50s kitchen accessories: eBay weekend picks

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Vintage transfers for 50s style kitchen and dinette: eBay pick of the day

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Link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130166624758&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003#ebayphotohosting

Recreate yesterday’s sunny coral-yellow-green 50s style kitchen

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Today: Modern day products to recreate yesterday’s flashback kitchen. My finds include:

Formica microdot laminate in yellow: http://www.formica.com/publish/site/na/us/en/index/laminate/colors_collections/microdot.detail.6900.0001.html

Wilsonart brushed yellow laminate: http://samples.wilsonart.com/p-134-maroochy-brush-4745-60.aspxmples.wilsonart.com/p-134-maroochy-brush-4745-60.aspx

Sherwin-Williams Pink Flamingo Paint from the Suburban Modern palette: http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/paint_color_palette/color_themes/suburban/int_suburban.jsp

Armstrong’s Marmorette (true linoleum) sheet flooring in Green Parrot:http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/product_details.jsp?category=linoleum&item_id=2770

Pretty cool! If this kitchen wouldn't make you happy - nothing would!

"Redi-Baker" for your retro kitchen: eBay pick of the day

This adorable Nesco Redi-Baker seems like a great countertop addition to any 50s style kitchen! eBay link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280165098734&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018

Tuesday Flashback Design: Sunny coral, green & yellow 50s kitchen

Isn’t this a happy Dream Kitchen?

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Tuesday Kitchen “Flashback Design Tips”

I’ve always loved this St. Charles kitchen taken from a 50s magazine ad. There are at least 11 ideas you can take from it, first up: Noting the mix of cabinet styles – pink steel coordinated with wood-toned. This works really well to break up what otherwise could be an excessive amount of pink. BTW it’s interesting that today’s kitchen designers think THEY invented the idea of mixing cabinet materials!

Ten more tips:

1. Countertop materials also are mixed. This appears to be the basic laminate color (also spotlighted in 9.) but without the steel edging. It’s used in what appears to be a decorative buffet spot.

2. The wall bumps out here to differentiate the stove top area. Doing these kinds of drywall bumpouts is a great solution if you’ve run out of cabinets and need to introduce a new element.

3. Stainless steel countertop on stove top area. SS gets scratched – but it’s a nice patina and you can’t beat the functionality.

4. Really great use of laminate to define a backsplash for the stove top area and to add visual interest.

5. Awesome custom stove-top exhaust fan, and in general, design element. Adding copper or coppertone elements works really well in retro kitchens – warms up all the steel.

6. Soffit ends before it hits the window – allowing window to be even taller.

7. Ceiling beams create visual interest in what appears to be a pretty big kitchen.

8. Very interesting window treatments. I’m not sure how functional this really is – would seem to block the view. But certainly cool! For stability, I think these would need to be made out of metal. Wood would to0 flimsy?

9. Here we see the “traditional” countertop set up – laminate edged in three places with stainless steel. Be sure to see my posting on Dave Sanders company for last place in America to get this great edging material.

10. Floors are awesome. At the far left bottom of the photo you can just barely see that these are regular VCT tiles, with diamond pieces cut into them. I can definitely see this totally glossed up to a high shine!

Okay, another item: Note the patio furniture used for a dinette. Seems kind of uncomfortable to me, and glass topped tables are a bear to keep clean – but the look is great.

And finally: Note in the wall cabinets – how even one glass-fronted cabinet can add visual interest and break up the wall of pink. If you don’t have a corner cabinet, you can replicate this look easily, by constructing a corner shelf – make it in ¾” MDF and use your ¾” stainless steel edging.

Tuesday eBay pick of the day: Coppertone kitchen canisters from West Bend

I am a huge fan of Coppertone accessories for your retro reno kitchen. There is really something about this color that warms up the space. These West Bend cannisters look to be in terrific shape and I love the black detailing!

Here's the direct link to eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120172250441&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002#ebayphotohosting

Mixing countertop surfaces - right out of retro design history

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In this photo of my kitchen, I want to point out what I think is a great tip about using different countertop surfaces.

To the left of the stove -- you can see we used butcher block. Just to the right of the stove - we used same-sized sheet of stainless steel. The rest of the countertop is laminate (Formica boomerang, in aqua.) The mix of countertop materials really breaks up what could otherwise be a long, boring stretch of same-colored laminate. The stainless steel piece in particular is also very useful - we can set hot pots from the stove or oven right on to it. We don't actually use the butcher block for cutting, it's decorative in nature.

We took this idea straight from 50s advertising, and the '63 Geneva cabinets had countertops that used the stainless steel piece - just as we've replicated it.

This is an easy-to-do kitchen design tip that really makes a difference!

Please also see my previous posts on countertops - go right to them by clicking on Countertops in Labels, at the left.

