When I did that story asking whether Marie should keep the real clay brick flooring in her kitchen, reader Paula chimed in and said she loved the original brick floors in the living room of her 1953 house. I ask yippee can we see — and she graciously sent a photo along. Nice indeed! And oh, that wood ceiling is pretty awesome, too! Paula also sent photos of her adorable, original kitchen. >>
Paula’s brick floors are salvage, with local provenance. She explained:
Loved your post on brick floors. We have a 1953 house, all original everything. The living room in the picture is real road brick from a nearby street in Orlando, and we love it!
She also sent in photos of her kitchen:
We love our vintage 1953 house, this is our kitchen.
My favorite part of her original kitchen: The double drainboard, double basin, enameled porcelain sink complete with hudee ring. *My dream.* See a vintage Kohler photo at the right, or see it even larger (along with 15 other vintage Kohler sinks) in this story from a few years ago.
Note, I’m also digging the backsplash tiles in Paula’s kitchen — they appear to be 1″x 2″ mosaics run vertically. I cannot see from these photos, but I bet there’s some gold veining in there.
In order to get that light, airy, sunny feeling, Paula has kept her color palette narrow — white cabinets, light-medium blue walls, table and chairs, and a dash of red here and there for pizzazz.
It’s such a happy space! Nicely done, Donna!
Proof yet again, how wonderful it is to Love the House You’re In!
Oh Paula, one of my favorite houses I have seen featured on the site. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, we love it too!
I just love Donna’s light, bright kitchen! In our circa mid-70’s house that originally had dark walnut kitchen cabinets, we painted them light mint and turquoise. and the kitchen walls pale yellow–we were lucky that our original Formica counter top was white with tiny green and gold flecks. I really don’t understand the appeal of the modern black, or very dark, kitchen.
Ohh, the floor is actually road pavers, which explains how gorgeous they are. Many feet, hooves, and paws have gloriously worn the brick. Thank you so much for sharing, Paula. I wish more road pavers had been salvaged for uses like this.
Also, the kitchen sink is glorious! One thing I’m curious about. I saw the original faucet style in the Koehler photo, and I wonder if there were options with a higher profile which would be period correct. Some of us with period kitchens stick with that faucet design, and I don’t dislike it, but I much, much prefer a faucet with more clearance over the sink.
It’s tiny design elements like these, amongst many others, that cause me to prefer pre-mid century faucets designs, as well as modern tales on early 20th century kitchen faucets. Did homeowners in the 50’s-70’s have other options for deck or counter mounted kitchen sinks?
I think bridge faucets might be period correct for the early 20th century at least. A variation of them was used on those sinks with a wall mounted faucet.
I’m trying to remember faucets that I’ve seen in old movies and TV shows. The kitchen in the earlier episodes of Leave It to Beaver had tile counters and an undermount sink, ordinary faucet though. There were colored fixtures in Wally and the Beaver’s bathroom. I think that the appliances in the kitchen of My Three Sons were turquoise. (Could be wrong about that as it’s been a while since I’ve seen the color episodes.) Hazel had colored appliances too. Also, before I forget, I think Margo Channing had a steel kitchen in her apartment in All About Eve.
I remembered who had the turquoise kitchen appliances. It was Lisa Douglas on Green Acres. The Steve Douglas family on My Three Sons did have colored appliances, but I don’t know what color. Hazel had brown appliances. (What is that color called?)
Coppertone!
Thanks, Alison! I don’t know why that one slipped my mind. I could remember avocado and harvest gold, but not coppertone. I was thinking maybe Burnt Copper, but that’s just because we have a Revere Ware skillet with something (oil, maybe) burnt on its tarnished bottom. The skillet works fine even though it doesn’t look pristine.
So pretty. One of my favorite color schemes. There is so much to enjoy with these pics. Maybe I’m just a nosey-bird, but I especially like when readers send in pictures of what they have been fortunate enough to purchase unmuddled or what they have worked so diligently to build from scratch or restore to former glorious beauty.
I miss the days when the uploader was possible. I would sit for hours and examine every detail of the shots. It’s fun to “peep into the windows ” of other retro lovers cool pads. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous brick floor and cheery kitchen. Glad Pam made a story of it. It was a bit of sunshine on this gray, wet, cold day.
Beautiful brick floor, the pattern of the way they are laid is the same as the brick paths in the gardens in our neighborhood here in Salem, Oregon. We are fortunate to live near Gaiety Hollow, the home garden of Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the first 2 female landscape architects in the Pacific North West. Gaiety Hollow was built in 1932 and the gardens were designed and planted from 1929-1969. Lord and Schryver designed over 250 gardens during the years they were in business and their influence is seen throughout our neighborhood. I like the lovely kitchen also.
I’m with Pam on the kitchen – love the backsplash. I’m also a sucker for these cabinets – simple, sleek, vintage, and oh, the venting at the sink… I really like the color scheme, too. What the heck, I love everything about your kitchen, Paula!
As for that brick floor, amazing! As is that wood ceiling. Lucky Paula!
Love the kitchen cabinets to the ceiling with upper separate doors for infrequently used objects. The best design ever!
Those bricks have a gorgeous patina! I love Paula’s kitchen as well. This is a beautiful real-world home, not the slick concept decor featured on some blogs. It looks like real people actually live and cook here.
Totally gorgeous living room. It can be decorated in any era from 1718 to 2018. I also love indirect lighting in any room.
A beautiful floor and an awesome original kitchen! Wonderful job with the colors and accessories, Paula.
Love the brick floor here. It looks like it’s been sealed the old way with boiled linseed oil, which can be a tough job every few years. Fortunately, there are water-based sealers that last for 15 years now. Has made our job of selling reclaimed brick flooring much easier!