Wood kitchen cabinets were surely more popular than steel kitchen cabinets after World War II. Homemakers were very familiar with the comfort of wood, and although I don’t know this for an academic fact, steel cabinets must have been more expensive. Wood cabinets also other benefits — they are “warm”, dents and fingerprints are less likely to show, and you can repaint them relatively easily. I tend to think that there were many makers of wood kitchen cabinets nationwide, each selling into their locality or region. Today for your viewing pleasure: A 1948 catalog from my collection full of stylish kitchens designed with wood kitchen cabinets. The company is Bilt-Well, manufactured by Carr, Adams & Collier Co. of Dubuque, Iowa.
The style is “Nu-Style”. That seems to be: Slab-front, radius-edge door panels and drawer fronts… at close to full overlay. This is very much akin to the design of steel kitchen cabinets. Sleek. Fitted.
The year is 1948, so America is still very much in recovery from World War II. The styling in these kitchens is all very linked to Streamline design that was popular before World War II.
The brochure says the cabinets are made of specially treated Ponderosa Pine. This surprised me. I tended to believe wood kitchen cabinets were usually made of birch or maple. But here you have it: Pine. I wonder if it was “better” pine than we have today. Older-growth pine. ?
Cubbies galore!
The cabinets are modular, like today.
Efficiency rules.
Oooooh, what a pretty color! This page says the cabinets are set on a built-up base, so you can raise or lower the counter height to suite.
Lots of piece available to maximize every inch of available space.
They’re talking up the ability to easily change the color of your cabinets here. Note: It’s fascinating to see the bold colors of 1948!
Such happy spaces! Befores & Afters.
The catalog includes a fair amount of technical info, too. Oh, and don’t forget (1) to order your choice of two optional flour bins and (2) to wallpaper your soffits, ladies!
Fun, don’t you agree!
Christine W says
What a goldmine of information! Those before and after pictures document the integration of the kitchen sink into the countertop. I loved seeing the era of the kitchen in the before pictures. People seemed to get by with alot less back then (and they probably did way more cooking/baking than most people do today)
My kitchen cabinets look just like the Bilt Well, even down to the latches. I think I’m going to have to build myself a broom closet, and a few other cabinets now that I know exactly what the original measurements were supposed to be. I also love my kitchen because I am shorter and the upper cabinets are way lower than they place them now. I can reach 3 shelves, so there is way more usable space for me
ineffablespace says
Actually Formica was invented prior to WWI, but the technology was used for different fabrications. (Electrical)
It’s use as decorative surface dates to the late 1920s, but expansion of the product as decorative sheet material was probably thwarted by the Depression and then WWII.
Pam Kueber says
Yes. Applied to laminate in 1938, as I recall, but because of the war, did not take hold until after the War.
Pam Kueber says
See this story for full story: https://retrorenovation.com/2013/06/04/how-laminate-is-made/
Maria says
So interesting! In my 1959 house all the wood cabinets are “stick built” 3/4 overlay built in place and houses with metal cabinets, few around here, were the less expensive homes. Makes me wonder if the metal ones like you have are built way different (better) than the ones I’ve seen. I love how much they embraced color!
CarolK says
A potential constractor for our reno pointed out to me recently that the cabinets in our kitchen were stick-built. The lowers are trash, but the uppers might be able to be donated to ReStore. The upper have to replaced not because they are shot, but because they’re a bit too low and besides we are installing double wall ovens which we currently do have.
There was a cool piece on HGTV’s website yesterday about things that need to come back. There’s everything from clawfoot tubs, pocket and interior French doors, separate kitchens to linoleum floors.
https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/old-house-trends-we-want-to-bring-back-pictures
Melita says
Words I never thought I’d see together: ‘cool piece on HGTV’s’…
The times they are a-changin’, indeed!
Seven years ago my neighbor saw my ‘new’ kitchen and asked: “why all this white?” …. Fast forward to last week. Same neighbor, having totally forgotten she ever saw my kitchen: “Oh, I didn’t know you just renovated! Nice! White cabinets! Why don’t you paint the wall grey? It would work well.”….
Hmmm. Because I am …. not a millennial? And because I like it as is?
Oh, btw, said neighbor now works in real estate.
CarolK says
Last night, I was reading two threads on Houzz: one by a woman who wanted to redecorate her powder room with green fixtures that he boyfriend insisted she keep and the other about design trends that have jumped the shark. Almost every comment in the powder room thread was supportive of keeping the fixtures. We would have loved them! The woman wanted to find wallpaper, a faucet and flooring that would work with the green fixtures, thankfully. In the other thread, people were over open concept, greige, barn doors, things inspired by Joanna Gaines (shiplap, big clocks, and wall words.) I love shiplap where it looks authentic like in a cottage on the coast of Maine, but it does not belong in a mid-century ranch in Waco, TX. Some people did point out that while pocket door are preferable to barn doors, they aren’t always possible. There was a special level of scorn for the Property Brothers and Joanna Gaines. It wasn’t just their taste (which is questionable) but also the fact that their cost estimates and timelines for the work are unreasonable. It’s not just us here on RetroRenovation that feel the way that we do.
Pam Kueber says
When I watch the HGTV remodel shows while I’m on the treadmill, the cost estimates always slay me. They always seem ridiculously low.
SebastianPDX says
When we see more Mahalo Lounge? I am going coconuts* waiting for more pics!
(*See. See what I did there?)
Pam Kueber says
It’s been slow goin’…. I have a problem re: finishing things.