Wednesday eBay pick of the day: Vintage Ice Crusher

I have one of these, exact same model, in my kitchen - and it is fantastic...really heavy duty, works great, and terrific looking. My ice crusher is white - but I also really love the color described here...sounds like a light chartreuse, which is a great mid-century color. For example -- scroll down two postings and see how well this would go with yesterday's eBay pick, the barkcloth curtains! Buy them both, and you've got a great basis for a new retro reno kitchen look!

Here's the eBay url: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270174473130&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017#ebayphotohosting

My first: 'Flashback design tips'!

As a regular new feature, I'll be deconstructing vintage kitchens - usually from vintage ads. I think there's a lot to learn about design from these 50s examples -- given the era, people were obsessed with design so incredible thought went into it!

This kitchen is a favorite, and led to some of my kitchen's features. Let's get to it, starting from the left:

1. Notice how the stainless steel storage cube is built into the wall. You can see it to the right of the curtained window as well. Great use of recessed wall space, but don't overdo it or you could end up with a very cluttered feel.

2. The soffit comes out just a tad beyond the wall cabinet. This is helpful, too, if your room is not square. If you're wallpapering, the pattern should run level on the bottom of the soffit, not the top.

3. Really cool how they raised the soffit above the sink. It creates a nice cozy 'nook' feeling in this much-used work area and moreover, allows for maximum picture window space.

4. Classic window treatments: Pinch pleats over a blind. Embrace your inner traverse rod! Also notice how they've mixed patterns - the fabric drapes are a vertical stripe, contrasted with the geometric wallpaper. Fabric really softens the coldness of steel cabinets BTW.

5. Picture window sets as low as possible. You'll get water on it from the sink, but light reins.

6. Super cool windows below the wall cabinets - if you can do it!

7. Warning: These cabinets hang too low, given the cooking surface below.

8. Warning: Put your HVAC at ground level, not in the soffit.

9. Very nice how the soffit comes out with the oven unit. You can do this above a fridge, too, if you don't have cabinets that work. I did this above my Sub-Zero and it looks great.

10. And of course: The wallpaper treatment. You can see how this clearly adds a sense of height to what appears to be an 8.5' ceiling.

Olympia Tile - the colors are the best for retro renos!

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I wanted to do a more complete posting on Olympia tile colors - and 50s tile colors in general - after reading something over the weekend.

On an eBay listing that I featured - the Manchu Yellow bathroom suite - the lister mentioned that Kohler had recently reissued some vintage colors. I went online to look, and must say I don't think much of them at all, they are not true 50s hues. I also went and took a look at the American Olean site, to see if they had anything new to suit retro reno bathrooms; nope. I suspect that Waterworks has some great colors -- that that is really expensive tile.

That brings me back to Olympia. I was fortunate enough to run into this company because I lived in metro Toronto a few years ago. When I was reno'ing my three bathrooms, I located a distributor nearby in the states. They sent me the board of colors - which I've photographed for you, above. Unfortunately, the company does not have any marketing materials -- no brochures, no photos on their website, nothing. Seems like they really only market directly through independent tile stores.

It is well worth the hassle to pursue these tiles, in my experience. The picture shown is our "Heron Blue" bathroom. This bathroom, like my others, was originally plastic tile, which had rotted out the shower walls altogether. I had true 50s color schemes originally - pink/green, green/beige. As you can see I toned the original exuberant 50s look down a little by choosing a blue and white scheme. I replicate the original with use of the contrasting 2x6s, and by tiling up to the original height. The wallpaper is from a now-discontinued Waverly line, Kitchen Kitsch. I hope you agree it all comes together in a perfectly acceptable, cheerful and functional retro reno look.

Finally, the Olympia tile was very reasonably priced. This is not high end. But then, neither were these original 50s bathrooms!

Here's the link to Olympia's site - which includes locations of the retail locations where you can order their tile: http://www.olympiatile.com/

eBay pick of the day #3: Cheap and cheerful kitchen ceiling fixture!

This would look great over the sink, in the mudroom or laundry room, or in the center of the room if you have low ceilings and and don't want a hanging fixture over the kitchen table.

I like the sound of the brushed gold tone finish. And, it looks like it takes two light bulbs, which is good for functional lighting. A great little find that could look just right in a number of places in your retro reno!

eBay listing ends during Oct. 11: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-EAMES-50s-Mod-3-LIGHT-KITCHEN-CEILING-FIXTURE_W0QQitemZ290167726933QQihZ019QQcategoryZ13862QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Faucet for your retro reno kitchen sink

I did a ton of online searching to find the faucet that would be just right for my vintage Kohler sink. I had a one-hole installation, and wanted a single handle faucet as I think it's a lot easier to control the hot/cold mix better. One problem that I found with most other faucets was that the spout was too short - like only 8". This one -- from Chicago Faucets -- is 10" long. And, I'll tell you -- it's a wonderful faucet. It's not inexpensive, in the $300 range -- but it has a tremendous "feel" -- it's nice and heavy and substantial. And considering that you use your kitchen faucet gazillions of times each day, I've always felt it was well, well worth it! Highly recommended!

