As we like to say here, “There’s more than one way to retro.” This circa-1974 St. Charles Kitchens catalog — just added to my personal collection — proves it, yet again. St. Charles trots out their interior design experts and shows one harvest gold kitchen … decorated in six different styles of the day. From Early American to Mediterranean to 70s Contemporary — and more — they show us how to get our 70s style cookin’.
1. 1970s country style kitchen:
Use checkboard wallpaper, delft backsplash tile and butcher block cabinets to create a Dutch “Country Charm” kitchen.
- Viewing tip: Click on the photos – they will double in size on screen.
2. Contemporary 1970s style kitchen:
Dig the stainless steel backsplash and appliances, the woven wood shade, smoked glass table and oh my, the fabulous floor in this kitchen that St. Charles anointed “Contemporary Sophistication.”
- Note: There is no date anywhere on my catalog. I’m guestimating 1974 based on… the clothing.
3. 1970s Early American kitchen:
There’s an ox yoke in one of the other photos that goes with this kitchen design. Did I ever mention: I have an ox yoke. It has a mirror in it. It came from Grandpa. I think he made it. From an old implement used on the farm. Shoot me. I am sure I will never be able to throw it out. St. Charles officially called the style “American Heritage.”
4. 1970s flower power kitchen:
Of course, the flower power kitchen is my favorite. The cabinetry in this design is painted Dover White, St. Charles says. The design is “The Now Look.”
Note: Harvest Gold was introduced to kitchen appliances in Spring 1968. It was one of the longest enduring color trends — popular through at least 1984. Above: Other colors available from St. Charles this year. And YO: The cabinets are textured steel, “St. Charles DURALON finish” with a “soft-to-the-touch feeling of fine-grained leather.” Why did steel kitchen cabinets introduce texture to their cabinetry? I hypothesize: To better mask fingerprints and better hide dings. There also may have been a desire to make them appear more organic, less… antiseptic. I’ve also talked about steel cabinet maker’s introduction of wood door fronts, too.
- See my History of Steel Kitchen Cabinets — 70+ designs identified so far!
5. 1970s Mediterranean style kitchen:
And of course, we have the “Spanish Villa,” or as we have been known to call it, the “Casa de Torquemada” kitchen style. Ya gotta love the creativity.
6. 1970s Asian style kitchen:
I feel like this “Oriental Influence” kitchen concept is something you’d have seen in Florida. Don’t forget the electric wok!
Raina says
I just stepped back into my childhood. I can actually feel the green shag carpet beneath my bare feet as I stand nearly eye level in front of our fancy color console TV watching Bob Barker give away kitchen appliances this color along with Chevy Vegas.
Susan says
I think that you & I must have grown up in the same house…
Green shag in the living room and orange shag in the family room…
AJ says
Yass! Corelle dishes with Harvest Gold trim. Some vinyl flooring came out around the same time that technically was a little soft, but not spongy, so as not to break dishes either that hit the floor. Looking at all the dinner tables, dining tables and chairs, ALL tables came with leaves to accommodate growing families and welcome guests. Eat-in kitchens were the norm. People spent time together. I forgot until I saw the folding card tables. That was where we kids sat on the large holiday gatherings! People played cards and board games.
No coffee table would be complete without that 2 ton glass ashtray or other heavy glass decor.
Plastic on every piece of furniture in the “Good” living room where we couldn’t go in was at Grandma’s house.
Have you ever seen so much paneling or wallpaper in your life?? Those were memories I wouldn’t trade for the world!