality of their products.
Elizabeth from Texas says
You are so right, Karin, I’m very lucky indeed to have a Hubby who puts up with all sorts of design foolishness of mine!!
And yes, the countertops and backsplash are the exact same thing, Abet Laminati Crazy Horse Rosa. Or is it Rosa Crazy Horse…
That’s neat that you got to visit there!
Karin says
I think we’re all little Rosa Crazy for your kitchen at this point point, lol.
Bette Jean says
I don’t even like pink, but I LOVE this. Since I hate to cook I could glow like Mamie as I watch my husband whip up some strawberry jello salad and meatloaf baked with ketchup (must have food that coordinates with the accent color.)
Elizabeth from Texas says
LOL! I’m with you, so truth be told, that trophy stove has never been lit!
Thank you!!
Melanie says
I couldn’t live with that much pink myself, but it’s super cute and SO much better than the before. And I love the floor. I would never have thought of a pink floor in a kitchen, but it just looks amazing.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Melanie, the house also has an original pink bathroom, and I’ve made the master bedroom all pink! (Pink paint and carpet) I can’t get enough pink, haha! Thanks for the compliments!
Patty says
Pink is not my color , but this all comes together so smashingly.I love any bold use of color in place of the blandness offers so much today to appease buyers.Live it up!
Elizabeth from Texas says
I agree, Patty. Thank you!
Joan says
So pink a licious ????I want to live there.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Thanks, Joan!!
Cara says
Excellent job!
Would Elizabeth please be so kind as to let us know about the cabinets? Were they painted or replaced, and if replaced, please tell us the source!
Thanks!
Pam Kueber says
I asked her — they were painted.
Cara says
Thanks! That before was too dark for me to tell if they were different.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Yes, Cara they were the original cabinets from 1965. The old craftsmen even built lazy Susans inside two of them. I didn’t want to change much about the house but Hubby said the finish on the cabinets was ruined and made me paint them. And I’m glad he did!! White cabinets bring out the pink more! Thank you!
Jay says
Wow! That’s like going from black and white to glorious wide screen Technicolor. I am always impressed by those who see their mid century vision of a project through to its completion. Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth from Texas says
I appreciate that, Jay! I didn’t even remember what it looked like until Pam Kueber asked me for a “Before” picture! Wow it was a little dreary!!
Christine W says
Oh my goodness what a great kitchen! I want a piece of bubblegum now! Good for you Elizabeth for being so daring. That kitchen would make me happy very time I walked into it. I love the floors – they are so shiny.
Elizabeth from Texas says
Thank you, Christine! I really should thank my husband for letting me be so “pink”!! It does seem to make everyone happy, and it has grown on Hubby as well!!