Buy Me This: Retro Ranch Cool

Mar 18, 2009 22 Comments by


a blogumn by CH


1955-capitol-kitchen-nubbly228


With a baby on the way etc and I are thinking about moving to the burbs. Well Altadena … etc and I argue about whether it’s a suburb of L.A. or a town that L.A. just grew around.

Anyway what we are finding is a lot of California style ranch homes that need some work. I love the idea of bringing one of these 1950s beauties back to their original level of coolness. I’ve been doing some research online about it and have found a bunch of great sites that I want to share with you. And over the next few weeks,  I’ll go through what I like one room at a time.




This week let’s talk about the kitchen. 

Retro Renovations has great stuff and tons of links, so it’s a great place to do research. I’m going to hit some highlights but this site is a awesome resource and there forums are about the coolest thing I have seen in years.

First you want some true 50′s cabinets and hardware. Steel cabinets were very big back then and some of the best ways to find used ones are here and here or you can always do a search on Ebay. [More 50s Kitchen must-haves after the jump.]


erdun1

Reclaimed, refurbished and recycled aluminium English Rose and Paul Kitchens

If you want to spend the money for new cabinets you can go here

viking

St Charles Cabinets

Hardware is very important and you can fix up the cabinets you have just by getting new hardware. Again for used hardware I would try Ebay, but for new you can go here or here

Saturn Cabinet Knob with Star Backplate

Saturn Cabinet Knob with Star Backplate


Second let’s talk about appliances. The 50s were the beginning of our love of kitchen gadgets, and you can still find many of the original items like these.

Dishmaster Model M76

Dishmaster Model M76



VINTAGE COLLECTABLE GENERAL ELECTRIC TOASTER-OVEN

VINTAGE COLLECTABLE GENERAL ELECTRIC TOASTER-OVEN










Big Chill retro fridges

Big Chill retro fridges







Big Chill dishwasher combines the iconic look of a 50’s style retro dishwasher with all the modern amenities

Big Chill dishwasher combines the iconic look of a 50’s style retro dishwasher with all the modern amenities











Last you are going to need some 50′s flooring and countertops.

The Formica company relaunched many of it’s classic 1950′s patterns you can see them here.


Formica classics

Formica classics

.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AZROCK Vinyl Tile

AZROCK Vinyl Tille




Also you can still find authentic looking floor tile, and this is a great place to start looking.






I could go on with this. but for more info I would refer you back to Retro Renovations. The more I researched this article the more google kept sending me back to it.

Next time on “Buy Me This”: 50′s furniture.


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*No top 5, CH

About the author

CH is Fierce and Nerdy’s resident IT department, art director, photographer, husband
  • http://www.typetive.com/candyblog cybele

    One my favorite features that I would see in the 50s era kitchens is the "built into the counter blender". The blender motor is hidden under the counter. Just lift a little cap off of the mount and put your blender right there & press some buttons.

    It's a nice way to keep the appliance at the ready, but never have it actually appear on the counter.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/ernessa ernessa

      Oooh, I'd love a built-in blender. I wonder how one would go about cleaning it, though.

  • http://www.typetive.com/candyblog cybele

    One my favorite features that I would see in the 50s era kitchens is the "built into the counter blender". The blender motor is hidden under the counter. Just lift a little cap off of the mount and put your blender right there & press some buttons.

    It's a nice way to keep the appliance at the ready, but never have it actually appear on the counter.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/ernessa ernessa

      Oooh, I'd love a built-in blender. I wonder how one would go about cleaning it, though.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/C_H C_H

    I saw a house years ago in Mt Washington that had a built in blender and the whole house had a built in vacuum cleaner. It had ports in every room you plugged a hose into.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/C_H C_H

    I saw a house years ago in Mt Washington that had a built in blender and the whole house had a built in vacuum cleaner. It had ports in every room you plugged a hose into.

  • Debra Goykhman

    I am drooling. I want a built in vacuum.