Here's a link to buy one, you might find better deals elsewhere on the web: http://www.chicagofaucetshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=831

Awesome reproduction barkcloth for upholstery and draperies

I bought one yard of melinamade.com's "celestial aqua" barkcloth to make the valance in my kitchen -- and the fabric was just awesome. It is really nice and heavy-weight...great "hand", or feel...and the colors are rich and beautiful.

In the photos you get to see Melina herself. If you read the "about" section on her website, you can see that she got into the business out of passion -- which we totally identify with!! The site also notes that she was able to identify one of the few remaining companies the still weave barkcloth in the 40s-60s way, so this is the real deal.

Here is the link to the fabric section of her website: http://www.melinamade.com/Store2/vintage_fabric.php3?cookie_set=/+

I think that the "about" section is really great, too: http://www.melinamade.com/about.htm

And, you can read in my February post of about her wallpaper, too: http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=21680917&postID=2945308984387315455

Out with the new, in with the old - Rejuvenation Lighting puts retro in new lights

I've had great luck with finding vintage lighting on eBay. I think the prices are the best, and it's great to have true vintage lighting.

But I also love some of the lighting available from Rejuvenation Lighting, a Portland, Oregon-based company that creates reproductions from vintage stock. I've purchased some of their sconces for my bathrooms, and they were great.

As the years go on, they continue adding to their Modern America collection. The pieces featured here are particular favorites of mine.

http://www.rejuvenation.com/collections/Modern_America_Lighting.html

50s style NuTone Ceiling/Wall Fan solves your exhaust issues

Yes, vintage-style ceiling/wall exhaust fans are still available. We installed this model above our kitchen stove, in exactly the same spot we tore out an old, plastic one. The finish is a brushed stainless-style -- and it looks fantastic!

There are enough CFM's (exhaust of air) to meet current code in our state - so we didn't need a range hood, which would have looked out of sorts. Also - this exhaust fan was much less expensive than a range hood! Great find!

Also - I've seen these installed in the wall, where they can also look great. And, they can be installed in bathrooms, but not above the tub/shower, the instructions say.

http://www.nutone.com/product-detail.asp?ProductID=10179

More great 50s style kitchens!

It's an abundance of kitchen designs this week! Starting soon I will be analyzing each kitchen and pointing out great design features and ideas to consider for your own 50s restoration!

What's not to like about these retro kitchens?

Come on, how can you not LOVE LOVE LOVE these kitchens?

In our collective American memory, we may think of 50s kitchens as kitschy -- and maybe that is one word you can use. But, in my view, these kitchens are full of great style... daring, exuberant and non-conformist. In addition, there's a lot we can learn from layout and use of materials in these designs - which benefited from learnings from time/motion and efficiency studies that went earlier in the decade and post-WWII, were being brought into the home.

St. Charles Steel Kitchen Cabinets: Sold for $500 on eBay

This looks to be a terrific set of vintage steel kitchen cabinets now on eBay through October 5. I like the color - and the glass fronts look really great, I've never seen that before.

Also - grab the stainless steel and laminate counters, the two sinks, the stovetop, warming oven (!), backsplash and hood, and the built-in ovens.

What a find! If you're near Lake Forest, Ill., and want to create a great vintage kitchen - here's a great set!

For those of you simply interested in retro kitchen design, there are lots of great tips in this kitchen - a nice one!

Update Oct. 6: This kitchen sold for $500. A steal!

Stainless steel edging for your laminate countertop

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My husband hunted down the only place we could find -- in Astoria, Queens -- that still made the exact stainless steel edging that we wanted. We installed this very easily and successfully on our new countertops. We purchased 1.5" U-style eding for the counter edge, a little piece that married the counter to the backsplash, and finally, 3/4" ss for the top of the backsplash. This is EXACTLY what we saw used on the 1963 countertops that we threw out, and the guy from Dave Sanders agreed - they've been making it since the 1950s!

The photo used is from someone else's kitchen that I saw on ebay. The edging is the same... Also see the final product in my kitchen post of 9/16/07.

Here is the url for the company. However, please note, the edging is NOT featured in the catalog, you have to call for information: http://www.davesanders.com/

To anyone near western Massachusetts - I have a lot left of this stuff, as we had to order in commercial quantities. If you're interested in buying the leftovers directly from me, post a comment and I'll be happy to sell it to you at cost.