Kathy in San Leandro says
They are really lovely cabinets. But I’m intrigued by the other details in the kitchens — those lovely inlaid linoleum floors, the wallpapered door, and most especially those cutouts installed in front of the windows. The window in the second kitchen (black and white drawing) has a fancy curved and painted one, while the top Before and After kitchen on page 15 has a circle added to the window over the stove. The circle makes an interesting contrast with the the rectangular, almost Arts and Crafts style trim along the soffit line.
Karin says
The quality workmanship of these cabinets is astonishing. I especially love that curved soffit. I can’t imagine what details like dovetailed drawers and curved lines would cost nowadays, but it’s certainly fun to look at them. Thank you for the great post.
Carolyn says
After reading since 2015, I finally figured out I am most drawn to this just after WWII era of homes. I can really see it in the before and after of the exposed farmhouse sink of the 1930’s being enclosed. I’m wondering when the Formica/etc. laminate came on the scene which makes me think the linoleum was ok at first but laminate was so much more resistant. Sink vents – oh, yeah, and afore-mentioned the window shelves. I don’t know if I ever noticed the bottom drawer handle being closer to the top – THAT was smart thinking! The blue Before & After – I think I have that enameled dinette!
On LinkedIn someone posted a “revolutionary” Ikea (?) feature of a built-in table that slides in and out of the counter and legs unfold. HA! That idea is older than most of us!
I wish my eyes and monitor were better to see the fine print and details.
Bestest – the drawers were only a tad smaller than the drawer fronts not like today’s of “soft-close” and too thick (3/4″) of wood for the drawer walls.
I wonder – would a contractor look at me funny if I wanted my “custom-made” kitchen to look like this?
Pam Kueber says
Laminate came on the scene after WWII ended, but it took a few years to take hold. Note, there were also other options besides linoleum for countertops — Cusheen, for example. https://retrorenovation.com/2013/11/11/retro-kitchen-counter-top-youngstown/
Pamela H. says
Every kitchen featured is a dream!
Melinda says
I love the fact that they say you can customize the height of the base cabinets! This has been my long time dream! When careers are over and we have a forever house, it has been my plan to have cabinets made at a lower height. I’m 5’2” and lower counters would work much better for me.
Love all the organizing features they offered, too!
Drew says
The heights are adjustable based on how tall of a toe kick you want to have. Specifically, the cabinet boxes are 32″ tall (or a little less accounting for any build up of countertop height), a 4″ toe kick is called for, but you could build the toe kick down to maybe 2.5″ before it started to look odd. Our cabinetry is designed the same way. In my experience the real benefit of a distinct toe kick from the boxes is that it’s WAY easier to level the toe kick and then place the boxes on top than to try and level the whole cabinet box.
Jason says
like “IKEA” or “European” that have the feat bolted to the bottom and a toekick plate installed to close in
CarolK says
Melinda, you can still get cabinets built at a custom height, but not if you go with stock cabinets. That has to be a custom job. One argument against doing that is that it might make your home harder to sell. One option that some of us short folk do is to build a baking counter at a lower height. Or just do all your baking at the kitchen table! I’ve gotten used to kneading or rolling out dough on a higher counter, but I prefer the height of my mom’s kitchen table.
I love those little shelves above the sink and the rounded open shelved at the end of the cupboards. My mom’s kitchen had those.
Carolyn says
Melinda, don’t design your house for some gauzy potential buyer who will rip out whatever you have installed regardless. Even if you only live in your kitchen for 5 yrs, having it comfortable for YOU is of prime importance. Julia Child had her kitchen outfitted for her height. And you never know, the next buyer might just be someone for whom your custom kitchen is THE selling point.
Max says
My parents installed IKEA kitchen cabinets in their 1880s house about 15 years ago. The IKEA base cabinets used detachable adjustable legs instead of a fixed base, to make leveling easier. The floors in their house were so uneven that my dad built custom bases for the cabinets, like the Bilt-Well cabinets were meant to be installed. It was much easier making the base level then trying to level each cabinet. This also allowed him to install shorter wall cabinets as base cabinets in front of a low window.
Chad says
I had this problem too, but now IKEA cabinets are even better. You can hang the base cabinets from a rail just like wall cabinets! So they were level to start and I just had to add blocks to hold up the legs at the fronts and make toe kicks to cover all that. Now my kitchen is really versatile because tall people can work where the floor is the lowest while short people work at the other end!
Andrea Withrow says
I find the soffits above the kitchen cabinets fascinating. Also, is the ceiling in the blue and purple kitchen glossy?
Marie Gamalski says
Sure looks like it doesn’t it??? VERY glossy… FUN colors, and I don’t even like purple, but that’s AMAZING!!????????
KStacey says
The ceiling in my entryway was painted with a high-gloss finish. Seemed weird at first, but the reflection actually really helps light up the space, and highlights the nifty vintage circle patterns in the ceilings. It made a glossy ceiling fan out of me!
Pam says
My mother that is almost 90 and still lives in the house my father built in 1958 and has always had a gloss white ceiling in her kitchen. It was that way to reflect the light and make it brighter and so she could wash it regularly and it would look like new.
CarolK says
Your mom is so lucky, Pam! We have popcorn ceilings in our mid-century ranch. Popcorn ceilings have to be the worst thing in many mid-century homes. You can’t clean them and they’re probably loaded with asbestos. We’re getting rid of our (covering them with drywall) when we redo our kitchen.
Pam Kueber says
The only way to know what is in these old materials is to get them tested — I sent some stuff into a state-approved testing lab not too long ago and as I recall it was not too expensive. Gold star, CarolK, for being aware of the potential! Renovate Safe, dear readers https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/