Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Dream Kitchen: 1933

Or maybe '27; I can't be sure. While wandering antique malls over the weekend, I chanced on about enough to put together a very nice kitchen that would have been super-modern when Roseholme Cottage (built in 1924) was new, starting with the basics:Nice, clean lines on that fridge, and the range? Wow! That's the original enamelling job, cream and marbleized green:There was an almost-matching GE "monitor-top" fridge, but alas, it's a repaint job.At least they have some documentation!Better get a nice deco-style table:Maybe some health food?("On the alkaline side?" Mommmm, what's in these chips?)

Better wash up --Hey, she's not Nipponese! ("The tingling...at first...a sign of returning...pores..." worries me. Forget the chips, what's in that soap?)

And if we want some tea, we'll encounter a Milton Caniff character -- I think she was in both Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon.

There'd be a lot of work and expense involved in bringing any of the appliances back to "new" in appearance and function, but it's tempting. And they kind of match the outside paintjob, though not the blue-and-oak kitchen. (The range is, of course, gas, and there are dedicated specialists who restore 'em. If I had one, I'd get me a stand-alone electric oven and have the door customized to match; a gas cooktop and electric oven is the pro ticket anyway.)

A real kitchen redo would have to address the gingerbread on the kitchen cabinets, replacing it with squared-off quartersawn oak trim with dark square pegs and "cloud lift" moldings, plus swapping out all the handles, hinges and countertop. Then I'd be ready to tackle appliances. Don't hold your breath, it'd be a huge job and I hope to redo the euphemism (in Arts & Crafts!) first.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marbelized green and cream, eh?

It's interesting to me how color schemes change. When I was in college I worked in a Big Box home improvement store, and we did a certain amount of business special-ordering kitchen appliances and parts in colors that were "hot" a few decades before, such as "autumn wheat" and "avacado green". I used to wonder who thought the latter attractive...

In another few decades, it'll be black and stainless. I wonder what colors will be "hot" then?

Ditto cars: the colors of some late '60s / early '70s cars are nothing short of hideous. Then there are the two-tone schemes popular twenty years ago.

It may even be possible to date a pistol by its color: stainless, two-tone, flat earth, blue, etc.

Jake (formerly Riposte3) said...

I used to have that exact same table, but in black and white instead of red and white. It was pretty nice, actually. I wish I could remember what I did with it.

B said...

I have a stove of a (very) slightly later vintage....Email me for pics.

It came with the house when I bought it, is in the basement, weighs a ton. But it is yours if you want it.

let me know.

B

RHT447 said...

A bit more on Milton Caniff...

http://www.bates-r-us.org/abitolace/

My dad was a pilot in 711 squadron, 447th Bomb Group.

Anonymous said...

Nice stuff. I love em'
I've Got a Hoosier cabinet that would go nicely with them. It's all original down to the cardboards in the doors.

Douglas2 said...

My understanding is that not much has changed in the efficiency of gas-jets for domestic stoves, so if you don't mind the constant use of a pilot (if equipped) or a handheld sparker for lighting, they are just as functional as modern day items.

On the other hand, I quite hate having the need to defrost refrigerator/freezers, and the post "energy-star" ones really do use much less energy than before. I'd probably consider an antique non-electric fridge that used an alladin burner, but an electric one would be a constant reminder of the labor and money I'm contributing to give it a nice home.