I love looking through vintage decorating books to see how people used to live. For my birthday, my husband bought me a book called Inspiring 1950s Interiors from Armstrong, and it features this kitchen that “was built for versatility.”
Get a load of this: “Most of the time, the area is used as a playpen with the adjustable table flat on the floor. The family’s toddler can play here, in sight of Mom while she prepares a meal nearby.” Then, at meal time, the table is pulled up to normal height:
Note the cupboards in the little 6-foot by 6-foot nook, which conveniently houses both tableware and toys. And look! You can lower the table to suit the little ones during play time:
Best of all, the next time you entertain, simply raise the table up to create “a refreshment bar.” Can you imagine having company over in black tie, standing at a bar in your little kitchen nook, nibbling on appetizers? You gotta love the 1950s.
If You’re Hooked on Retro Rooms:
My first thought was, “Look, it comes with a jail cell!”
Oh the 50′s they really thought of everything! That is cute
Great post I bet that is a fun book!!
This is a fantastic idea! Especially for smaller houses and apartments. Too bad it didn’t catch on!
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That is really cool. Not sure the apron goes with the formal dress though.
How bizarre (or perhaps born too late) am I that the first thing I thought seeing the top photo (and not able to see the others yet when I had this thought) was, “Hmmm, what a great little spot for a bistro table!”
This whole concept is so strange but so intriguing at the same time.
It’s so James Bond for the happy homemaker!
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I love the little “kitchen jail” idea but the table is so small it would be like eating in a camper. I think we used to be satisfied with much smaller spaces than we are now.
Oh wow! I think they were pretty innovative in the ’50′s. Too bad these days if it has cabinets and and island it’s considered super-functional. This idea could use some tweaking but at least they were thinking outside the box.
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I knew I was born in the wrong decade.
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Ha! How bizarre…and kinda neat-o. So, the floor (when it’s a child’s playpen—ie where the children are sitting, playing, drooling, making a mess), doubles as the dinner table? Mmmmm appetizing! Love the comments about it looking like a jail cell and the James Bond reference.
That kitchen is adorable!! With two little ones 2 and under I would TOTALLY love that in my kitchen right now
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Classic!
~angela @ peonypatch
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Wow. Just what happened to all this ingenuity?
It seems like the further we move ahead, the behinder we get.
That is just incredible!
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I like the message center just to the right of the cage. (1st pic)
Wow! When I saw that first picture, all I could think was that looks like a “kid cage”! Turns out it is.
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I am all for it! It would help keep my 18 month old away as I pull stuff out of the hot oven.
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WOW! That looks so novel, so sweet. The kitchen really was the heart of the home in the 50′s.
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Julia, what a functional kitchen… and you know how I like functional! the playpen is so versatile, the desk near the playpen so you can work and still be within sight and reach of your children, the blackboard in front of the desk so you can write messages, phone on the desk, clock above, big picture window…
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A giant play pen in the kitchen to corral small children???!! SIGN ME UP!!!
Cool pictures!!
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Too funny. Love the couple in the last picture standing up to eat in their formal clothing – at a diner table set in a jail cell where some kids just smeared jelly on the edge.
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Love the attire on the models!
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I think this is quite possibly the coolest kitchen idea I’ve ever seen. Genius!
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Those pictures are awesome! What a fun book to look through!!
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Ah, simpler times.
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You know I love your retro posts! That playpen/babyjail/kidcorral is GENIUS! Seriously, how many times have I almost dumped a dish of hot food all over the floor from tripping on a child at my feet? Love it!
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Ha! How interesting. I’m a little stuck on the fact that before dinner, the table was walked on. Hmmm…..
~Michelle
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Oh my goodness! The metal chairs in the second pix could be seen in contemporary homes today.
Blessings…
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Ohhh I love this! I think it would be so fun to see a kitchen like this in person. What a great book. Thanks Julia, I really enjoy when you share retro finds!
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I love that… Swank-key!
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FANTASTIC! Now this is practical (although wonderfully hilarious)! Totally looks like something my father would dream up! I seriously, doubt, however, that I could convince him to dress up in his tux for the family get-togethers…
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that is awesome!!! i wish i had had one of those nifty spaces when my kids were little! seriously, they need to bring that back!
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hee hee how kitch le
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I knew my kitchen had been missing something! A cage!! I wonder if I can trick them into one now? LOL
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I love that idea! one of my friends has been looking into an adjustable table for his workstation, and finding the cost for a nice one to be $3-4,000. I’d like something this versitile in my house for sure.
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