Period Kitchens

1970s San Antonio house is frozen in time

The kitchen alone warrants this three-bedroom, 2,922-square-foot home a closer look, just to behold such a washed-out expanse of bleached wood, with burnt-orange countertops that can best be described as groovy to the nth degree.

However long this slideshow exists, this house is on target 1970's.

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When I was involved in local historical societies (I miss the function, not the politics), there was an ongoing discussion on the relevance of house museums. Many are of the Victorian era, which evokes no fond memories of Grandma's house because it was likely Grandma's Grandmother's house. Yet there is a very successful house museum in Park Forest, IL featuring a home with period details circa 1948-1953. I am sure much of it would be akin to my Grandparent's homes. I haven;t gone though I need to address this sometime soon.

Photo tour of the museum including kitchen: http://www.parkforesthistory.org/photo-tour.html

Park Forest Historical Society
400 Lakewood Blvd Park Forest, IL 60466
Phone: (708) 747-3571, Jerry Shnay, will refer calls
http://www.parkforesthistory.org

I personally love the San Antonio house. Its not exactly my cup of tea but its a gracious home and well done. The other house not so much, but its interesting. I love looking at time capsule homes and kitchens. When I was growing up my mother was in love with anything "modern" and had a number of limed oak things. Her kitchen cabinets were "pickled" wood, light. Her bedroom set was Danish modern oiled walnut which she still has. I do like up to date things but I am also afraid we are a disposable society. It irks me that on the tv home shows we see a thirty some couple who wants to rip out a perfectly good kitchen because its not completely up to date. When I was thirty I was damn lucky to have my own house and kitchen. What you learn eventually, especially if you move into an upscale neighborhood, is when you install the latest and greatest kitchen in six months someone else down the street has something more fab, more up to date. I quit that rat race a long time ago because I saw the pitfalls in it and I am glad.

Cathy2 wrote:1970s San Antonio house is frozen in time

The kitchen alone warrants this three-bedroom, 2,922-square-foot home a closer look, just to behold such a washed-out expanse of bleached wood, with burnt-orange countertops that can best be described as groovy to the nth degree.

However long this slideshow exists, this house is on target 1970's.

For 1970s kitchens it would be tough to beat the one in the old Ebony/Jet Building. No, make that impossible to beat; retire the category. That interior is a masterpiece and it's great to know it's being restored.

Rene G wrote:For 1970s kitchens it would be tough to beat the one in the old Ebony/Jet Building. No, make that impossible to beat; retire the category. That interior is a masterpiece and it's great to know it's being restored.

I can envision a 70's Mad Men spinoff taking place against this backdrop, with all sorts of sexy hijinks.

Any talk of period kitchens is not complete without including Elvis' literally frozen-in-time kitchen at Graceland.

Cathy2 wrote:1970s San Antonio house is frozen in time

For $335K I'd expect it to come with an Avocado Weber Grill, and not what is clearly a 1990's Char-Griller.

That oven on the left of the first picture of Graceland has over a pull-out rangetop. We had one like that in our house when we moved in, and replaced it nearly immediately. The same style range can be seen in episodes of Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. Ours was a 40"-wide unit and gas; this one looks electric.

Aha, pinterest shows that model -- it's a Tappan. There are similar ones from Frigidaire called "Flair" that have gull-wing doors on the ovens.

JoelF wrote:That oven on the left of the first picture of Graceland has over a pull-out rangetop. We had one like that in our house when we moved in, and replaced it nearly immediately. The same style range can be seen in episodes of Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. Ours was a 40"-wide unit and gas; this one looks electric.

Aha, pinterest shows that model -- it's a Tappan. There are similar ones from Frigidaire called "Flair" that have gull-wing doors on the ovens.

My MIL had the exact Elvis model (Tappan) 'till the day she died. It was electric.

Given a choice between the 1950s house and the 1970s house, I'd probably feel more comfortable in the 1970s house -- but possibly because it seems more familiar -- and more tasteful. I wouldn't decorate a house like that, but I could live in it (though I think I'd have to at least repaint that harvest gold hallway).

But fun to look at those places and see how things have changed.

Something I wonder about when I see exhibits like the Park Forest house is the crowdedness. There's practically no space left on those counters. I think it's mostly due to the desire to show as much as possible, all those lovely period artifacts. I recognize many of them, especially the canisters, but think that a candid picture of a 50's kitchen would show far fewer, for strictly practical reasons.

Another thing is that a model house, forward- or backward-looking, inevitably shows the state of the art, and is fully equipped. I grew up in kitchens much like the Park Forest house except not so fully equipped: not only would there not have been a milkshake maker, but there wouldn't have been a blender either.

What I'm not so confident of is whether what I call crowdedness is entirely due to the difference in any era between a show kitchen, an exhibit on the one hand and a working kitchen on the other, or whether there has been a change in comfort levels of crowdedness.

There's a bit of a clue in the early episodes of The French Chef sometimes shown on the Create sub-channel of WTTW. Those date from about 1963. Julia's workspace seems very cramped to me, although I realize that it is also not a typical or representative kitchen.

Crowdedness in a kitchen transcends eras I think. Some people like completely put away stuff in a kitchen and no clutter or anything on the counter top. Other people have cluttery kitchens because either they like things at hand and like a lot of their tools out because they cook a lot. I think its just a matter of taste and inclination.

