Retro Rooms: The 1950s Kitchen
February 16, 2008
“Once you understand the nature of color, space and design . . . your home will reflect good planning and radiate a personality only you can give it.” (Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, 1956)
I just discovered this vintage decorating book published by Better Homes and Gardens in 1956 and had to buy it. It’s in an aqua-blue binder with illustrations like the one above acting as chapter dividers.
I especially enjoyed the photos of modern kitchens and thought you’d get a kick out of seeing them, too.
You just don’t see many pink kitchens any more, do you? It reminds me of one of those pink Pottery Barn Kids kitchen sets:
The chairs and table in this kitchen look like something you might find at a store today. Not sure what the horse-and-jockey wallpaper is all about, though.
What really interested me about this next kitchen–besides the liberal use of aqua blue and the funky wallpaper that goes up from the soffit onto the ceiling–were the stainless-steel appliances. The room doesn’t look as dated as it would have if the oven had matched the cabinets. I can almost imagine this being in a contemporary home today.
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Entry Filed under: Retro Rooms. Tags: 1950s, aqua, Better Homes and Gardens, books, cabinets, Decorating, homemaker, horses, house, housewife, illustrations, kitchen, modern, pink, retro, stainless-steel appliances, vintage, wallpaper.
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1.
Maya | February 16, 2008 at 4:26 pm
ooh, i love it. those are so cool. of course in reality, i’d rather have a modern kitchen, but i certainly love visiting these!
2.
CindyK | February 17, 2008 at 9:25 am
I love these, too! If I bought a house with one of these kitchens — even with the cowboy wallpaper — I’d leave it as is. And I think the pink/yellow/aqua kitchen might even feature Russel Wright dinnerware, one of my favorites. These just make me want to don an apron and shake up a martini.
3.
sweetheartville | February 21, 2008 at 11:49 am
What a fabulous post and a fun blog! Thanks for the mention!
4.
Shannon | March 2, 2008 at 11:07 am
I love these photos, and your site is great — I’m really into 1950s housewife culture (I suppose that’s what you could call it?), so this was fun to see. Cheers!
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5.
resa | April 15, 2008 at 11:17 am
can u put more pic with deatil of 1950 kithen…. thank you !!!
6.
Judy | May 7, 2008 at 1:42 pm
We recently sold my grandmother’s home as she passed away at 101 years old. Her entire house was retro from the day she purchased it in 1951. None of the decorating changed including the aqua walls, high wall tiling and furniture throughout. The estate sale went like crazy and the home sold in record time. I am sad that i wo’nt be able to get into the house and step back in time any more.
7.
André Shapps | May 12, 2008 at 2:47 pm
If anyone’s interested I’m in the process of renovating some classic aluminium English Rose Kitchen units to fit into my kitchen and I’m blogging the whole thing at http://www.englishrosekitchen.co.uk
I appreciate people’s thoughts on colours etc.
I think I must be mad!
I’ll be adding photos soon.
André
8.
Pam Faulkner | June 7, 2008 at 10:02 am
Love these pictures! I recently posted on my blog about Home Staging on Active Rain some examples of what makes a home look dated. These examples are perfect. and just emphasize that what is cutting edge now can become dated in 7-10 years and outdated in 20. Then in 30-40 years it can become Retro!
See the article here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/526047/Home-Staging-What-Makes
9.
Javier Oraa | June 27, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I have a complete aqua 50’s kitchen. Electrical stove, oven in perfect condition… lots of cabinets.
I would like to sell it.
Olazti@yahoo.com
10.
Mike Graves | August 10, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I am looking at buying a house that has the kitchen right out of 1950’s. and I did not know if any of the applances are worth any money?? All Stanless Steel ( stove, oven, cabinets, ect… )
No Fridge ( that is the only updated item in there )
I just did not want to tear it all out and then and then find out it was worth a lot of money
I will be taking some photos on Tuesday night
11.
DeAnna Cooper | August 16, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I have a complete yellow metal 1950’s kitchen I would like to sell. It is complete with GE matching stove, kelvin fridge, and extra detached cabinet.
12.
Ron Garrett | August 17, 2008 at 3:07 am
Those of you with vintage kitchens to sell, if you are in the midwest, please e-mail me at chilicheesedog1@yahoo.com. Thanks
13.
Katherine Egan | September 13, 2008 at 10:57 pm
This is for DeAnna Cooper. I was wondering if you could email info on this yellow kitchen you are looking to sell…if it is still available? Any pics and info would be welcome and also where you are located.
Thanks,
Kat
my email: katvt@msn.com