  • Debra Goykhman

    I am drooling. I want a built in vacuum.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ernessa ernessa

    While a built-in vacuum does sound cool, you know how I feel about carpet, so I doubt that it would get much use.

    I love the orange refrigerator, though, and I feel it is a must-have — as long as it's not too dear.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ernessa ernessa

    While a built-in vacuum does sound cool, you know how I feel about carpet, so I doubt that it would get much use.

    I love the orange refrigerator, though, and I feel it is a must-have — as long as it's not too dear.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

    i have so many comments on this column it almost requires another column.

    i own the small (studio) big chill fridge in buttercup (as christian has probably noticed). i've been drooling over their dishwasher and stove (coming soon), and i've been searching craigslist for vintage ovens for about 6 months now. if you're willing to put in work, you can buy a decent oven (complete with original ceramic salt/pepper shakers) for a couple hundred bucks. or you can buy a completely refurbished beauty for 1k. i've been browsing somewhere in the middle, but know I need to wait until we own a house before I can do that kind of nesting.

    formica rocks. i'm ALL about the built-in kitchen booth: vinyl red glitter cushions and a black/white formica tabletop (my grandmother had one — she had the best kitchen ever).

    finally, Christian, you should check out this series of books: INSPIRING INTERIORS (schiffer design books). I have the one from the 1950's you can borrow anytime. Amazing photos and decorating ideas.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/C_H C_H

      I would love to borrow the book. I'm all about garage sales and craigslist when the time comes. It's just hard to do a column with links to things like that. I plan on taking it slow and finding the right things for the house we end up with.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

        i hope you do go the ranch route. i can vicariously live through your renovating/redecorating experience until we finally get to that point.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

    i have so many comments on this column it almost requires another column.

    i own the small (studio) big chill fridge in buttercup (as christian has probably noticed). i've been drooling over their dishwasher and stove (coming soon), and i've been searching craigslist for vintage ovens for about 6 months now. if you're willing to put in work, you can buy a decent oven (complete with original ceramic salt/pepper shakers) for a couple hundred bucks. or you can buy a completely refurbished beauty for 1k. i've been browsing somewhere in the middle, but know I need to wait until we own a house before I can do that kind of nesting.

    formica rocks. i'm ALL about the built-in kitchen booth: vinyl red glitter cushions and a black/white formica tabletop (my grandmother had one — she had the best kitchen ever).

    finally, Christian, you should check out this series of books: INSPIRING INTERIORS (schiffer design books). I have the one from the 1950's you can borrow anytime. Amazing photos and decorating ideas.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/C_H C_H

      I would love to borrow the book. I'm all about garage sales and craigslist when the time comes. It's just hard to do a column with links to things like that. I plan on taking it slow and finding the right things for the house we end up with.

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

        i hope you do go the ranch route. i can vicariously live through your renovating/redecorating experience until we finally get to that point.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Delia Delia

    I like the idea of combining more modern looking cabinets like the st. charles with an old school formica pattern for the counters and big chill appliances. Its the perfect combination of new and old. I can just imagine Ernessa trying to mash potatoes with the back of a measuring cup in a swingy retro kitchen.
    LA or greater LA is the perfect place to do your home this way! I LOVE all your finds!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

      hahaha. measuring cup. we'll have to get ernessa a potato masher to go in her retro kitchen.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Delia Delia

    I like the idea of combining more modern looking cabinets like the st. charles with an old school formica pattern for the counters and big chill appliances. Its the perfect combination of new and old. I can just imagine Ernessa trying to mash potatoes with the back of a measuring cup in a swingy retro kitchen.
    LA or greater LA is the perfect place to do your home this way! I LOVE all your finds!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/slpc slpc

      hahaha. measuring cup. we'll have to get ernessa a potato masher to go in her retro kitchen.

  • Pingback: Buy Me This: Retro Ranch Cool Part 2 | Fierce and Nerdy

  • http://www.modernfurniturewarehouse.com/ Modern Furniture

    Very nice set of modern kitchen furniture. How much do you think the 2nd image improvement costs?

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