My 1940s kitchen design board #3

I am in the mode: Cranking out a new 1940s style kitchen design board each week until I get them all done. I think there will be five in total. Here is #3: A retro kitchen inspired by a vintage American Kitchen ad. It’s dominated by the color red — via the ruby red mother of pearl laminate countertop — and anchored by a green linoleum that I’d describe as, yes, drab. But also, restful, which allows your eye to rest on the sharp colors elsewhere in the room. Remember: Every element of a design doesn’t need to “scream.” I hesitate to say “shouldn’t” scream but there, I said it anyway.

Elements to create a happy red 1940s kitchen:

1. Fabric: Look for a drapery fabric that includes all the main colors in your kitchen. I prefer vintage — yes, it can be found in sufficient yardage if you are patient and tenacious — like these 3 yards available on ebay.
2. Sewing Pattern: Whip the fabric into curtains — you can do it! Use a vintage pattern — lookie how these scallop at the header (or whatever you call it) — nice!
3. Sink: Elkay Lustertone 54″ stainless steel kitchen sink (affiliate link)
4. Countertop: Mother of pearl (aka crackle ice laminate) from Heffron’s. We;ve had numerous readers find less expensive (not special order) red proxies — research our Kitchen Help/Countertops category to see those stories.
5. Countertop edging: For this design board, I showed aluminum edging from RetroTrims.com
6. Kitchen cabinets: Steel kitchen cabinets were available in the 1940s, too. I showed these vintage Whiteheads (a rare brand) so that you could see how the metal sink looked with a steel cabinet. If you want to hunt for vintage read this story only kinda in reverse.
7. Vintage percolator: Vintage percolator on etsy.
8. Linoleum flooring: Linoleum sheet flooring — in “Evening Moss” — from Armstrong
9. Countertop depth French door refrigerator: I found another countertop-depth refrigerator that seem to have possibly not-supersized proportions.
10. Vintage stove: Vintage 1948 Cromwell electric range from AntiqueAppliances.com.

Other stories to look for 1940s kitchen ideas:

• My mood board #1, anchored by white cabinets
• My mood board #2, anchored by wood cabinets
• Lauryn and Dennis’ sunny 1940s kitchen makeover
• Dave and Frances’ 1938 kitchen
• See how the tile is done on the wall in Kristen’s original 1940s kitchen.
• Maile displays her dishware beautifully in glass-front wall cabinets in her 1940s style kitchen.
• Vintage metal cabinets are appropriate, too — and lookie the best cafe curtains ever in David’s kitchen.

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