Retro Renovation

Remodel & decorate in Mid Century Style

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Avocado kitchens cabinets, appliances, and paint — in the spotlight

pam kueber - Updated: July 28, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

frigidaire flair oven rangeFollowing my story about when Avocado was introduced as a color on major kitchen appliances, here’s a look at how some readers have used Avocado in their kitchens — along with a reminder about where to find this color (in one version) in my go-to paint color collection. Above: Wendy’s kitchen, from American Beauties: 25 vintage stoves and refrigerators from readers’ kitchens.

Avocado paint color from Sherwin-Williams’ classic mid century paint color palette

sherwin williams mid century modern paint colors
Above: Sherwin-Williams has an “Avocado” in its Suburban Modern paint colors collection — my go-to palette.
my office decorated but before the remodelAbove: The Sherwin-Williams Avocado is a dark avocado — like the ripened skin. I used it in my office once, before my krazee remodel. I found it to be a very cozy color.
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Avocado in readers’ kitchens:

brady bunch kitchen designAbove: Recreating a Brady Bunch kitchen — Duane and Wendy show us how!
avocado refrigeratorAbove: The house that gobsmacked the Vintage Las Vegas historic home tour.
avocado kitchen cabinets Above, full-on avocado!: Addams Family meets Dick Van Dyke: Nanette, Brian and their three dogs’ long journey to their 1952 house.
avocado kitchenAbove: Jon and Trixi used Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations to paint their base cabinets avocado. I don’t think this is a a color choice that Rust-o expected!

All hail, mighty Avocado!

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4 comments

Comments

  1. Wini says

    Avocado color is indeed a very interesting color to use. I think it’s lovely! Though I personally like the warm color tone, but the calmness of the 1970s is lovely too. Thank you for the fun article to read!

  2. Stacy says

    Loving these stories on avocado ! I have a 1968 ranch with it’s orignial avocado green kitchen sink , as well as a 1969 avocado Maytag washer and dryer set. My kitchen is all original except for the appliances. Boy do I wish the avocado ones ( I’m sure they were avocado) were still there. I really hope they bring back some affordable avocado appliances. I’ll be the first in line.

  3. Tarquin says

    Another fantastic avocado paint color is by Behr called “Retro Avocado.” It is a spot on match to the avocado that was used in the 1960’s & 70’s. The problem I had with it was the sheen. I ordered flat, but it dried, eggshell. Home Depot then told me that higher end paints no longer are dead flat. They now are all scrubbable, so they leave a sheen.

  4. Mary W says

    I don’t know if you have Disney+, but I am so looking forward to Wandavision, just so I can see the furniture in the 50s, 60s, and 70s sets!