Comments on: Historical Kitchens

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:26:36 +0000

Enjoyed looking at your vintage kitchen pictures. These will come in handy when we remodel our kitchen. We purchased an American Foursquare built in 1912; the previous owner did a truly wonderful job restoring the house, however they gutted the kitchen down to the studs and the end result with their choice of cabinets is that the kitchen looks like 2011, it doesn’t flow with the rest of house and all the original wood work everywhere else. We would like to have a completely modern kitchen, but with cabinets that could pass as original.

By: Desiree

Desiree — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 03:56:55 +0000

I recently purchased my 1938 house; very little has been done to upgrade its systems and key areas. I want to improve the kitchen, but not necessarily in the way everyone thinks.

I want the structures or ‘bones’ updated (insulation, new pipes, electrical updates, etc.), but I want a strong nod to an earlier style where storage units were more individual pieces of furniture.

Having reviewed many earlier kitchen styles, it seems I prefer the 1900-1920 kitchen styles rather than the 1930s-40s. I especially love those huge freestanding kitchen sinks.

Thanks so much for consolidating all those images. It’s a great help to my vision for my kitchen.

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:26:27 +0000

Awesome! My grandmother had some of those things in her kitchen. Love, Love, Love it! (I am 62 so was LONG AGO LOL)

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:43:50 +0000

My granny had a high-back sink in her little house….and somebody will probably just tear it down one of these days and throw it away. *love* these old kitchens.

By: Karen Crosby

Karen Crosby — Sun, 23 May 2010 03:28:49 +0000

I’d love the fourth one up from the bottom in my farm house kitchen…it is 1900, but with six doors/doorways running through it, it won’t fit! Sigh. It does have 1950s metal cabinet with a two drain board porcelain double sink which i will reuse dings & all to save money, along with another metal base I just bought for $15, one owner, which needs work but better than what is in my farmhouse. Have other metal cabinets, now to see where they will fit. I’d rather do these wooden ones but metal is cheaper in Iowa. Love the site.

By: Terri DeJohn

Terri DeJohn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:44:48 +0000

I am an interior designer getting ready to do some work on a home that is going on a Historic Register and I needed some additional information on the kitchen counter top. The house that I am working on was built in 1901 and we do not believe that the cabinets in the kitchen are original to the house. After seeing these pictures I am certain that they are not.

thank you

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:49:33 +0000

I LOVE those big old sinks! My favorite kitchen is the third pic up from the bottom, I love the cabinets.

By: Cari daly

Cari daly — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:01:47 +0000

I’m in escrow on a 1910 West Adams craftsman on 31st Street(cross your fingers!) and I’m trying to figure out what to do with the kitchen counters, floors and fridge. Do you have any pictures that really show the countertops? I’ve seen some wood, but I can’t tell what else they were made from. Mine are bubbled formica.
Most of the houses I’ve seen have destroyed kitchens and bathrooms, so I can’t find any examples of original surfaces. Plus am I right to think that the floors were usually wood or linoleum in kitchens?
Any fridge ideas? The super expensive fridge is freaking gorgeous, but that money will go towards the foundation cracks instead. I just saw a 1950s fridge rebuild at a store on Beverly, but at $3,000 it’s going to stay there.
One last question, what was the cabinet with the wire bottom shelf opening to the outside used for? I’m guessing it’s either onions/potatos or an icebox? If it’s onions/potatos what’s to stop ratties from snacking, and if it’s icebox shouldn’t it be more insulated?

Thanks for a great site!!

By: Nathan

Nathan — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 21:46:10 +0000

In Continental Europe, they never stopped treating fridges as part of the cabinetry. The typical German house today would break an American’s heart! Just think~ these days we pine for the solid construction, careful consideration, and great details that went into old houses. We say “They just don’t make em like they used to” and it’s true. In Europe, technological advancement has actually led to better houses today than they had in the past because they never gave up craft, quality, and good design.