If 70's Moms had blogs

While the article is amusing and many of the observations spot on, I highlight it for the picture of a 1970's kitchen. Many elements in this kitchen were recognizable.

Regards,

Kitchen Stories from the Balkans (link now fixed)

Hi,

This link is to pictures of kitchens in Bulgaria and Albania. I may not have been as active there in the last 20 years, though all those kitchens are recognizable to my experiences there.

Regards,

Here is another link for some kitchen eye candy called the bohemian kitchen. I don't think they mean the actual region of bohemia but rather a style that is unconventional. Some of these are really beautiful and cozy. So what would you rather have a really modern slick kitchen all steel and granite with the latest stuff or something more eclectic and unique and maybe more old fashioned?

http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.c ... tchen.html

This House Hasn't Been Redecorated Since the 1960's
Lovely kitchen with a pink rotary phone plus lots of stuff I remember seeing. All that is missing is plastic covers for the furniture.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:This House Hasn't Been Redecorated Since the 1960's
Lovely kitchen with a pink rotary phone plus lots of stuff I remember seeing. All that is missing is plastic covers for the furniture.

Regards,

What a hoot. Not anything I ever saw in person in the 1960s, but definitely looks like TV shows from that period.

Looking at the rotary phone, I could hear in my head the sound that dialing made. Kind of miss that.

toria wrote:Here is another link for some kitchen eye candy called the bohemian kitchen. I don't think they mean the actual region of bohemia but rather a style that is unconventional. Some of these are really beautiful and cozy. So what would you rather have a really modern slick kitchen all steel and granite with the latest stuff or something more eclectic and unique and maybe more old fashioned?

http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.c ... tchen.html

Thanks for this link.

I agree -- some really lovely kitchens. That one from Elle didn't look unconventional as much as it looked like the south of Spain or somewhere else Mediterranean. I wouldn't mind that kitchen. A few of them were a little strange and not really practical if you actually cook, but some of them were great fun. I actually think I'd like something between the slick and old fashioned -- modern conveniences but still warm and lovely.

I love looking at time capsule houses thanks for posting that. Yes, I had family that had houses somewhat similar to this. A real timecapsule of the time....too bad it does not exist now. Regarding the kitchens I love looking at them. So interesting.
My own kitchen is conventional, le sigh, but I do try to make it cozy by adding a few touches.

Anyone who likes these time capsule houses needs to look at Retro Renovations. It's one of those site you could look at for hours, so don't do it until you have a lot of free time. Enjoy!

Thanks for the link. Love to look at those sites. Here is another great time capsule story not necessarily kitchen related but they do show the dining room in one pic and it looks to have a treasure trove of dusty plates and what not.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -WWII.html

Here is another cool "boho" kitchen to look at with a blog about "bohemian" type designs. I guess in some ways you could call it a period kitchen even though it is modern, it has vintage touches.

http://frommoontomoon.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... ordik.html

After 10 Years, This Family Finally Opened the Metal Door in Their Backyard…

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The Zwick family were stunned to find out that this was the entrance to a Cold War-era fallout shelter buried right there, in their backyard. A ladder led them down into a bunker, which was a treasure trove, chock full of interesting items from the past.
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If there was a mysterious door in my backyard i'd have that thing open after a few minutes, it took 10 yrs before curiousity got the best of them? lol

Original 1950's kitchen with a great explanation on why pink was a dominate color during this time.

Inspired by the favorite color of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, pink was an exceptionally popular color for kitchens and bathrooms in the 1950s. Mamie loved the color so much, even her cotton balls were pink!

Dubbed "Mamie pink," the color soon became a national symbol for the joy felt at the close of WWII and the remaking of the American household.
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Because of her, pink was suddenly a symbol of class, refinery, and patriotism.

Contrary to our modern perspective, pink was not seen as a "girly" or "feminine" color. Housewives dreamed of homes slathered in pink.
....

Growing up I have seen these pink kitchens and bathrooms. Our house had a pink bathroom. My Mom painted her first kitchen pink, which caused a big fight with her parents.

Regards,

8 Ideas Worth Stealing from Vintage Kitchens

I can't get enough of vintage interiors, especially vintage kitchens. And although these spaces may look a little strange to us — after all, that's what makes them so interesting — if you look closely enough, you might find a few ideas that are worth stealing for your own space.

Man finds early 20th-century shop in condemned building, restores it with original merchandise

Cathy2 wrote:Man finds early 20th-century shop in condemned building, restores it with original merchandise

Despite the early 20th century racism, that is really amazing. When's he opening it to the public?!?!?!

HI,

I have a feeling if you call in advance and ask nicely, you may get in. They emphasized it is not open to the public, which is a shame.

Regards,

The Evolution of Kitchens in 28 Photos

We LOVE photos of old kitchens, but from 1860-1900, there are precious few available. This got us wondering why, which led to exploring how kitchens have evolved over time. The following 23 photos and illustrations give a quick history of how the kitchen evolved from 1860-1970. We hope you enjoy!

The notion of a ‘kitchen’ came about due to a book by Catherine Beecher and her sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1869, the two sisters published a revised version of The American Woman’s Home. Among its many ideas were an initial layout for a kitchen as well as a set of sketches for how various goods and ingredients could be stored in an efficient manner.

I'm a little dubious of the history here, but the photos are fun.