A thrifter’s dream come true: You drop into the ReStore to take a quick spin, and are standing right there when the first piece of a big donation comes onto the floor. It’s your sister’s dream kitchen — a set of turquoise steel kitchen cabinets complete with a Frigidaire Flair range with hide-away range and a dishwasher. Oh, and all this on the eve of an anniversary that was going to be rough.
Jason wrote to me the day after his epic find:
I’ll warn you that this story is a bit of a tear jerker.
Generally I think people know that if I can do something for my sister I probably will. And if you know my sister you know she loves vintage stuff, particularly kitchens. Today would have been our mother’s 71st birthday — she passed away a little more than a year ago. It’s been a day full of tears, but not all sad ones.
I found this kitchen yesterday while on a random stop at a local Habitat for Humanity. I had just finished my workout and was walking around the ReStore because it is in the same neighborhood as my workout of choice. I happened by the first piece as they brought it onto the floor; the set was unassembled and nothing had a price on it yet.
To say it’s my sister’s dream kitchen is probably an understatement. I’ve occasionally read on design blogs about how someone randomly walking around a vintage store finds some incredible item right as they were putting it on display. They always catch it for some ridiculously cheap price on some momentous occasion, just to add to the lack of believability.
I found this set on the day before mom’s birthday, and I got it all back to my house on her birthday. Nobody knows for sure, but I’d like to think mom helped with that.
Thanks!
In our email exchange Jason added, “Eventually we will build my sister’s dream kitchen. It’s a few years off, but she’s absolutely blown away that we found her dream set.”
My sympathies on your mother’s passing, Jason. What a lovely gift to your sister. Thank you for sharing your story!
Big news — St. Charles cabinets are being resurrected — with big bucks marketing, too 
1978 St. Charles kitchen with groovy grooved wood doors – 9 photos 
Ann recreates the look of vintage steel kitchen cabinets — in wood 
The GE Wonder Kitchen: Introduced in 1955 
Get our retrolicious free newsletter.
About Pam Kueber
Want to be social? Follow me on:
Sign up for my weekly Newsletter
Comments
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
What a fantastic story. Thanks for sharing it. Your a great brother. I am blessed with a great brother too. I can’t wait to see it installed.
What a sweet brother, and what a fabulous find! I may have to start stalking our rehab center- wish it were closer! I can’t wait to see the “after” pics!
Congratulations to you and your sister! Your Mother raised you right, young man!!What a testimony to her wonderful and loving training!
What a beautiful story and beautiful find!!! Happy New Year to you all!
I found a squeaky clean Flair stove, complete with owner’s manual, for $25 at a yard sale. Sold it for $350. Now my 1949 Wedgewood is starting to show it’s age and am looking for her replacement.
I love this story !!!! great score & I can’t wait to see it put in where it belongs !!!
Jason what a beautiful story and what a find. Sometimes something happens that is so…so… beyond coincidence and serendipity that you can`t help but think it was meant to be. Great post, it made my day.
Yes, great find, Jason. And may I add KUDOS to the person(s) who decided these were worth saving and donating, rather than trashing them. (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve yelled at the tv as I’ve seen perfectly good items smashed/trashed as part of a remodel on a home improvement show.)
Any one in Cleveland? There’s a similar range at the Restore in Lake county. https://www.facebook.com/GCReStore/photos/pcb.1779697568715929/1779697198715966/?type=3&theater
Great story. Really like the turquoise color and that flip open oven is super cool. Love all the knobs and dials looks real space-age !
Good luck with your kitchen look forward to seeing the progress.
I had a Frigidaire Flair years ago. We took it with us when we moved to a different state but kept it in storage. I wanted to use it eventually but donated it when we had a new house built (my wife wanted NEW appliances). I loved that range! I wish we still had it.
Wow! This looks like the same exact color of our St. Charles cabinets. But it has some really neat features that we don’t have. That hideaway range is too cool!! Ours is at http://midcenturymomblog.com/2018/04/23/mid-century-monday-1/
Wow! Just curious what did you pay for the entire set? I know your mom would be proud!